Madventures/Blog

In of addition to its natural beauty, Cambodia has its share of some seriously bleak locations. The top two competitors of the questionable honor of being the most horrifying place in South-east Asia are the Killing Fields and the infamous Tuol Sleng S-21 prison camp, also known as the Hill of the Poisonous Trees.

This former high school was turned into a house of torture, where an estimated 17,000 people were imprisoned from 1975 to 1979.

Through such techniques as waterboarding and other torture methods, S-21 was the final waypoint of the suspected enemies of Khmer Rouge regime before the trip to Choeung Ek extermination center.  Estimated 2 million people disappeared or were executed by the Khmer Rouge in four years.

Everybody thought everyone else was grass and said so, just to save their own lives.

Kang Kek Lew (Kaing Guek Eav), better known as Duch, the leader of this institution and of the Khmer Rouge special branch is being tried by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for his crimes against humanity.

Duch is now 67-years old. The prosecutors in the case are calling for 40-year sentence.

In his on-going trial, Duch has said he is saddened and sorry of his actions.

Of his confirmed 14 000 prisoners, twelve survived.

Twelve people.

He is sorry.