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heal the
wounds of the past. By aiding accountability efforts and teaching principles of
law and justice, we seek to contribute to a stronger rule of law and
prevent human rights abuses in the future.
To ensure
that we can play a similar role for many years to come, we are
preparing to establish the
Sleuk Rith Institute.
The name of
our Institute reflects our core objectives, as well as our Cambodian
heritage. Sleuk rith are dried leaves that Cambodian
religious leaders and scholars have used for centuries to document
history, disseminate knowledge, and preserve culture during periods
of harsh rule. They represent the beauty of knowledge and the power
of human perseverance during times of peril. The Sleuk Rith
Institute will represent a permanent stand against genocide, in
Cambodia and throughout the world. The Institute will be built
around three key pillars:
· A
museum that will cherish the memory of lost loved ones, foster
reconciliation,
and show the power of Cambodian culture to survive and overcome the
dark
legacy of Khmer Rouge terror.
· A
research center that will continue our work in compiling,
organizing, analyzing, and preserving information about the Pol Pot
era and other periods of grave human suffering. Scholarly research
at the Institute will promote accountability and encourage a greater
understanding of the history of Cambodia and other places torn by
conflict and tragedy. This research center will be connected to a
media center where we will disseminate books, magazines, radio
shows, and other sources of knowledge for the public. Our media
outputs will seek to contribute to a more robust and democratic
dialogue among Cambodians and others about the requirements for a
just society.
· A
school that will train Cambodians and international visitors about
the lessons of the past and the principles of law and human rights
needed to build a more promising future. With a state-of-the-art
library, we will create a setting that encourages students and
researchers to reflect and learn effectively.
The
Cambodian government has generously agreed to provide us with a
suitable piece of land for the Institute, and we are now working
with expert architects to design a campus with appropriate places
for study and reflection. We plan to break ground in 2011 and are
reaching out to donors for support. We look forward to carrying out
our mission with the assistance of concerned members of the
Cambodian and international communities. |
