Documentation Center of Cambodia

 

Building Democracy in Cambodia through Legal Education

Witnessing Justice 30 Years Later

 

A Live Screening Verdict on Case 002/01 At Roka Po Pram Commune

Tbong Khmum District, Tbong Khmum Province

 

August 07, 2014

 

Photo by Sa Fatily, Min Sanas and Oeng Bungkheang

The live screening was conducted at Wat Ta Pav pagoda (formally Sasanak Rangsy Serey Sokharam pagoda) in Tapav Bampenh Tis village. Locating within the center of the commune, the pagoda serves several nearby villages including Cham and Khmer villages. This commune has a large Cham population with approximately 2500 families living in eight villages around the commune. One of the largest and oldest Cham villages in Cambodia is Roka Po Pram 1 and Roka Po Pram 2. These two villages were believed to be the original place where key Cham royal families and officials fled from Champa in the 19th century, according to the villagers. This tomb is also now believed to have some superstitious power which followers of Islam can ask for favors.

 

Roka Po Pram commune has a total population of approximately 9000 families. Many of them are farmers growing rice full time and growing crops such as casava, peppers, rubber, cashew and bittle part time.

 

Under the Khmer Rouge time, many people in this commune were able to live in their homes. They were then called base people. There were no large scale killings under the Khmer Rouge here. Those villagers who lost their family members or witnessed killings did so when they were evacuated in a secondary evacuation to other places around the country. There is no mass grave in the commune too. Life here was difficult under the Khmer Rouge but not harsh. The team chose this place for live screening event because they sought participation of both Cham and Khmer people and wanted to hear the voices of those less affected by the Khmer Rouge.