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May 22, 2006
Our project begins...
Today was our first day of work at the Documentation Center, and the official start to our project. Emma and I had no idea what to expect. Although we knew that DC-Cam were sort-of our academic sponsors, we had no idea what that would entail and DC-Cam really had no idea what our project would entail.
We got to work at 8 am to meet the director, Youk Chhang. We went from secretary to secretary all the way up to the top floor in the building, then we were taken to the roof and across a walkway to the building next door. After that, we were taken all the way downstairs and given to another secretary--it was like out of a movie! Finally we were able to meet Youk. He didn't remember that we had a meeting today, but when he realized who we were, he got very excited. He gave us a tour of the buildings, which are incredibly beautiful and filled with amazing amounts of information. DC-Cam employs 60 Cambodians, which is very large for any NGO.
Youk was so kind, and he gave Emma and I our own office as well as full access to all of their archives and databases. Not only that, but he said that we could travel with their teams to the provinces any time we wanted, which is perfect, since what we really want to do is to meet with survivors and former Khmer Rouge to interview and photograph them. DC-Cam is like a dream come true, beyond any of my expectations. It's like the final link in the chain for our trip. Everything has worked out so well, and all of our hard work has paid off. Youk even told us that DC-Cam provides free plane tickets to Cambodia for all their interns once they return home. That means Emma and I can come back any time we'd like.
After this amazing meeting, Youk told us that today happened to be a special day at DC-Cam, as they had brought over 500 survivors and former Khmer Rouge from the provinces into Phnom Penh to visit the memorials and sites of genocide, and to learn more about the upcoming trial. Emma and I were allowed to tag along with the DC-Cam staff all day; we were the only foreigners. Many of these people were very old, and had seen very few white people in their lives. Therefore, we were kind of a big attraction. Nevertheless, these Cambodians were so kind and open. Since they lived in the rural areas, none spoke English, so I was able to use my Khmer to meet them and ask them some simple questions. DC-Cam set up seven interviews for us with an interpreter, so we met with former Khmer Rouge soldiers, survivors of prisons, and people who had lost all of their family. Although Emma and I were unprepared to do this kind of work today, we managed to do pretty good interviews (I recorded them while she photographed.) It was a really draining day; these people were very emotional and I had to fight back tears on several occasions during the interviews. What all the people wanted--even former Khmer Rouge--was justice. They want the leaders to be punished. Cambodia needs this upcoming trial to be fair and to be quick. Cambodia needs healing.
On the way home from Choueng Ek (the Killing Fields), the bus ahead of ours got stuck in the mud and died. We were stuck in the baking sun for an hour trying to push this bus. Emma and I were pouring with sweat. It was a one lane road so the traffic was stopped on both sides. A truck tried to go around us and it got stuck in the mud too. Someone tried to jump the bus by connecting it to a tractor. Everyone--Emma and I, the DC-Cam staff, the old Cambodians on the buses--were laughing hysterically. It was a fitting end to such a day.
Tomorrow Emma and I are getting up very early to see these people one last time as DC-Cam is taking them to the ICC to see where the trial will take place. I think it's amazing that DC-Cam is doing so much for the Cambodian people. They are encouraging them to learn as much about the trial as possible and to become a part of the process.
I'm so grateful and excited to be connected to these people, this process, and this organization in any way. Today was our first day, and we already have powerful and valuable material.
Posted by laraf at May 22, 2006 08:31 AM