Documentation Center of Cambodia

 

Genocide Education in Cambodia

Anti-Genocide Memorial Inauguration Ceremony at Chba Ampov High School

 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

March 18, 2011

Photo by: Chhang Youk, Seng Kunthy, Kan Penh Samnang, and Nhean Socheat

            On March 18, 2011, DC-Cam and the Ministry of Education held an inauguration ceremony for an Anti-Genocide Memorial at Chba Ampov High School. Her Excellency Chumteav Ton Sa-Im, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and DC-Cam director Youk Chhang, were guests of honor for this ceremony. Chba Ampov High School was the ninth location to hold a memorial inauguration ceremony. The slogans encourage students and their parents to study the Khmer Rouge period in order to promote reconciliation and genocide prevention. The slogans say: (1) "Talking about experience during the Khmer Rouge regime promotes reconciliation and educates children about forgiveness and tolerance"; and (2) "Learning about the history of Democratic Kampuchea helps prevent genocide."

             Chba Ampov High School is situated along National Road 1. It is located in Boeng Chhouk Village, Sangkat Nirout, Khan Mean Chey, Phnom Penh, and covers about ten hectares of land. It was built in 1966. When the Khmer Rouge took power in 1975, the school was closed and turned into farm, fertilizer warehouse and dining hall. The wooden buildings were pulled down. After 7 January 1979, the school was reopened and renamed Kuyba Republic High School. The name was changed to its original name, Chba Ampov High School, in 1995. Today the school has 4,573 students, among whom 2,080 are girls.              

             During the inauguration, DC-Cam distributed to students 300 copies of “A History of Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1979),” its monthly magazine Searching for the Truth, and anti-genocide slogan posters. Her Excellency Chumteav Ton Sa-Im spoke about the significance of the slogans, which had an important role in educating students and survivors about reconciliation, forgiveness and tolerance.

             The slogans were mounted with financial support from DC-Cam staff members and their friends who were former students of Chba Ampov High School. Apart from the important objective of mounting the Anti-Genocide slogans, this ceremony is also a great opportunity for former students to meet with each other to discuss the need to prevent genocide. DC-Cam will encourage its staff members to continue making efforts to mount slogans in their former high schools and all high schools across Cambodia.