Cambodia Tribunal Monitor

Report from Royal University of Agriculture

By: Sok-Kheang Ly,

March 24, 2011



A workshop on the Cambodian Tribunal Monitor (CTM) website was held at Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) on March 23rd, 2011. Located in an 18-hectare compound covered by numerous species of tree and beds of vegetable garden, and dotted with old and separate buildings, RUA hosted hundreds of students who study at nine faculties. The majority of them are from various provinces across Cambodia, while only a small percentage are from Phnom Penh. With prior information about the workshop, approximately 600 students came and gathered together at a huge and nice conference building of the university.

The workshop started with DC-Cam Deputy Director Vanthan Peou Dara expressing his thanks to RUA for its cooperation with DC-Cam's CTM project. This project is designed to guide the students on how to use the important tools to log in, read and retrieve information about the Khmer Rouge trials. Mr. Vanthan quickly showed them different parts of the website, including the blog, news, multimedia, ECCC & NGO report, trial proceedings, history, tribunal background, and commentary pages. These sections contain significant information that captured students' attention.

In interviews with several students, they said that the CTM website is beneficial for them. Mr. Din Samrith, foundation year student, said that the website will equip him with the knowledge necessary to engage in debates about the tribunal and also the KR history. In addition, Ms. Sa Pisey and Ms. Bun Chanthou, both foundation year students, said that they will do more research about, and follow the process of, the Khmer Rouge tribunal. Meanwhile, Mr. Khoem Chamrong, also a foundation year student, said the website is a source that makes it possible for him to do more research and to understand the policy of the KR leaders through the ongoing judicial process. Most students have shown their keen interest in the presentation about the CTM website, and expressed a desire to use it as a source of research.

In addition to learning about the website, several students debated with Mr. Vanthan about a number of topics, while some voiced their views on the Khmer Rouge. One student began by wondering why the KR regime ruled the country and made all Cambodians betray their consciences. Mr. Phim Meng Hak, a foundation year student, wanted an explanation as to why the KR needed to preserve a large collection of documents left behind at S-21. Interestingly, Mr. Heng Seng Pheang, also a foundation year student, expresses his curiosity about whether Case 003 will be brought to trial or not. In response, some students managed to express their views in regard to the abovementioned topic and Mr. Vanthan helped clarify those points.

After hearing this discussion, Ms. Khoeun Srei Pol, a second year student, tried to convince some of the younger generation who tend not to believe in the KR atrocities of the reality of the KR history. Some of the students even laughed at the gestures of the Khmer Rouge survivors depicted in the DC-Cam-produced film titled: "Behind the Walls of S-21: Oral Histories from Tuol Sleng Prison" (please visit the link: http://www.dccam.org/Archives/Films/Films.htm). Mr. Yorn Chandara, a foundation year student, thought that it was a mistake for the students to do so, saying that their lack of understanding was because they have never experienced such tremendous suffering. Mr. Vanthan then took that opportunity to compromise the differences by resonating the word of DC-Cam's Director Youk Chhang that: "as victims, they have cried for more than 30 years. They should stop crying now."

The workshop ended at 4:30 p.m with the distribution of 80 copies of "Searching for the Truth" magazine, 500 Booklets on Case 002, and 500 hand-outs that help guide students to use the CTM website.


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