Choeung Ek, Killing Fields

Historic Site in Phnom Penh

Public Domain / Adam Carr

Choeung Ek is a former orchard located in Dangkao, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Between 1975 and 1979, it served as one of the Khmer Rouge’s Killing Fields during the Cambodian genocide. Situated approximately 17 kilometers (11 miles) south of Phnom Penh’s city center, Choeung Ek was closely linked to the notorious Tuol Sleng detention center. Following the fall of the Khmer Rouge, the remains of 8,895 victims were exhumed from the site. Victims, primarily political prisoners, were often executed using blunt instruments such as pickaxes to save bullets, and their bodies were buried in mass graves.

As one of about 300 Killing Fields across Cambodia, Choeung Ek is the most well-known. These sites collectively witnessed the execution of over one million people during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Memorial and Site Features

At Choeung Ek, mass graves containing 8,895 bodies were uncovered after the regime’s fall. Today, the site is a somber memorial to those who lost their lives. A prominent feature is the Buddhist stupa, which has acrylic glass panels and holds more than 5,000 human skulls. Some of the lower levels are accessible during the day, allowing visitors to view the skulls up close, many of which bear evidence of brutal methods of execution.

The site also retains the excavated pits from which remains were exhumed, and human bones can still be found scattered around. Visitors are encouraged to pay their respects and reflect on Cambodia’s tragic history.

Development and Preservation

On May 3, 2005, the Municipality of Phnom Penh entered a 30-year agreement with JC Royal Co. to manage and develop the memorial site. As part of this agreement, the remaining undisturbed human remains in the field are to be preserved and protected. Choeung Ek stands as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed and a place for remembrance and learning.

The Choeung Ek, Killing Fields appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Phnom Penh!

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