In English, the word "Toul Sleng" is recognized as the location where the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) regime, more commonly known as the Khmer Rouge (KR) regime, set up a prison to detain individuals accused of opposing Angkar. However, in the Khmer language, the word "Toul Sleng" connotes a terrible meaning in itself. It is perhaps only a strange coincidence that the KR regime used this specific location as a prison. Toul Sleng was a high school. When the Khmer Rouge came...
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In English, the word "Toul Sleng" is recognized as the location where the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) regime, more commonly known as the Khmer Rouge (KR) regime, set up a prison to detain individuals accused of opposing Angkar. However, in the Khmer language, the word "Toul Sleng" connotes a terrible meaning in itself. It is perhaps only a strange coincidence that the KR regime used this specific location as a prison. Toul Sleng was a high school. When the Khmer Rouge came to power it was converted into the S-21 prison and interrogation facility, inmates were systematically tortured to extracts confessions, after which they were executed at the killing fields of Choeung Ek. S-21 prison processed over 17,000 people, less than a dozen of whom survived. The building now serves as a museum, a memorial and a testament to the madness of the Khmer Rouge regime. A visit to this museum now called (Toul Sleng Genocide Museum) is a must, but be aware that the images can leave discomfort, sad and horrible feelings.
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