Social issues: What do young Cambodians think about the Khmer Rouge genocide?

The new generation of Cambodians has complex and varied views on the Khmer Rouge regime, reflecting a mixture of awareness, trauma and sometimes indifference shaped by their education and upbringing.

Many young Cambodians consider the Khmer Rouge era to be one of the darkest chapters in their country's history, marked by unimaginable horrors and genocide.

Rithy Odom, a 20-year-old student at the Royal University in Phnom Penh, explains that although his parents rarely bring up the subject unless asked, he believes it is essential to understand this period of history to prevent the mistakes of the past from being repeated. He describes the Khmer Rouge leaders as people motivated by their egos and an extreme socialist ideology that led to their downfall. Rithy Odom's reflections highlight the desire among some young people to confront the past and learn from it, despite its painful nature.

However, not all young people share this commitment. Sin Sovannleakhena, a multimedia design student, says she is aware of this tragic history, but believes that discussing it today will not change what happened, reflecting a sense of resignation or detachment among some young people.

Educational efforts have helped raise awareness among young Cambodians. The Khmer Rouge genocide is now part of the national school curriculum, a significant change from previous decades when textbooks on the subject were banned.

The Cambodia Documentation Centre and the Khmer Rouge Tribunal play a key role in educating students through forums, museum visits and awareness programmes. Students such as Kuoch Choutieng believe that studying the Khmer Rouge is essential to understanding their identity and honouring the victims. She stresses the importance of accepting this history as an integral part of Cambodian identity.

Despite this, a generational divide remains. Surveys reveal that many young Cambodians are not fully aware of the brutal crimes committed by the regime, partly due to a tradition of silence and trauma that persists in families and communities.

The legacy of the Khmer Rouge continues to deeply affect survivors and their families. Young people often feel responsible for healing the wounds left by the regime's atrocities. They view the Khmer Rouge period as a painful but necessary topic to address in order to achieve national reconciliation and justice.

In summary, the new generation of Cambodians approaches the legacy of the Khmer Rouge with a mixture of awareness, educational commitment and emotional complexity. While some actively seek to understand and remember, others remain distant or resigned, reflecting the ongoing challenge of reconciling with a traumatic past that continues to shape Cambodian society today.

Testimonials

• Rithy Odom, university student: ‘Sometimes I can't help thinking about all the unimaginable horrors that can happen to people. It's so painful just to think about it. Their leaders were overcome by their own egos and ambition; they were big supporters of extreme socialism, which ultimately led to their own downfall.’

• Sin Sovannleakhena, student: ‘I am aware of our tragic and painful history... No matter how much we talk about it today, it won't change anything.’

• Kuoch Choutieng, student: ‘So many children lost their parents, so we have to learn and accept that. We can't escape it. We are Cambodians.’

• Hoerng Ny Houng, student visiting the Tuol Sleng museum: ‘This is my first time here. I am so shocked by what happened.’

More and more young Cambodians recognise the importance of learning about the history of the Khmer Rouge, which they consider essential to their personal understanding, national reconciliation and the prevention of further atrocities.

A sense of duty

As highlighted by the Bophana Centre's multimedia app project, when young people understand what happened and why, they gain the knowledge necessary to help prevent future atrocities and contribute to a more just society. This sentiment is echoed in school forums and educational activities, where students express the need to learn from history in order to build a better future.

Personal healing

Young people also see studying the Khmer Rouge as a way to honour their families' suffering and heal generational trauma. Testimonies reveal that many students lost loved ones during the regime, and understanding this history helps them make sense of their families' experiences and the scars that remain in Cambodian society. Forums and educational programmes also encourage young people to seek out personal testimonies from survivors, fostering intergenerational dialogue and empathy.

Critical thinking

Young people and educators are increasingly calling for not only learning about, but also critical analysis of, the Khmer Rouge period. Young Cambodians want to understand the broader context of how national and international politics contributed to the rise of the regime. They argue that this deeper understanding is essential for learning lessons and promoting tolerance and non-violence.

Concerns

Despite this awareness, many young Cambodians are conscious of the challenges ahead: political sensitivities, the limited scope of school curricula and the risk of superficial learning. Some worry that official narratives do not fully reflect the complexity of this period and advocate for more comprehensive and engaging educational tools, such as mobile apps and interactive media, to make history accessible and relevant.