as i work in Phnom Penh, I’m often enveloped in really incredible stories of transformation and hope. This post by Chris Baker Evens on the Sojourners blog reminds me to always be aware of what’s happening under the surface in Cambodia. It calls me to action – I still don’t know what yet. But the spark is there.
Saw this in Google Reader this morning from Sojourners. Beautiful isn’t it?
Voice of the Day: Taizé Hymn
08-10-2009
The kingdom of God is justice and peace
and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Come, Lord, and open in us
the gates of your kingdom.
- Hymn from Taizé,
an ecumenical monastic community in France
AFP - Cambodian students read textbooks about the hardline Khmer Rouge regime at the Hun Sen Ang Snuol high school in Kandal province, west of Phnom Penh. It plunged their country into a communist "Year Zero" in the late 1970s and killed about a third of the population, but most young Cambodians shrug when asked about the Khmer Rouge.
Great news from the Kingdom of Cambodia! Students are now going to learn about the Khmer Rouge Regime that devastated the country 30 years ago. History books have never included that extremely dark chapter in Cambodia’s history even though the country is dealing with the afteraffects of Pol Pot, his extreme policies, and the thousands upon thousands of individuals who lost their lives during his reign of terror.
I am hopeful.
For the new generation. They are a generation marked by the nightmares of their parents, by human trafficking, by incredible development and change, and hopefully now – a way to make sure the past never happens again.
I went to the trial of a mass murderer the other day. I even heard his voice – through earphones projected over a sound system – but nonetheless his voice. It’s hard to believe looking at him while he sits, small and frail in the defense box, that Duch was the one who gave the execution order for thousands upon thousands of people during his leadership at Tuol Sleng.
I learned something else today: that the school across the street from my house was not just a torture and execution centre, but was also a burial ground for awhile. Dozens of bodies were interred there, until the Khmer Rouge became concerned about sanitation and moved the execution grounds out of Phnom Penh to the infamous Killing Fields at Choeung Ek.
As I sat in the gallery of the Court and watched the drama unfold before me, I couldn’t help but wonder what it was accomplishing. Today, Duch was being questioned about S24, a third Khmer Rouge centre that operated as a labor and re-education camp. Most people were shuffled from S24 to either Choeung Ek or S21 (Tuol Sleng) for execution.
Slow. Droning detail. Question after question. Digging a little more for a bit more detail. The word for execution? Smash. Duch gave the word, and women, babies, children and men were smashed.
Still, in spite of Duch’s often gory confession, I do wonder what the trials are accomplishing. It’s taken no less than 30 years for the UN in partnership with the Kingdom of Cambodia to get them started. The ECCC is outside of Phnom Penh by about 10km in a stunning, state of the art, glossy new compound. The trials are open to the public, but it’ll take you 40 minutes (and about $10) to get there – making it out of the question for your average Cambodian. There was a group of Cambodian students at the trials today, which was a glimmer of hope for me.
Still though, only 6 former Khmer Rouge are being tried. Co-Prosecutor, Pierre Petit (Canadian woohoo!) has resigned from his post for personal reasons. It is rumored, however, that his ‘personal reasons’ is the lack of justice that under girds the whole trial. He can identify at least 6 other individuals (all in upper-level positions of the current government) who should be tried but are not.
Plus, it was 30 years ago that all of this happened. One of my coworkers was planning on coming today but decided against it. “What will it accomplish,” she told me. “It is in the past. We all know what happened and want to move on.” She thinks the Khmer Rouge secrets will go to the grave with them – exactly where they belong.
Fair enough. Except I can’t help thinking that Cambodia’s battle with history isn’t over. Because the secrets it holds from the Khmer Rouge era are feeding a current generation of leaders with the idea that you can get away with murder. In Cambodia, that’s not just an idea – it’s reality. The future of Cambodia lies in how deep Cambodians dive into their modern history, and how the Khmer Rouge regime is brought to justice.
i spoke today at my parent’s church – Hope Covenant – in Strathmore about Hagar. i’m not a pro when it comes to public speaking, but i believe so firmly in the work that Hagar is doing that it kind of oozed out of me.
after having lived in Cambodia for the past 8 months, and working with Hagar, i think i actually believe in redemption – i actually believe that new life is possible – in this life time. i’m reminded of the redeeming power of love every day as I work for Hagar and hear stories of reintegration. women and kids who’ve come out of the most horrendous conditions – trafficking for sexual exploitation, horrific domestic violence, rape – are finding hope and new life through the work Hagar does. that inspires me. i also live across the street from tuol sleng, the old interrogation center the khmer rouge used to torture people (14,000 of them) before shuffling them off to the killing fields. now, the neighborhood is a pensive one. apparently it took years for people to populate this area again. but now there are families. and that’s where we live. on the second floor of townhouse, overlooking the banana grove behind the torture centre. i love where i live because it reminds of how jesus can make all things new. and how people are dreaming again in cambodia – a country that was devastated by civil war.
so my heart is full today. full of hope. and expectation that God is bringing new life to this world as His body cares for the oppressed, feeds the hungry, and speaks out truth in love.
just saw this doc the other night at Meta House – a PHnom Penh art gallery, bar/restaurant and small cinema. it was pretty awful watching. not the cinematography, but the absolute horror of war. and my own fear of intervening. of pursuing peace.
i think sand and sorrow does bring to light the injustice happening in darfur, but doesn’t actually come out and explain any concrete ways of getting involved in bringing peace to the region. i still feel stuck.
It doesn’t matter how often I hear or read stories like this. I get goosebumps from the horror that it continues to happen. Slavery, the awful reality of it. And then the goosebumps stay because I have an overwhelming desire to be a part of the solution.
Read the moving blog entry:
And then watch Hagar’s video about Aftercare – it’s part of the solution to human trafficking and modern slavery.
A new video I’ve just posted to youtube and facebook. I think it brilliantly and concisely describes the work HAGAR is doing in Cambodia and around the world.
The organization that is near and dear to my heart was featured by the blindproject – an organization based out of New York, NY that is committed to supporting women and children throughout the world who are victims of trafficking. This particular blurb mentions Hagar in light of Global Giving - and from now until the end of March, or when Global Giving’s money runs out, anyone who makes a donation to Hagar through GG will see their donations doubled! Double the impact.
Pursuing faith & justice in Cambodia...the Kingdom of Wonder.
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