Choeung Ek – Killing Fields in Cambodia

Approximately 15 kilometres south from the heart of Phnom Penh, you will be able to find part of The Killing Fields known as Choeung Ek. The reign of the Khmer Rouge was one of terror for the Cambodian people and it is estimated that 1.7 million people were murdered.

After being tortured in the Tuol Sleng prison (which you can visit in downtown Phnom Penh), many prisoners were transported under the cover of darkness to be executed and piled into a mass grave at Choeung Ek.

Current Day

The site is now a museum and although there have been excavations in the 1980s, many of the mass graves remain undisturbed.

There are 129 mass graves that have been discovered in this former Chinese cemetery, some of which contain horrific proof of the gruesome end that many men, women and indeed children met during the late 1970s.

What to Expect

When you first arrive at the gates of the Choeung Ek, you will be greeted with a beautiful stupa. This is a shrine with a wonderfully detailed and colourful gable and roof.

The sides of the stupa are made of glass and housed inside are a number of skulls and bones belonging to the excavated victims.

What is so noticeable about the remains is that they have been organised into categories of age and gender – chilling. It is requested that you take your shoes off before climbing up to view the stupa as a sign of respect to the dead.

As well as the stupa, there are many well-used and winding paths that will take you around the unopened mass graves. There are plenty of signs and information is provided to give the visitor a full insight into what really happened there.

A Chilling Reminder

In some of the opened mass graves you can see remains of clothing, bits of bones and teeth of the poor victims. There is a detailed map marking out all of the locations of the mass graves as well as markers and information about some of the buildings that stood there such as the killing tool shed and the executioner’s office.

The excavated pits give a lot of information about what was found inside. For example, one of the pits contained skeletons that had been decapitated. It is believed that the heads had been thrown into a nearby river.

The Killing Tree

Another disturbing feature of the Choeung Ek killing field is the “baby-killing tree”. This is a tree beside a mass grave of women and infants. The details state that the tree was used to beat the children in front of their mother; they would be hung upside down by their legs and their heads swung at the tree.

There are also copies of photographs of the excavations held in 1980 which are very poignant.

As you can see, Choeung Ek cannot be described as “an attraction”; but it is certainly worth the visit to find out more about what the Cambodian people had to go through during one of the darkest times in their history. It is a place of reflection and peacefulness as well as an opportunity to pay your respects to those who have had their lives so brutally taken from them.

Hours of Operation and Fees

Choeung Ek is open everyday between the hours of 8am and 5pm. Tickets currently cost US$5 for adults and US$3 for children (there are also concessions for students and OAPs). As it is located out of the heart of the city, it is recommended that you hire a taxi for the day or take a moto to see this poignant piece of Cambodian history.

Booking

If it’s your first time to Cambodia you may want to book an organized tour to go see the Choeung Ek Killing fields. Finding a reputable tour company once you are already there can be a bit of a challenge; if you’re interested in going on a half day tour that will take you first to the Tuol Sleng prison (also known as S21) in downtown Phnom Penh and then onto the Killing Fields please click here to book in advance.