People in Cambodia began casting their votes during the country's national&nbsp;elections on Sunday (July 23) with the dominance of&nbsp;long-time leader, Hun Sen, who is nearing the completion of his fourth decade in power.

Voters in the capital&nbsp;Phnom Penh expect the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) to once again sweep all 125 seats in parliament.

<h2>Cambodia elections: Who is Hun Sen?</h2>

Hun Sen has held on to power for 38 years. He&nbsp;faces no real opposition as the only significant challenger deemed credible in media reports was disqualified in May.

Critics have dismissed the election as a mere facade. Many Western nations, including the United States, have expressed concerns about the&nbsp;integrity of elections.

While campaigning for re-election, Hun Sen has hinted that this might be his final term, as he plans to hand over control to his eldest son, Hun Manet, who currently commands the Royal Cambodian Army.

Also watch |&nbsp;Cambodia Elections 2023: Hun Sen has retained power for four decades

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These indications have raised questions about the state of democracy&nbsp;under Hun Sen's rule.&nbsp;

Since the 1990s, when the United Nations helped Cambodia transition into a functioning democracy after years of civil war and the Khmer Rouge regime, Hun Sen's party has won all six national elections every five years. He has managed to consolidate his authority by controlling the military, police, and influential interests, neutralising opponents through various means such as co-opting, imprisoning, or exiling them.

<h2>Cambodia elections: Boycotting elections a criminal offence</h2>

To boost voter turnout despite the lack of choices, the government has made it a criminal offence to boycott the election or tamper with ballot papers.

Also watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/elephant-used-to-transport-ballot-boxes-as-cambodia-heads-to-polls-618480">Elephant used to transport ballot boxes as Cambodia heads to polls</a>

The disqualification of the main opposition party, the Candlelight Party, on a technicality, further solidifies Hun Sen's grip on power, after they garnered significant support in the previous local elections.

<h2>Cambodia elections: How many parties are contesting?</h2>

A total of 17 other parties are participating in this year's election.

They are mostly small, new, or aligned with the ruling party, making them unlikely to pose any credible challenge.

(With inputs from agencies)

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People in Cambodia began casting their votes during the country's national elections on Sunday (July 23) with the dominance of long-time leader, Hun Sen, who is nearing the completion of his fourth decade in power.

People in Cambodia began casting their votes during the country's national elections on Sunday (July 23) with the dominance of long-time leader, Hun Sen, who is nearing the completion of his fourth decade in power. Voters in the capital Phnom Penh expect the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) to once again sweep all 125 seats in parliament. Cambodia elections: Who is Hun Sen? Hun Sen has held on to power for 38 years. He faces no real opposition as the only significant challenger deemed credible in media reports was disqualified in May. Critics have dismissed the election as a mere facade. Many Western nations, including the United States, have expressed concerns about the integrity of elections. While campaigning for re-election, Hun Sen has hinted that this might be his final term, as he plans to hand over control to his eldest son, Hun Manet, who currently commands the Royal Cambodian Army. Also watch | Cambodia Elections 2023: Hun Sen has retained power for four decades × These indications have raised questions about the state of democracy under Hun Sen's rule. Since the 1990s, when the United Nations helped Cambodia transition into a functioning democracy after years of civil war and the Khmer Rouge regime, Hun Sen's party has won all six national elections every five years. He has managed to consolidate his authority by controlling the military, police, and influential interests, neutralising opponents through various means such as co-opting, imprisoning, or exiling them. Cambodia elections: Boycotting elections a criminal offence To boost voter turnout despite the lack of choices, the government has made it a criminal offence to boycott the election or tamper with ballot papers. Also watch | Elephant used to transport ballot boxes as Cambodia heads to polls The disqualification of the main opposition party, the Candlelight Party, on a technicality, further solidifies Hun Sen's grip on power, after they garnered significant support in the previous local elections. Cambodia elections: How many parties are contesting? A total of 17 other parties are participating in this year's election. They are mostly small, new, or aligned with the ruling party, making them unlikely to pose any credible challenge. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Cambodia elections: Voting begins in Southeast Asian country where boycott is criminal offence

Eight people were killed in a fire at a nightclub in Cambodia's capital city of Phnom Penh on Saturday (July 1). The victims included five Chinese nationals and two Vietnamese nationals, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. The police said that the fire was reported around 5 pm local time on Saturday at the 6969 nightclub in downtown Phnom Penh.

The victims were trapped on the upper floor of a five-storey building. Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire. It took a few hours to extinguish the flames, AFP reported. A preliminary police investigation said that a short circuit caused the fire.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cambodia-casino-fire-caused-by-electrical-short-circuit-say-authorities-death-toll-at-26-548260">Cambodia casino fire caused by electrical short circuit, say authorities; death toll at 26</a>

This incident in Phnom Penh comes after a fire ripped through a casino on the Thai-Cambodian border in December last year, killing 26 people. The fire at the Grand Diamond City Hotel Casino was caused by an electrical short circuit.

Some of the victims were burnt to death, some died due to lack of oxygen and some were burnt and died along the casino complex's exit ways, according to Kun Kim, the deputy chairman of the National Committee for Disaster Management.&nbsp;

Kim also said that authorities took too long to douse the fire, blaming the casino's complex layout and lack of rescue equipment.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Eight people were killed in a fire at a nightclub in Cambodia's capital city of Phnom Penh on Saturday (July 1). The victims included five Chinese nationals and two Vietnamese nationals, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

Eight people were killed in a fire at a nightclub in Cambodia's capital city of Phnom Penh on Saturday (July 1). The victims included five Chinese nationals and two Vietnamese nationals, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. The police said that the fire was reported around 5 pm local time on Saturday at the 6969 nightclub in downtown Phnom Penh. The victims were trapped on the upper floor of a five-storey building. Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire. It took a few hours to extinguish the flames, AFP reported. A preliminary police investigation said that a short circuit caused the fire. Also read | Cambodia casino fire caused by electrical short circuit, say authorities; death toll at 26 This incident in Phnom Penh comes after a fire ripped through a casino on the Thai-Cambodian border in December last year, killing 26 people. The fire at the Grand Diamond City Hotel Casino was caused by an electrical short circuit. Some of the victims were burnt to death, some died due to lack of oxygen and some were burnt and died along the casino complex's exit ways, according to Kun Kim, the deputy chairman of the National Committee for Disaster Management. Kim also said that authorities took too long to douse the fire, blaming the casino's complex layout and lack of rescue equipment. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Cambodia: Fire at nightclub kills eight, cause of blaze being probed

A Phnom Penh court convicted around 60 opposition figures including Theary Seng, an outspoken US-Cambodian activist, who came dressed as the Statue of Liberty at the hearing, in a mass trial Tuesday as long-serving leader Hun Sen cracks down on dissent ahead of national elections next year.

Theary Seng is among scores caught up in a push to detain and arrest former members of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), human rights defenders, and any dissenting voices.

"I am ready for a guilty verdict because this regime will not let me go free," Seng said before her conviction.

"It will be an unfair and unjust verdict because I am innocent, the others charged with me are innocent," the 51-year-old added.

The defendants faced charges ranging from treason to incitement and conspiracy over opposition leader Sam Rainsy's failed bid to return to Cambodia in 2019, a move characterised by the government as an aborted bid to overthrow Hun Sen.

While some were senior figures in the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) directly involved in organising the return, many were prosecuted simply for posting support on social media.

Following Seng’s detention, there was a brief scuffle outside the court between police and relatives of those convicted, as well as her supporters.

"We are deeply troubled by today's unjust verdicts," a spokesman for the US embassy in Phnom Penh said, calling for her and others convicted to be released.

The embassy urged Cambodian authorities to "stop politically motivated trials" against political activists, journalists, and human rights campaigners.

"Freedom of expression and association, and tolerance of dissenting views, are vital components of democracy," US ambassador Patrick Murphy added in a tweet.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/millions-tested-in-beijing-amid-24-hour-bar-emerging-as-covid-epicentre-488114">Millions tested in Beijing amid 24-hour bar emerging as Covid epicentre</a>

Sam Rainsy, who has lived in France since 2015 to avoid jail for convictions he says are politically motivated, had another eight years added to his existing sentence.

He said, "The political repression against the opposition gets more and more violent, and I would say also more and more blind. It targets all spheres of society, and actually targets freedom of expression, which is not tolerated under part of the authorities."

[with inputs from agencies]

 
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A Phnom Penh court convicted around 60 opposition figures including Theary Seng, an outspoken US-Cambodian activist, who came dressed as the Statue of Liberty at the hearing, in a mass trial Tuesday as long-serving leader Hun Sen cracks down on dissent ahead of national elections next year.

A Phnom Penh court convicted around 60 opposition figures including Theary Seng, an outspoken US-Cambodian activist, who came dressed as the Statue of Liberty at the hearing, in a mass trial Tuesday as long-serving leader Hun Sen cracks down on dissent ahead of national elections next year. Theary Seng is among scores caught up in a push to detain and arrest former members of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), human rights defenders, and any dissenting voices. "I am ready for a guilty verdict because this regime will not let me go free," Seng said before her conviction. "It will be an unfair and unjust verdict because I am innocent, the others charged with me are innocent," the 51-year-old added. The defendants faced charges ranging from treason to incitement and conspiracy over opposition leader Sam Rainsy's failed bid to return to Cambodia in 2019, a move characterised by the government as an aborted bid to overthrow Hun Sen. While some were senior figures in the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) directly involved in organising the return, many were prosecuted simply for posting support on social media. Following Seng’s detention, there was a brief scuffle outside the court between police and relatives of those convicted, as well as her supporters. "We are deeply troubled by today's unjust verdicts," a spokesman for the US embassy in Phnom Penh said, calling for her and others convicted to be released. The embassy urged Cambodian authorities to "stop politically motivated trials" against political activists, journalists, and human rights campaigners. "Freedom of expression and association, and tolerance of dissenting views, are vital components of democracy," US ambassador Patrick Murphy added in a tweet. Also Read: Millions tested in Beijing amid 24-hour bar emerging as Covid epicentre Sam Rainsy, who has lived in France since 2015 to avoid jail for convictions he says are politically motivated, had another eight years added to his existing sentence. He said, "The political repression against the opposition gets more and more violent, and I would say also more and more blind. It targets all spheres of society, and actually targets freedom of expression, which is not tolerated under part of the authorities." [with inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Cambodian-American activist dressed as Lady Liberty at her trial in Phnom Penh convicted of treason

Cambodia begins evicting floating homes amid protests

Sreyline Bacha reaches for a beer glass while holding a yoga pose during a recent class in Phnom Penh, wobbling a little to maintain her balance. It's the 25-year-old's first week back in the office since Cambodia's latest virus lockdown ended, and she said she's happy to be combining drinks with downward dogs at a brewery that is close to work.

Drinks and downward dog: Cambodian beer yoga class helps ease virus stress

At least 24 people were killed and 23 injured after a building in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-airstrip-in-cambodian-jungle-sparks-fears-over-chinas-military-ambitions-report-270005">Cambodia</a> collapsed, trapping workers under rubble, officials said on Sunday.

The seven-storey concrete building collapsed on Friday in the coastal town of Kep, about 160 km (100 miles) southwest of the capital Phnom Penh.

It came a year after another construction site collapsed, killing 28 people in Preah Sihanouk province.

"Twenty-four people have died so far," Kep governor Ken Satha told Reuters. "Three of the bodies are not yet at hospital, they have not been pulled out yet."

An unknown number of workers remained trapped, Satha said, adding that authorities had detained a Cambodian couple, the owners of the building, for questioning.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday that rescuers were still struggling to reach those missing in the rubble.

Cambodia is undergoing a construction boom to serve growing crowds of Chinese tourists and investors.

At least 24 people were killed and 23 injured after a building in Cambodia collapsed, trapping workers under rubble, officials said on Sunday. The seven-storey concrete building collapsed on Friday in the coastal town of Kep, about 160 km (100 miles) southwest of the capital Phnom Penh.

At least 24 people were killed and 23 injured after a building in Cambodia collapsed, trapping workers under rubble, officials said on Sunday. The seven-storey concrete building collapsed on Friday in the coastal town of Kep, about 160 km (100 miles) southwest of the capital Phnom Penh. It came a year after another construction site collapsed, killing 28 people in Preah Sihanouk province. "Twenty-four people have died so far," Kep governor Ken Satha told Reuters. "Three of the bodies are not yet at hospital, they have not been pulled out yet." An unknown number of workers remained trapped, Satha said, adding that authorities had detained a Cambodian couple, the owners of the building, for questioning. Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday that rescuers were still struggling to reach those missing in the rubble. Cambodia is undergoing a construction boom to serve growing crowds of Chinese tourists and investors.

Death toll rises to 24 in Cambodia building collapse, some still trapped

Thirty-six people were killed and 23 more injured when a tourist guesthouse under construction in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-rises-to-24-in-cambodia-building-collapse-some-still-trapped-272171">Cambodia</a>&nbsp;collapsed, trapping workers under rubble, officials said on Sunday (January 5).

Officials said rescue operations ended two days after the seven-storey concrete&nbsp;building&nbsp;collapsed on Friday (January 3) in the coastal town of Kep, about 160 km (100 miles) southwest of the capital <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-imposes-sanctions-on-cambodian-pms-associates-over-alleged-corruption-267431">Phnom Penh</a>.

The&nbsp;36&nbsp;dead included six children and 14 women, officials said in a statement that did not detail why children were at the construction site. Kep Governor Ken Satha said that the owners of the&nbsp;building, a&nbsp;Cambodian couple, had been detained for questioning.

The Kep&nbsp;building&nbsp;collapse&nbsp;came six months after 28 people were killed when a Chinese-owned construction site&nbsp;collapsed in Preah Sihanouk province. Seven people were charged with involuntary manslaughter and Hun Sen fired a disaster management official over that accident

Cambodia&nbsp;is undergoing a construction boom to serve growing crowds of Chinese tourists and investors.

Thirty-six people were killed and 23 more injured when a tourist guesthouse under construction in Cambodia collapsed, trapping workers under rubble, officials said on Sunday (January 5).

Thirty-six people were killed and 23 more injured when a tourist guesthouse under construction in Cambodia collapsed, trapping workers under rubble, officials said on Sunday (January 5). Officials said rescue operations ended two days after the seven-storey concrete building collapsed on Friday (January 3) in the coastal town of Kep, about 160 km (100 miles) southwest of the capital Phnom Penh. The 36 dead included six children and 14 women, officials said in a statement that did not detail why children were at the construction site. Kep Governor Ken Satha said that the owners of the building, a Cambodian couple, had been detained for questioning. The Kep building collapse came six months after 28 people were killed when a Chinese-owned construction site collapsed in Preah Sihanouk province. Seven people were charged with involuntary manslaughter and Hun Sen fired a disaster management official over that accident Cambodia is undergoing a construction boom to serve growing crowds of Chinese tourists and investors.

Cambodia building collapse death toll rises to 36

Cambodia has freed a prominent opposition figure from house arrest more than two years after he was charged with treason, a court spokesperson told AFP on Sunday, after attempts by his colleagues to return to the country were thwarted.

Kem Sokha was arrested in 2017 and accused of plotting to overthrow the government of strongman Hun Sen, who has ruled since 1985.

He was sent to a remote prison, then confined to his house and the surrounding block and prohibited from talking to the media.

But "he can travel nationwide now", Y Rin, a Phnom Penh municipal court spokesman, told AFP.

Sokha is the co-founder of the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party, which was dissolved ahead of elections swept by Hun Sen last year.

The new court ruling, which cited health concerns, forbids the 66-year-old from leaving Cambodia or joining political activities.

Pheng Heng, a lawyer for Kem Sokha, confirmed that some restrictions were lifted but said the ban on politics was too broadly worded and unclear.

Rights groups say Cambodia's legal system is controlled by Hun Sen's government.

The decision comes as Sokha's political partner Sam Rainsy is waylaid in Malaysia with other CNRP officials after attempting a highly-publicised comeback on November 9, Cambodia's independence day.

Rainsy, who has lived in France since 2015 to avoid jail for convictions he says are politically motivated, had promised a dramatic return.

But after being barred in Paris on Thursday from getting on a flight to Thailand, Rainsy boarded a plane a day later and arrived in Kuala Lumpur.

It is unclear how he will get back to the country and for now he plans to meet with Malaysian MPs this week.

He did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sokha.

Dozens of activists have been rounded up in recent weeks in Cambodia, while Hun Sen has called on fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to arrest Rainsy in what the strongman has described as an attempted coup.

But Hun Sen is also under international pressure to ease restrictions on dissent as the European Union considers revoking a duty-free tariff scheme for Cambodia's lucrative garment sector.

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights board member and former Philippines MP Teddy Baguilat called the court ruling misleading and an attempt to ward off sanction.

"This is just another cynical move by Hun Sen to try and hoodwink the international community", he said.

Cambodia has freed a prominent opposition figure from house arrest more than two years after he was charged with treason, a court spokesperson told AFP on Sunday, after attempts by his colleagues to return to the country were thwarted.

Cambodia has freed a prominent opposition figure from house arrest more than two years after he was charged with treason, a court spokesperson told AFP on Sunday, after attempts by his colleagues to return to the country were thwarted. Kem Sokha was arrested in 2017 and accused of plotting to overthrow the government of strongman Hun Sen, who has ruled since 1985. He was sent to a remote prison, then confined to his house and the surrounding block and prohibited from talking to the media. But "he can travel nationwide now", Y Rin, a Phnom Penh municipal court spokesman, told AFP. Sokha is the co-founder of the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party, which was dissolved ahead of elections swept by Hun Sen last year. The new court ruling, which cited health concerns, forbids the 66-year-old from leaving Cambodia or joining political activities. Pheng Heng, a lawyer for Kem Sokha, confirmed that some restrictions were lifted but said the ban on politics was too broadly worded and unclear. Rights groups say Cambodia's legal system is controlled by Hun Sen's government. The decision comes as Sokha's political partner Sam Rainsy is waylaid in Malaysia with other CNRP officials after attempting a highly-publicised comeback on November 9, Cambodia's independence day. Rainsy, who has lived in France since 2015 to avoid jail for convictions he says are politically motivated, had promised a dramatic return. But after being barred in Paris on Thursday from getting on a flight to Thailand, Rainsy boarded a plane a day later and arrived in Kuala Lumpur. It is unclear how he will get back to the country and for now he plans to meet with Malaysian MPs this week. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sokha. Dozens of activists have been rounded up in recent weeks in Cambodia, while Hun Sen has called on fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to arrest Rainsy in what the strongman has described as an attempted coup. But Hun Sen is also under international pressure to ease restrictions on dissent as the European Union considers revoking a duty-free tariff scheme for Cambodia's lucrative garment sector. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights board member and former Philippines MP Teddy Baguilat called the court ruling misleading and an attempt to ward off sanction. "This is just another cynical move by Hun Sen to try and hoodwink the international community", he said.

Cambodia lifts house arrest restrictions on opposition figure

The killing fields of Cambodia, infamous prisons like S-21 in Phnom Penh and multiple genocide memorials are one amongst many markers which tourists are exposed to when they visit Cambodia. It first generates the feeling of great sorrow and horror, and then of surprise that a country known for gentle conviviality and humbleness was once steeped in a situation where a section of the society killed 20 per cent of its own population within three years in the name of renewal, progress and growth.

It can be counter-argued that similar violence and killings were witnessed during Stalin's era in Russia and the Chinese Great Leap Forward as both were inspired by extreme of the Communist ideology which was hell bent on building a new society in a short span of time and had no view of an individual apart from being a component of a larger project.

I would say that the Cambodian experience was different as genocide did not take place on ethnic or religious lines like Nazi Germany or Russian pogroms. It was short and traumatic.

There are jails in Cambodia where within three years, 18,000 people were killed in the most brutal fashion. There are fields where hundreds and thousands lie buried. The regime killed between 1.7 to 2.5 million people of a population of eight million people in 1975.

<img alt="Cambodia Killing Tree" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="963ffcb5-df33-4f7e-938a-6b94906b38c8" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/cambodia-killing-tree.jpg" />

One of the reminders of brutal killings in Cambodia. (Photo: Kartikeya Sharma)

Cambodia also hides a brutal past of hunger, deprivation, bombings, lack of full democracy, and post-colonial power play. I was surprised to find out that US forces used three times more ammunition in Cambodia than what they dropped on Japan during entire World War II. The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/cambodia-diary-khmer-rouge-tragedy-rural-gulags-188313">brutal Khmer Rouge</a> got more support from international powers at UN than the people who were at the receiving end of the regime. Despite all the upheavals and one party sticking to power for last two decades, Cambodia is stable. The country has been able to address the ghosts of past by memoralising the violence akin to what Germany did after the Second World War.

Most of the museums and sites tell you about the actual stories of the killings. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/ramayana-and-mahabharata-indias-two-oldest-and-most-durable-brand-ambassadors-188417">Tourists destinations</a> like Angkor Wat will have people playing music at open spaces who lost their limbs in war or because of buried, undiscovered bombs and land mines.

<img alt="Cambodia 1" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="35b1ea10-8050-46b1-8c1d-2067faaefcf9" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/cambodia-1.jpg" />

A plaque describing how the executions were carried out.(Photo: Kartikeya Sharma)

In many places, tourists will find survivors of the genocide selling books written about them. The role of those behind the killings have been documented in great detail. Individual stories too have been given space. The evidence of violence is preserved as a reminder of the horror which Cambodia witnessed. A preface at one such genocide memorial read, "The stories of those who survived the atrocities committed by Khmer Rouge must be memoralised in public spaces beyond the court, not only for sake of justice and reconciliation but also facilitate the education of generations to come."

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/cambodia-diaries-a-visit-to-the-temple-complexes-188425">Also See: A pictorial journey to Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom</a>

Has India done anything of this sort? The violence during Partition was one of the biggest of its kind. Millions were massacred. But do we have a national memorial dedicated to victims of violence funded by the state where the world can see as to what happens when events like these take place?

India has seen violence along the caste, class, religion and ethnic lines throughout its existence as an independent nation state but has failed to create similar educational experience which re-tells the tales of horror and sadness. The attempt by the political parties has been either to find an enemy outside and within to build a space for collective revenge. It is for this reason that episodes like 1984 and post-Godhra violence could go out of hand. This is apart from thousands of riots and ethnic killings which has taken place across India from the North to Northeast. Instead there is a culture of looking away which has built over a period of time.

A small initiative has been taken by the Punjab government by opening a Partition museum which showcases the stories, material and documents on post-Partition violence. The museum was inaugurated last year in Amritsar but none exist at the national scale with intention to educate the coming generation.

It is obvious that India cannot build thousands of memorials and museums on riots and killings but we need our future generations to know about the threat which looms within. The threat is of underestimating the power of bias and hatred. Both are basic ingredients required to kill empathy which is the glue which binds civil society together and keeps the moral fabric functioning. The only way apathy can be broken is to remind the young generation of futility of hostility and bias in civic discourse where a section feels that the other needs to be taught a lesson.

The memoralisation of leaders and powerful figures have become a standard in Indian public life. India needs to build a memorial for those who became victim of violence right under the nose of the mighty state. We can start by putting faces to it which can be a road to healing and reconciliation.

In its absence, the memories at the national stage would either fade away or would be too scattered to have any resonance for the coming generation. India today cannot continue to take shelter behind success in organising elections every 5 years. Time has come to do more. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The killing fields of Cambodia, infamous prisons like S-21 in Phnom Penh and multiple genocide memorials are one amongst many markers which tourists are exposed to when they visit Cambodia.

The killing fields of Cambodia, infamous prisons like S-21 in Phnom Penh and multiple genocide memorials are one amongst many markers which tourists are exposed to when they visit Cambodia. It first generates the feeling of great sorrow and horror, and then of surprise that a country known for gentle conviviality and humbleness was once steeped in a situation where a section of the society killed 20 per cent of its own population within three years in the name of renewal, progress and growth. It can be counter-argued that similar violence and killings were witnessed during Stalin's era in Russia and the Chinese Great Leap Forward as both were inspired by extreme of the Communist ideology which was hell bent on building a new society in a short span of time and had no view of an individual apart from being a component of a larger project. I would say that the Cambodian experience was different as genocide did not take place on ethnic or religious lines like Nazi Germany or Russian pogroms. It was short and traumatic. There are jails in Cambodia where within three years, 18,000 people were killed in the most brutal fashion. There are fields where hundreds and thousands lie buried. The regime killed between 1.7 to 2.5 million people of a population of eight million people in 1975. One of the reminders of brutal killings in Cambodia. (Photo: Kartikeya Sharma) Cambodia also hides a brutal past of hunger, deprivation, bombings, lack of full democracy, and post-colonial power play. I was surprised to find out that US forces used three times more ammunition in Cambodia than what they dropped on Japan during entire World War II. The brutal Khmer Rouge got more support from international powers at UN than the people who were at the receiving end of the regime. Despite all the upheavals and one party sticking to power for last two decades, Cambodia is stable. The country has been able to address the ghosts of past by memoralising the violence akin to what Germany did after the Second World War. Most of the museums and sites tell you about the actual stories of the killings. Tourists destinations like Angkor Wat will have people playing music at open spaces who lost their limbs in war or because of buried, undiscovered bombs and land mines. A plaque describing how the executions were carried out.(Photo: Kartikeya Sharma) In many places, tourists will find survivors of the genocide selling books written about them. The role of those behind the killings have been documented in great detail. Individual stories too have been given space. The evidence of violence is preserved as a reminder of the horror which Cambodia witnessed. A preface at one such genocide memorial read, "The stories of those who survived the atrocities committed by Khmer Rouge must be memoralised in public spaces beyond the court, not only for sake of justice and reconciliation but also facilitate the education of generations to come." Also See: A pictorial journey to Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom Has India done anything of this sort? The violence during Partition was one of the biggest of its kind. Millions were massacred. But do we have a national memorial dedicated to victims of violence funded by the state where the world can see as to what happens when events like these take place? India has seen violence along the caste, class, religion and ethnic lines throughout its existence as an independent nation state but has failed to create similar educational experience which re-tells the tales of horror and sadness. The attempt by the political parties has been either to find an enemy outside and within to build a space for collective revenge. It is for this reason that episodes like 1984 and post-Godhra violence could go out of hand. This is apart from thousands of riots and ethnic killings which has taken place across India from the North to Northeast. Instead there is a culture of looking away which has built over a period of time. A small initiative has been taken by the Punjab government by opening a Partition museum which showcases the stories, material and documents on post-Partition violence. The museum was inaugurated last year in Amritsar but none exist at the national scale with intention to educate the coming generation. It is obvious that India cannot build thousands of memorials and museums on riots and killings but we need our future generations to know about the threat which looms within. The threat is of underestimating the power of bias and hatred. Both are basic ingredients required to kill empathy which is the glue which binds civil society together and keeps the moral fabric functioning. The only way apathy can be broken is to remind the young generation of futility of hostility and bias in civic discourse where a section feels that the other needs to be taught a lesson. The memoralisation of leaders and powerful figures have become a standard in Indian public life. India needs to build a memorial for those who became victim of violence right under the nose of the mighty state. We can start by putting faces to it which can be a road to healing and reconciliation. In its absence, the memories at the national stage would either fade away or would be too scattered to have any resonance for the coming generation. India today cannot continue to take shelter behind success in organising elections every 5 years. Time has come to do more. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Killing fields of Cambodia: What India can learn

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