Cambodia’s top genocide researcher has called on Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema to allow Cambodians to continue managing the Choeung Ek genocide memorial.
In a letter to Kep Chuktema, who controversially signed a contract with the Japanese company JC Royal last month granting the firm ownership of the memorial for 30 years, Youk Chhang said that Cambodians have worked to preserve the country’s 80 genocide memorial sites for 25 years.
“To lease Choeung Ek to a private Japanese company for development will strongly affect our national history,” Youk Chhang wrote in the letter Monday.
Cement and wood buildings were constructed in the 1980s to house the bones of Khmer Rouge victims, and though some have suffered neglect, many ordinary people and high-ranking officials still contribute to the upkeep of these sites, he said.
Recently, Senate President Chea Sim had renovated a memorial in Takeo province’s Tram Kak district while villagers and monks in Kandal and Kompong Speu provinces worked together to renovate memorial sites in their areas.
“I would like to push the municipality to develop [Choeung Ek], and I believe strongly that Cambodian, and internationally, people would really support your Excellency’s efforts in this historical work,” Youk Chhang wrote.
Choeung Ek’s general manager, Neang Say, said that he was called to a meeting at City Hall on Monday where Deputy Governor Mob Sarin asked him and other staff at the memorial site to “calm down” regarding the privatization deal.
“However, I still keep my previous strong stand that our Cambodian people and government should run and develop [Choeung Ek],” Neang Say said after the meeting.
The government cannot reverse its privatization deal, Municipal First Vice Governor Mam Bun Neang said. “If we change our minds it means we lack responsibility,” he said. “Actually, many companies from various countries wanted to develop the Choeung Ek memorial.”
“Japan might stop helping our city if we cancel the contract with them,” Mam Bun Neang added.
