THESIS BRIEF I am studying the Cambodian war and how there is hardly any knowledge towards the Cambodian Khmer Rouge Genocide that took place in the early 1970s. I want to spread awareness in educating to what the war has caused to our modern society. There is only little education toward what people actually do know about the war and I want to promote education in a way where they know the history before and after. In addition to this I want to show people how Cambodia is still slowly picking from the aftermath of the genocide. Over the duration of two summers ago, I volunteered in Cambodia for the UN High Commissioner for Cambodian Refugees and they had asked me if to re-brand their organization. I was more than honored to be in such recognized organization and agreed to help them. They wanted me to re-brand the website, make an awareness video and whatever else I thought was necessary to promote awareness. This was my proposal.
A BRIEF HISTORY on the Khmer Rouge Genocide Under Pol Pot’s leadership, and within days of overthrowing the government, the Khmer Rouge embarked on an organized mission: they ruthlessly imposed an extremist program to reconstruct Cambodia (now under its Khmer name Kampuchea) on the communist model of Mao’s China. The population must, they believed, be made to work as laborers in one huge federation of collective farms. Anyone in opposition - and all intellectuals and educated people were assumed to be - must be eliminated, together with all un-communist aspects of traditional Cambodian society. So, at short notice and under threat of death, the inhabitants of towns and cities were forced to leave them. The ill, disabled, old and very young were driven out as well, regardless of their physical condition: no-one was spared the exodus. People who refused to leave were killed; so were those who didn’t leave fast enough, and those who wouldn’t obey orders. All political and civil rights were abolished. Children were taken from their parents and placed in separate forced labor camps.
CAMBODIA
The Khmer Rouge repeatedly interrogated their own members, imprisoning and executing them on the slightest suspicion of treachery or sabotage. Civilian deaths in this period, from executions, disease, exhaustion and starvation, have been estimated at well over 2 million.
THE UNITED NATIONS for the United Nations High Commissioner for Cambodian Refugees and The UN for Cambodian Awareness society. UNHC is the UN’s global development and awareness network. The UN for Cambodian Awareness Society (UNCAS) is a nonprofit incorporated charity organisation pioneered by Perth dentist Dr Gary Hewett in 1995. What began as one man’s vision for change has since long outgrown its humble origins. Awareness Cambodia’s vision is now shared by over 40 staff overseeing 80 once-orphaned Khmer children, now family members of the inaugural Sunshine House. In Cambodia we support the government and communities to further their own solutions to the challenges of development of awareness. The overarching aim of our work is supporting progress towards the awareness of the Khmer Rouge Regime. All our activities are done in close collaboration with the Government, other UN agencies and development stakeholders. Partnerships with the United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia, the European Union, Japan, and Canada are vital for achieving results. To find out more, visit: who we are.
AND
COMMUNIST POSTERS
posters promoting a classless society
PROBLEM IN CAMBODIA
what Cambodia is dealing with today Human trafficking (Prostitution) Planted Landmines leftover from the war Unwanted children HIV / STD Education Defrostation
100%
40% 20% 10% 0%
Biggest problem by percentage facing Cambodia today
Defrostation
30%
Planted Landmines
50%
HIV / AIDS
60%
Education
70%
Unwanted children
80%
Human trafficking (Prostitution)
90%
Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Most children don’t complete more then five years of education - if that - because their families need them to work on the farms. The priority is survival, in a country with limited health care and economic resources. At the national level, the problems loom even larger. Thousands of landmines are still unexploded and thousands of people are maimed or killed each year - thirty years after they were planted. The country is being deforested, affecting the environment in all of Southeast Asia. Sex trafficking is a huge, largely unchecked problem, along with HIV/AIDS. As one human rights worker told me, if you have any interest in human rights problems, just come to Cambodia. They are all here.
COLORS MAGAZINE A magazine on current events Colors magazine is a multilingual quarterly magazine developed in Italy by Fabrica, Benetton’s research center. There are three editions published: French/English, Italian/English, and Spanish/English. Each issue has a theme and covers the topic from an international perspective. The magazine is known for its photoessays and features a sardonic point of view (similar to Benetton advertising). Tibor Kalman and Oliviero Toscani created the magazine in 1991, and it was produced at Kalman’s design studio, M&Co, in New York City until 1993, when the magazine operations moved to Rome, Italy. For the first three years, the magazine was published in five editions: French/English, Spanish/English, Italian/ English, German/English, and Japanese/English.
PRODUCT “RED� a non-profit organization involoving amnesty international Product Red is a brand licensed to partner companies such as American Express, Apple Inc., Starbucks, Converse, Motorola, Gap, Emporio Armani, Hallmark, Microsoft, and Dell. It is an initiative begun by U2 frontman Bono and Bobby Shriver of DATA to raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Bobby Shriver has been announced as the CEO of Product Red, and Bono is an active public spokesperson for the brand.Each partner company creates a product with the Product Red logo. In return for the opportunity to increase its own revenue through the Product Red products that it sells, a percentage of the profit is given to the Global Fund.
GRANDE REPORTAGEN
knowing the world you live.
The magazine Revista Grande Reportagem is a Hard Journalism magazine, on the same line as the Times. The idea was to bring across the concept that the magazine offers profound journalism about topics of real importance to the world of today. This is how we thought of the concept Meet the World. We started to research relevant, global, and current facts and, thus, came up with the idea to put new meanings to the colours of the flags. We used real data taken from the websites of Amnesty International and the UNO. The campaign has been running in Portugal since January 2005. There are eight flags that portray very current topics like the division of opinions about the war in Iraq in the United States, the violence against women in Africa, the social inequality in Brazil, the drug trafficking in Columbia, Aids and malaria in Angola, etc. With regards to the email presenting the campaign as being done by a Norwegian diplomat, this information is completely wrong. There is no Norwegian diplomat called Charung Gollar, there was no presentation in the UNO, and the campaign is not called ‘The Power of the Stars’. This was all invented and is going round the world via email.
People who died in the war People who were injured People who survived the war
The Khmer Rouge is remembered mainly for the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million people or 1/5 of the country’s total population (estimates range from 850,000 to 2.5 million) under its regime, through execution, torture, starvation and forced labor.
ROUGE ATTACK
Sihanouk is deposed in a coup while abroad. The prime minister, General Lon Nol, assumes power. He proclaims the Khmer Republic and sends the army to fight the North Vietnamese in Cambodia. Sihanouk - in exile in China forms a guerrilla movement.
1965 1969 1970 1973 1975 ZERO
1977
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Lon Nol is overthrown as the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot occupy Phnom Penh. Sihanouk briefly becomes head of state, the country is renamed Kampuchea. All urban dwellers are forcibly evacuated to the countryside to become agricultural workers. Money becomes worthless, basic freedoms are curtailed and religion is banned. The Khmer Rouge coin the phrase “Year Zero”. Hundreds of thousands of the educated middle-classes are tortured and executed in special centres. Others starve, or die from disease or exhaustion. The total death toll during the next three years is estimated to be at least 1.7 million.
CAMP REGULATION
1
00
These incredibly harsh conditions limited one’s options for survival. Most Cambodians submitted to each and every Khmer Rouge demand and hoped for the best.
019
Th po e m co we eth it urt red od ab into yard ele s of si us ga st ctri ex th ons e, k llow ood c sh trac ou eir on illin s fo a l oc ting sio t w per pap g th r th arge ks, co n ho son er em e h w sea nfe wa th a fir o a oo ri ss s n eir l bi st. ut ng de ng io ee co ogr As righ ing n f hot ns de -co ap pa t w to ram m at d. ns hie rt a rtu e et Tuo pi s of s d re on al ra cl it is a p lS to ea s q co nd ce rod len rs rly u ur e us s, g we ” es ag xe ed kn we re in o t to ed cut by ive re . O rd w , f io s s cr ve er ip or n o tud an uel r t to e o it w f p e d n o an im g u e et t tr as m riso ts fo the d ba th at ai r ey w to uc ners r gy ter rba we ha rs, h m . T mn rify ric re t ca the or ho as ing . P to us K e i ugh tic im riso rtu e hm m s n re d th e por ma pra plem ers r d n as e p Ro tan y p ctic en we ne riso uge t fo riso e. T ts. re t ce ne le r th ne he Fo or ss rs ad e rs K r e tur ar to e Kh d hm xa ed r yi m i n bec ship me ed f er ple wit or o R h r de m sou Ro rom ou , in ba r t e t gh ug th ge th tte o ra t e ex ito to to e co con e pr ry tra rs “i ge n ve iso ct as nve t c sta rte n wh w st on nt d at ell iga fes ev as te er co to fi nf nd es -
79 0
00
uge on Ro er ring hm ee an e K ngin rari t, th ial e f ag ad l Po f soc rm o tion h o P o l fo la or er ad form dica popu d lab ple ra le e eo ir le me the tre — a who forc f p ing an ex ciety the s or ber o lation o ow f u rm m re Foll posed ian s whe ve fa e nu pop ne o im mbod nism llecti of th of the 75) o Ca mmu in co rms ion le 19 co work . In te roport peop to jects s a p lion il pro d a .5 m kille t. 17 (es
One of the main goals behind resettling urban residents into the countryside was to build a new Cambodia focused on agricultural success: “to build socialism in the fields,” as it was once suggested (Chandler, History of Cambodia, 214).
2
But even during pre-Khmer Rouge, peacetime Cambodia, the average national yield was only one metric ton of rice per hectare. To meet these new demands on rice production the Khmer Rouge enforced strict policies where workers labored in the
3
Those new people who survived but were not well enough to work often vanished: they would be forced to dig their own graves before Khmer Rouge soldiers would bludgeon them on the back of the head with a shovel or hoe.
4
If you wore glasses, you would die. If you practiced Buddhism, you would die. Families with connections to previous Cambodian governments were especially susceptible to ill treatment.
These incredibly harsh conditions limited one’s options for survival. Most Cambodians submitted to each and every Khmer Rouge demand and hoped for the best. Those Cambodians who knew they could be labeled as an enemy.
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n row . re th we pters ple lico Peo of he out e Aliv
1978 Vietnamese forces invade in a lightning assault. The majority of the victims of Tuol Sleng were actually former Khmer Rouge cadres. With each passing year Angka became more and more paranoid, blaming many of its loyal supporters for Cambodia’s woes. The Khmer Rouge leadership saw conspiring enemies around every corner: one particular document from the DK foreign ministry which described these “pests buried within” noted that 1% to 5% of all Cambodians were “traitors.” (see Ben Kiernan’s translation of The view of the contemporary situation in Cambodia) To exterminate this perceived infestation the Khmer Rouge rounded up hundreds of fellow communists each month, sending
THE NAMES OF GENOCIDE
ZERO
According to Samphan, under the Khmer Rouge “there was no policy of starving people. Nor was there any direction set out for carrying out mass killings”, and “there was always close consideration of the people’s well-being.” He acknowledged the use of coercion to produce food due to shortages. Samphan also strongly criticized the current government in the book, blaming it for corruption and social ills.
19 80
Ieng Sary
Ca th mb K e N od th hme orth ian ea r a rm Rou Viet rmy y l ge na fa os g m ce es ue es s t te rrii e a wo rri lla nd e n to s. ry. G com em i ra du mu es: all nis y, t
1 8 19
Known as “Brother Number Three,” Ieng Sary also joined the communist movement in the late 1950s. As a leading member of the KR rebel forces, he became foreign minister in 1975 and was one of the key decisionmakers during the KR years.
Chhit Chhoeun
of Though never studied in Paris he joined the comt Chhit en movement . munist early on as a rebel fighter. Despite oc re inn rtu the as a Buddhist Monk, Chhit was a merciless to bly hise training iv y toand ba swarrior, f he eventually adopted the name “Grandpro es loyalt er o ns Mok,” re f exc tpa tt ss-ioTa Mok. His taste for brutality eventually e a w o crecaused h e rs ut ac people to call him Ta Mok the Butcher. a m nfemany ne e o B, s nly e co s, e ners llo ris orn KG s o th ett riso ulfi 1 p s b the It wa re of chus se p elf-f sive s as a S-2 lie or u Pot of ere IA got. natu ass eca but mPol rity s w e C ally us n M t. B ed, d a ajo ion for th usu ubio rita rge guid dee u ta is d y t m iss s influnking out of his electronics scholarhip in as dm ing the he of p to mAfter wa Saloth returned to Cambodia to help build the e v ’ a spy for rs. T ials ple) as a re Paris, th rs to ed ne o k h tr pe ed the Communist Party of Kampuchea. As one of the leadth, one it o tru pris adm rs as pris witc nd serv that (a s f in ing masterminds behind the Khmer Rouge, Saloth Sar t - ost ally ato t o alem es sion lves m e ep m tu og es became best known under his pseudonym, Pol Pot. nc re en terr ong the S w na nfes ems co fo ev tr o th Pol Pot served as chairman of the party, for which ry ere uld e in e s ke ne e c itra o th wo r th th ip; li ring , th ve to he claimed the infamous title “Brother Number One” arb , s res teve ven rsh ffe ns roo and the reputation as the all-out leader of the Khmer an em ad ha k e de y o sio p re st th ge c - w brea lea cy b nfes m to Rouge. e s a s w ain ou me ld uge pir d co the ion s ag er R l cri wou r Ro ons rce ing s c s a e e m fo llow nfe arg Kh xu ure hm of ir Co e ch yal e, se tort e K fires the ge, a th en lo mes the to th the es in Rou re v r a . d m E tn efo ttle ne na me m Vie e b d li fan me Kh t the tim ttere sion n na the ngs ma nfes ofte cy to amo co uld phe ors wo pro trait ing b of we
In power, the Khmer Rouge carried out a radical program that included isolating the country from foreign influence, closing schools, hospitals and factories, abolishing banking, finance and currency, outlawing all religions, confiscating all private property and relocating people from urban areas to collective farms where forced labor was widespread.
The quality of life in these farm cooperative varied greatly from district to district; overall, though, very few Cambodians were spared from suffering, misery, starvation or the threat of death. Conditions worsened in 1977 and 1978 as Angka increased demands on rice production. With the passage of time it became more and more difficult for malnourished Cambodians to farm efficiently. To make matters worse, the Khmer Rouge’s distain of technology made it next to impossible for workers to reach their increased rice quotas when forced to farm by hand only. Even if a particular collective farm met its rice quota, this didn’t mean they would be rewarded with a proper diet. The bulk of the rice was earkmarked for Khmer Rouge soldiers and political cadre. New people could only eat the scraps that were given to them; if they were caught supplementing their diets with grass or even insects, they too would be sent to the killing fields.
CURRENT
DAY
MONEY
Khieu Samphan
Ca en mb es em od Ro e a ies ian th uge nd : the arm c e ar gu om No y fa m er m rt ce y l rii un h os lla is Vie s tw es s. t K tn o te Gra hm am rri d e to ua r ry. ll y,
A mailer to sent out to spread awareness for benefits and people intrested in knowing more about the war. This would be sent out to people who purchased the books and free for people who have watched the awareness video. Anyone related to the United Nations who wants to know more about can also have this sent out to them.
Cambodia becomes a protectorate of France. French colonial rule lats for 90 days.
KHMER
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1869
A mailer to sent out to spread awareness
1975
S p iha p rim no S fig rocla e m uk p iha is p rim no in ht im inis d fig roc e m uk exil the s t te ep in ht laim inis is e in No he r, G ose ex th s te de C rth Kh en d ile e N th r, po hin V m er in in or e K Ge sed a iet er R al L a Ch th hm ne in - fo na e on co m p u N up in Vie er ra r m e b l a a - fo tna Re Lon co s a se lic ol, a wh rm me pub N up gu in C and ss ile s se lic ol, w err am se um ab a h gu in C and ass ile illa bo nd es roa er a s um ab m dia s th po d. ril m en e ro ov . e we T la bo d s e S a r. h m dia s t po ad. me iha rm He e ov . he we T nt no y em Sih a r. he . uk to en an rmy He t. ou to k -
MAILER
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As the Khmer Rouge systematically destroyed nearly all aspects of Cambodian society, a new conflict simmered with its historical enemy, Vietnam. While both forces grudgingly supported each other as they fought U.S.backed Cambodia and South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, ethnic animosities prevented them from developing any lasting bonds with each other. Even as early as April 1975 - days after the fall of Phnom Penh - the Khmer Rouge exploited the situation in South Vietnam
By December 1978, because of several years of border conflict and the flood of refugees fleeing Cambodia, relations between Cambodia and Vietnam collapsed. Pol Pot, fearing a Vietnamese attack, ordered a pre-emptive invasion of Vietnam. His Cambodian forces crossed the border and looted nearby villages. These Cambodian forces were repulsed by the Vietnamese.
1976
The country is re-named Democratic Kampuchea. Sihanouk resigns, Khieu Samphan becomes head of state, Pol Pot is prime minister.
MAILER
A mailer to sent out to spread awareness Back of card reveal pol pots portrait, representing that he was the one behind the war.
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POSSIBLE LOGOS Logos that reflect the regime
CAMBODIAN OUTREACH PROGRAM
CAMBODIAN OUTREACH PROGRAM
CAMBODIAN OUTREACH PROGRAM Hands represant strength and healing and under is the tip of the angkor wat temple
CAMBODIAN OUTREACH PROGRAM
速
速
CAMBODIAN OUTREACH PROGRAM
CAMPAIGN FLAG Flag to promite organization
Colors represent the original colors of the Khmer Rouge Flag
C.O.P WEBSITE a user friendly website for people to learn about the war Cambodian Outreach
Cambodian Outreach
CAMBODIAN OUTREACH PROGRAM
PAST
PRESENT
FUTURE
TAKE ACTION SPREAD LEARN NEWSROOM ABOUT GIVE SEARCH
Pol Pot’s Regime, learn about the war
CHILD TRAFFICKING PURCHASE FLAG
RSS
Cambodia changed forever on April 17 1975. As the Khmer Rouge took control of the country under the leadership of Pol Pot, stringent rules of conduct were imposed on the lives of its people. Cambodia was renamed Democratic Kampuchea and a four-year purge began in which the Khmer Rouge regime tried to eliminate all signs of the educated classes. The goal was to create an agrarian society. The result was the genocidal killing of 20 per cent of the Cambodian population. Through the use of torture and execution centres, such as Tuol Sleng and the infamous killing fields of Choeng Ek, the Khmer Rouge devastated an already poverty-stricken nation. The regime ended on January 1979 with the invasion of forces from Vietnam. Bringing the Khmer Rouge leadership to trial remains a goal of the United Nations. Under-Secretary-General Kieran Prendergast of the UN Department of Political Affairs, but a court has been established through the efforts of “the Japanese, the French, the Americans and others … and we are going to try and make it work”.
Pol Pot imposed a version of agrarian collectivization and forced labor projects, toward a goal of “restarting civilization” in a “Year Zero”.
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MOTION VIDEO a short motion graphics video to promote the war
PAST & PRESENT BOOKLET
interior of past and present booklet
COVER
TENT S
CON
PAST & PRESENT BOOKLET
interior of past and present booklet
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OF URE FUT BODIA CAM S POT POL LOGY IDEO T TAN MILI FORM UNI ISM
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PAST & PRESENT BOOKLET
interior of past and present booklet
BACK OF BOOK