Attraction Guide: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Guide

Confronting the Past: A Journey Through Tuol Sleng Guide

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S-21, is a chilling reminder of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. This former high school was transformed into a security prison where thousands of innocent people were interrogated, tortured, and ultimately executed. Visiting this site is a deeply moving and sobering experience, offering a crucial insight into a dark chapter of Cambodian history. It serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of remembering the past to prevent future atrocities. Originally built as a school in 1962, Tuol Svay Prey High School was seized by the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and converted into Security Prison 21 (S-21). Over the next four years, an estimated 20,000 people were imprisoned here, including men, women, and children. They were subjected to brutal interrogation techniques aimed at extracting confessions, often based on fabricated charges. The conditions were horrific, with prisoners living in cramped cells, suffering from malnutrition, and enduring constant physical and psychological abuse. Only a handful of prisoners survived. Today, the museum preserves the original classrooms, torture devices, and photographs of the victims. Visitors can walk through the cells, see the instruments of torture, and read the stories of those who suffered within these walls. The museum also features exhibits that provide historical context and information about the Khmer Rouge regime. While a visit to Tuol Sleng is emotionally challenging, it is an essential experience for understanding the Cambodian genocide and its lasting impact. There are no specific culinary traditions associated with the museum itself, but nearby you can find many restaurants offering traditional Khmer cuisine.