S-21, Phnom Penh

We next toured Security 21. This was originally a middle school, turned internment camp and execution base during the Pol Pot genocide in 1975 - 1979. During that time it is estimated that almost 3 million people were killed. The stories of torture and prisoner treatment are horrific. It was a solemn experience. A little background. Three brothers took over power in Cambodia to start a socialist movement. They wanted to destroy the cities and make everyone farmers. Security 21 was responsible for the security of brother 2 and brother 1. These prisoners were interrogated for the security of those brothers. Confessions were pre-written to condemn other citizens. As many as 100 people were killed a day in a place called the killing fields. Pol Pot refers to the Political Potential of the 3 brothers.