The first step of stepping my foot on to the territory and the land of S-21, had just made my heart bounced off. The sadness and sorrow just came into my heart, and the feeling of missing was started to happen. Before I went to the S-21, I thought that it will be just a normal place or maybe similar to the Killing Field, but all of those thought and expectation had shift and everything change. This is not a simple place or a high school or a prison that is for keeping the prisoners, however it was more than what I expect. Every floor in all the building were filled with pain, blood and all of the evidence of this massive genocide. Chea Chan Pou were the man who talked in the audio and explain the whole tour. During Khmer Rouge Regime he was 13 years old. 12000 people were contribute to the area and only 12 of them survive. The white 14 graves outside by the front of the building were the last 14 who died during the day that the regime were fall and in addition to not making any noise to let the new government hear the sound of the gun they uses the knife to kill them.
I also learned a new quote that stated by the people that talked about S-21 and it said “A place where we can go in but no longer can come out” It very hurtful, even a small yell they couldn’t even said it, if otherwise they will be punish or torture by the soldiers. As a younger generation, who had never experience and see the real things that was happened, I felt very sorry to all the people, nothing can compare. It a very powerful history for Cambodia. I learned so much things, and that I really hope that from today until the end of the world this horrible genocide or war will ever happen to Cambodia or to the world ever again. As also, this is one of the most heart touching place that I’ve ever been and that I learn so much just from visiting there and all of these beautiful memories will always be in my heart and I will carry on to the future and tell the world how hurt Cambodia is?
S-21 a place where I can feel sorrow – Where I can touch the pain – When I can smell the past – How I particularly see the picture – What I can finally hear the experience!
The last 14 people who died the last day of Khmer Rouge fall.