POV Community Engagement & Education Discussion GuiDe A Film by Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath www.pbs.org/pov
Letters from the filmmakers My father, a middle-class farmer, was killed by the Khmer Rouge in 1974, when he refused to give them his buffalo. My mother, forced to marry a Khmer Rouge militiaman after my father s death, died in childbirth in 1976. My eldest brother disappeared in 1977. i later found out that he d been killed in a party purge in our area. When the Khmer Rouge fell in 1979, i 10 years old at the time escaped to a refugee camp on the Thai border. i learned english from American missionaries and eventually started working as a location scout and translator for media organizations in Phnom Penh in the 1990s. Throughout that time, i never really understood what had happened under the Khmer Rouge. i read history books almost all by Westerners but it still didn t make sense to me: Why were so many people killed? it could not be just because the Khmer Rouge were bad people. in 1998, through my work as a journalist, i got to know the children of some senior Khmer Rouge cadres. For the next four years, and much to my wife s annoyance, i spent most weekends visiting the home of the most senior surviving leader, nuon chea, aka Brother number Two. But he never said anything other than what he had told Western journalists: I was low-ranking. I knew nothing. I am not a killer. Then one day he said to me, sambath, i trust you. You are the person i would like to tell my story to. Ask me what you want to know. For the next five years, he told me the truth, as he saw it, including all the details of the killings. Throughout this time, i also took pains to find Khmer Rouge killers who would talk to me. There are thousands of such people in cambodia, but none had ever confessed, and finding them is like looking for a needle in the sea. My last group of sources was the plotters, the people who were trying to overthrow Pol Pot and nuon chea. Without them, you cannot understand the killing fields. But in this group, too, none of the survivors had ever talked. Director/Producer Thet sambath Photo courtesy of 'enemies of the People' My sources are country people. The Khmer Rouge were all country people. They don t talk to people from the city, let alone foreigners. i am a country person. i think that s why, in the end, they talked to me. i am one of them. in 2005, i started to plan a book. But i worried no one would believe me, so i began tape-recording all my interviews. Then i worried that people still might not believe it. so, in 2006, i began videotaping my interviews and meetings. That same year, i met Rob Lemkin and we decided to make this documentary film about my work and the secrets of the Khmer Rouge. some may say no good can come from talking to killers and dwelling on past horror, but i say these people have sacrificed a lot to tell the truth. in daring to confess, they have done good, perhaps the only good thing left that they can do. They and all killers like them must be part of the process of reconciliation if my country is to move forward. Thet Sambath,, co-director/co-producer 2
Letters from the filmmakers Ten years ago i made a BBc documentary called The Undeclared War, about a mysterious Malaysian revolutionary named chin Peng. chin Peng came to London for the premiere, and in a taxi back to the airport afterward, he told me that in 1975 chairman Mao had sent him to stay with Pol Pot. He told me the real Pol Pot was very different from the popular image of him. He said Pol Pot was like a deer in the headlights and admitted to him that he was out of his depth after seizing power. chin Peng thought that was why the killing fields had happened. This image of a genocide caused by chaos and inexperience stayed with me. in 2006, i visited Phnom Penh and met Thet sambath. i discovered we shared the investigative journalist s inherent suspicion of common wisdom. i also discovered we were on the same path to the heart of the killing fields, only he was much further along than i was, and for him, finding out what had happened was a deeply personal matter. My own personal connection to cambodia is non-existent. But my connection to genocide is not: Many members of my father s family died at the hands of the nazis, and a rather remote relative of mine, Raphael Lemkin, even coined the term genocide. i see sambath as a man trying to make sense of the nightmare of his childhood. When he finally understands the genocide, as he says he does, he achieves inner peace and coherence because he is able to situate his personal loss in the wider sweep of history. i also see him as a representative of cambodia s second generation after the genocide, working to ferret out the truth from the first generation in order to convey the meaning of history to the third generation. in this sense, this story could be from Germany, south Africa, northern ireland, Yugoslavia, Rwanda, iraq or sudan. Director/Producer Rob Lemkin Photo courtesy of 'enemies of the People' Rob Lemkin,, co-director/co-producer 3
background table of Contents information Credits 5 Introduction 6 Potential Partners 6 Key Issues 6 Using This Guide 7 Background Information 7 Cambodia 9 Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge 11 Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) 13 Selected People Featured in 15 General Discussion Questions 16 Discussion Prompts 18 Taking Action 19 Resources 23 How to Buy the Film Writer Faith Rogow, PhD Insighters Educational Consulting background Writers and editors Kristine Wilton Guide Producers, eliza Licht Director, Community Engagement & Education, POV Jamie Dobie Coordinator, Community Engagement & Education, POV Design: Rafael Jiménez Copy editor: Natalie Danford thanks to those who reviewed this guide: Sara Cohan Education director, The Genocide Education Project ellen Kennedy, Ph.D. Executive director, World Without Genocide at William Mitchell College of Law Rob Lemkin Co-director, Thet Sambath Co-director, 4
introduction in the wake of the Vietnam War, the Khmer Rouge oversaw the deaths of nearly 2 million people. At the time, the brutality of the cambodian genocide, often referred to as the killing fields, was nearly incomprehensible. Decades later, those who were traumatized and those who have tried to heal and rebuild still yearn for explanations and justice. enter Thet sambath, an unassuming, yet cunning, investigative journalist who lost his family in the genocide. sambath spent a decade gaining the trust of the men and women who perpetrated the massacres. enemies of the People (93:00 min.) documents the fruits of his labor. Through astounding interviews with foot soldiers who slit throats, and even with Pol Pot s right-hand man, the notorious Brother number Two, hidden aspects of genocide are slowly revealed. Artful cinematography amplifies the shocking testimony as viewers see peaceful present-day landscapes that belie the terrors buried beneath their surfaces. nuon-chea aka Brother-number-Two Photo courtesy of 'enemies of the People' enemies of the People helps viewers gain a deeper understanding of genocide by providing insight into the experiences and motivations of the executioners. As an outreach tool, it is a thought-provoking examination of the human capacity for atrocity, survival and healing. 5
background PotentiaL Partners information key issues enemies of the People is well suited for use in a variety of settings and is especially recommended for use with: your local Pbs station Groups that have discussed previous Pbs and films relating to human rights, Cambodia or genocide, including The Flute Player, Lost Boys of Sudan, Inheritance, The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) and Discovering Dominga Groups focused on any of the issues listed in the key issues section high school students faith-based organizations and institutions Cultural, art and historical organizations, institutions and museums Civic, fraternal and community groups academic departments or student groups at colleges, universities and high schools Community organizations with a mission to promote education and learning, such as your local library organizations that work with immigration issues enemies of the People is an excellent tool for outreach and will be of special interest to people looking to explore the following topics: Cambodia Genocide human rights Journalism Justice khmer rouge military history oral history Peace studies Perpetrators of violence Political science Psychology sociology tribunals/international law truth and reconciliation Vietnam War using this Guide This guide is an invitation to dialogue. it is based on a belief in the power of human connection, designed for people who want to use enemies of the People to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues and communities. in contrast to initiatives that foster debates in which participants try to convince others that they are right, this document envisions conversations undertaken in a spirit of openness in which people try to understand one another and expand their thinking by sharing viewpoints and listening actively. The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issues in the film. Rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests. And be sure to leave time to consider taking action. Planning next steps can help people leave the room feeling energized and optimistic, even in instances when conversations have been difficult. For more detailed event planning and facilitation tips, visit www.pov.org/outreach 6
background information Cambodia With a population of approximately 15 million, present-day cambodia struggles to overcome a history of political instability. Most cambodians trace their roots to the Khmer empire, which ruled a significant part of southeast Asia until the 13th century. invaders, whose descendants now constitute majority populations in Thailand and Vietnam, staged a seven-month siege on Angkor, the capital of the empire, leading to a period often referred to by historians as the dark ages. When French explorers arrived in cambodia in the early 1860s to expand their commercial interests, cambodians welcomed protection from continued civil wars and rebellions. However, protection soon turned into extensive political and economic control, and cambodia declared its independence in 1953, creating a constitutional monarchy. The cambodian communist movement emerged from the country's struggle against French colonization. instability surfaced as the region found itself in a clash between communist china and the cold War containment policies of the united states. in 1975, after a five- Thet sambath at his farm Photo courtesy of 'enemies of the People' year insurgency, Pol Pot and communist Khmer Rouge forces captured cambodia s capital city of Phnom Penh and, in celebration of ethnic nationalism, named their new state Democratic Kampuchea. A Vietnamese invasion that lasted from 1978 to 1979 eventually drove out the Khmer Rouge, but not before almost 2 million cambodians had died in what came to be known as cambodia s killing fields. Rather than stabilizing the country, the ongoing Vietnamese occupation sparked a 13-year civil war. Many cambodians fled and escaped to refugee camps in neighboring Thailand. More than 100,000 refugees later resettled in the united states, where over 250,000 people of cambodian descent live today. The 1991 Paris Peace Agreement officially ended the war, though skirmishes continued. Two years later, the united nations aided cambodia in conducting national elections that established a multiparty democracy led by King sihanouk 7
background information and Prime Minister Hun sen, a former Khmer Rouge military commander. in 1999, after continued factional fighting and more disputed elections, the last of the Khmer Rouge were captured and the movement collapsed. in 2004, King sihanouk abdicated and his son Prince norodom sihamoni succeeded him. subsequent years have seen minimal violence during elections and some degree of stability, though the nation still struggles economically and is heavily dependent on foreign aid. sources: BBc news. cambodia country Profile. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1243892.stm cambodia Tribunal Monitor. "Historical overview of the Khmer Rouge. http://www.cambodiatribunal.org/history/khmer-rouge-history.html" Thet sambath on the road in cambodia Photo courtesy of 'enemies of the People' cia World Factbook. cambodia. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/geos/cb.html Frontline. cambodia Pol Pot s shadow. http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/cambodia/didyouknow.html Independent Lens. War and cambodia. http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/refugee/war_cambodia.html Keller, Lucy. untac in cambodia from occupation, civil War and Genocide to Peace. Inquiry 9 (2005): 127-178. Kiernan, Ben. The Pol Pot Regime: Race, Power and Genocide in Cambodia Under the Khmer Rouge, 1975-79. new Haven: Yale university Press, 2008 The center for Justice and Accountability. Background on cambodia. http://cja.org/article.php?list=type&type=447 8
background information Pol Pot and the khmer rouge in the aftermath of World War ii, many former european colonies declared independence, seeking to express more authentic national identities than was possible under colonial rule. Disputes quickly arose between those who believed their future would be best served by aligning with the West and communists, who rejected any ties to the West. Pol Pot (saloth sar) came of age in the 1950s, as his country, along with many others, struggled to define itself. He studied in Paris, where he came to believe that a strongly nationalistic approach to communism offered cambodia its best chance at a classless society. When he returned to cambodia, he secretly joined the communist movement, which until then had been heavily influenced by Ho chi Minh s communist party in neighboring Vietnam. Pol Pot and the man who would become his chief ideologist, nuon chea, commonly known as Brother number Two, were determined to steer their own communist revolution in cambodia. King sihanouk referred to them and their comrades as Red Khmer, or, in French, Khmer Rouge. This became the name by which the cambodian communists, led by Pol Pot, were known. Throat-slitting Demo Photo courtesy of 'enemies of the People' As Pol Pot rose to power, the united states became mired in the conflict in neighboring Vietnam, picking up where the French left off trying to destroy Ho chi Minh s communist forces. The war began to spill over into neutral cambodia, where Ho chi Minh s Vietcong army had set up bases. The united states launched secret bombing campaigns on these bases beginning in 1969; 540,000 tons of bombs were dropped, killing somewhere from 150,000 to 500,000 people. Many people attribute the ascendancy of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge (and, ultimately, the cambodian genocide) to the civilian casualties and devastation that resulted from the u.s. bombing campaigns. Former New York Times correspondent sydney schanberg said the Khmer Rouge would point at the bombs falling from B-52s as something they had to oppose if they were going to have freedom. And it became a recruiting tool until they grew to a fierce, indefatigable guerilla army. Former u.s. secretary of state Henry 9
background information Kissinger saw things differently. in his memoir he argued, it was Hanoi animated by an insatiable drive to dominate indochina that organized the Khmer Rouge long before any American bombs fell on cambodian soil. During this time, the united states also backed the overthrow of cambodia s ruler, King sihanouk, by his own prime minister, General Lon nol. The Khmer Rouge waged guerrilla warfare against Lon nol, and the 1970 u.s. invasion and bombing campaign against cambodia only served to increase sympathy for the Khmer Rouge. The civil war ended in April 1975, when Khmer Rouge forces took control of Phnom Penh. When Pol Pot and his party came to power, they embraced an ideology that was defined by an amalgamation of communism and a fiercely nationalistic distrust of Vietnam. The regime wanted all remnants of the old society erased and aimed to create a pure, agrarian utopia in which there would be no private ownership or anything foreign or modern. The Khmer Rouge called its first year in power year zero ; they wanted to return to a peasant economy with no educational hierarchies or class divisions. everyone would be equal and everyone would be tied to the land. suon Photo courtesy of 'enemies of the People' To achieve this, city inhabitants were forcibly moved to the countryside and used as labor on collective farms. The regime considered urban classes traitors and capitalists who supported free-market activities; ethnic and religious minorities were also targeted. This agrarian reform, which Pol Pot claimed would raise the standard of living for all, led to a famine and starvation of thousands. A fifth of the country s entire population perished. in the first admission of its kind for a Khmer Rouge leader, nuon chea admits in enemies of the People that he and Pol Pot ordered a purge of the party to rid it of a Vietnamese faction, people they believed were conspiring with their erstwhile allies to re-establish Vietnam s historical dominance of cambodia. nuon chea clings to the notion that killings were targeted and justified by the external threat posed by the more powerful Vietnamese. He and Pol Pot believed the killings were justified, he says, because of their belief that the Vietnamese conspiracy had infiltrated not only the party, but the entire country. eventually, nuon chea acknowledges how extensive the killings became. 10
background information sources: cambodian Genocide Group (cgg). The Genocide. http://www.cambodiangenocide.org/genocide.htm Frontline. cambodia Pol Pot s shadow. http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/cambodia/didyouknow.html Independent Lens. War and cambodia. http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/refugee/war_cambodia.html Jackson, Karl D., ed. cambodia, 1975-1978: Rendezvous with Death. Princeton, n.j.: Princeton university Press, 1989. Kiernan, Ben. The Pol Pot Regime: Race, Power and Genocide in Cambodia Under the Khmer Rouge, 1975-79. new Haven: Yale university Press, 2008 Loy, irwin. 30 Years After Khmer Rouge, Killing Fields, cambodia Grows new Generation of Art conservators. The Christian Science Monitor, June 12, 2010 http://www.csmonitor.com/world/global-news/2010/0612/30-yearsafter-khmer-rouge-killing-fields-cambodia-grows-new-generation-of-a rt-conservators POV. Discussion Guide: The Flute Player. http://www.pbs.org/pov/filmfiles/resources_guide_action_discussion_file_0_2.pdf POV. Press Release: enemies of the People. http://www.amdoc.org/pressmaterials/2011/pov_enemiesofthepeople_release.pdf short, Philip. Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare. new York: Holt, 2005. u.s. Department of state. cambodia. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:o98xk5ootu gj:www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2732.htm+cambodia+%2b+independen ce+%2b+trained+by+vietnam&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=ww w.google.com Yale university. Bombs over cambodia. http://www.yale.edu/cgp/walrus_cambodiabombing_oct06.pdf extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (eccc) in 2006, after 10 years of international negotiations, the united nations and the cambodian government set up a unique hybrid tribunal to try the senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge for international crimes. They called the tribunal the extraordinary chambers in the courts of cambodia, or eccc for short. According to David scheffer, former u.s. ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues, the creation of the eccc took longer than the creation of any other international or hybrid criminal tribunal in the post-cold War era. in september 2007, the eccc ordered the arrest of nuon chea. He was charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes. in 2009, the charge of genocide was added to his indictment, as well as to the indictments of three other former senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge. Later in 2009, 30 years after the end of the Khmer Rouge regime, the eccc processed its first case: the trial of Kaing Guek eav (more commonly known as Duch), the prison chief at Tuol sleng detention center, who was charged with the deaths of over 10,000 prisoners in Phnom Penh. in July 2010, Duch was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the second eccc trial, which will involve nuon chea and three former senior leaders. As of this guide s publication, the trial is set for June 27, 2011. The film enemies of the People is expected to play a part in the proceedings. in the years since the Khmer Rouge s reign of terror there have been many books and films on the subject, most of them told from the point of view of the victims, but the true motives and experiences of the perpetrators have remained largely unexplained. some observers think the trials may hide more than they will reveal, and they doubt members of the current government, themselves former Khmer Rouge, will allow the whole truth to come out. Many concerns have been voiced over the inclusion of cambodian judges in the tribunal, with the chief concern being that they may have an allegiance to the cambodian government s political agenda. cambodian prime minister Hun sen has articulated a common sentiment, saying, We should dig a hole and bury the past. Hun sen has also said that he will not allow any additional prosecutions beyond those already under indictment. He has been accused of concealing evidence to protect senior figures in his party from being held accountable. The open society Jus- 11
background information tice initiative, an international legal watchdog group, says the court ultimately may decide to strike a deal with the government, agreeing to end later cases in exchange for full cooperation from the government and witnesses in the upcoming trials of nuon chea and the three surviving Khmer Rouge leaders. The trials are taking place in former military headquarters a half-hour s drive outside the city, and, according to Agence France-Presse, nine out of 10 cambodians are unable to name the Khmer Rouge suspects going to trial. According to researchers from the university of california, Berkeley, a quarter of respondents in a survey of 1,000 cambodians reported knowing nothing about the tribunal. While this figure is down from 39 percent in 2008, one of the university of california researchers said that educating cambodians about the upcoming trials would be a key challenge for the court. As the only war crimes court in the world to try its suspects in the country where the crimes took place, one of the court s main goals is to get cambodians involved and interested in the trials. According to the u.s. Department of state, donor countries have provided over $100 million to date in support of the united nations-backed tribunal, including $6.8 million from the united states. sources: cambodians Know Little About Khmer Rouge Trial. Agence France- Presse, January 1, 2000. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/aleqm5hmicey5jejz n4yqjcbyy29vz0zfa?docid=cng.f25da1025c94c576d7e84ff5e360651 a.8f1 cambodia Tribunal Monitor. civil Party Participation at eccc: overview. http://www.cambodiatribunal.org/blog/2009/11/civil-party-participation-at-eccc.html Dilger, Patrick. Back to the Killing Fields. Yale Alumni Magazine, April 1996. http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/96_04/cambodia.html eckel, Mike. Groups Fear Khmer Rouge Tribunal May Halt Trials. Associated Press, May 4, 2011. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/04/groups-fearkhmer-rouge-tribunal-may-halt-trials/ enemies of the People. Press Kit. http://enemiesofthepeoplemovie.com/index.php/contact/press/ Mydans, seth. Trial Begins for Khmer Rouge Leader. The New York Times, February 16, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/world/asia/17cambodia.html?pa gewanted=2 The New York Times. Khmer Rouge. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/k/ khmer_rouge/index.html scheffer, David. The extraordinary chambers in the courts of cambodia. in International Criminal Law, cherif Bassiouni, Boston: Martinus nijhoff, 2008 u.s. Department of state. cambodia. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:o98xk5ootu gj:www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2732.htm+cambodia+%2b+independen ce+%2b+trained+by+vietnam&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=ww w.google.com 12
background information Selected People Featured in thet sambath is a senior reporter for the Phnom Penh Post, cambodia s premier english-language newspaper. He is widely regarded as one of cambodia s best investigative reporters and his stories have been syndicated all over the world. sambath has worked for the American Refugee committee as a paramedic on the Thaicambodia border, as police interpreter for the united nations Transitional Authority in cambodia (untac) and as a human rights investigator for LicADHo, a cambodian human rights non-governmental organization. since 1994 he has worked as producer, translator and camera operator for many world broadcasting organizations, including BBc, WGBH, nhk and nbc. in 2002 he traveled to the united states on a Jefferson scholarship. nuon Chea (brother number two) was born in 1925 in Battambang, cambodia and studied law at Thammasat university in Bangkok. chea joined the Khmer resistance in 1949, leading the urban underground in Phnom Penh in the 1950s. He was appointed deputy secretary of the communist Party of Kampuchea (cpk) in 1960, and he was the deciding vote in the appointment of Pol Pot as secretary of the cpk in 1962. He left the Khmer Rouge as it collapsed in 1998. Arrested in september 2007, chea was charged with international crimes, crimes against humanity and, eventually, genocide by the united nations-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal. chea is in prison in Phnom Penh, where he is awaiting trial. The trial is expected to begin on June 27, 2011. 13
background information Selected People Featured in suon joined the Khmer Rouge military wing in 1970 and in 1975 became militia commander in a cooperative in northwest cambodia. He admits to killing more than 200 cambodians designated enemies of the people between 1976 and 1978. since 1979 he has lived as a peasant farmer in northwest cambodia. khoun joined the Khmer Rouge military wing in 1970. He admits to overseeing the killing of nearly 3,500 people during Khmer Rouge rule. Briefly arrested in 1979 for mass murder, he was released for lack of evidence. He has lived as a peasant farmer in northwest cambodia since 1979. sister em joined the Khmer Rouge political wing in 1973. she worked as a district chief in northwest cambodia from 1975 to 1979 and, in that role, was responsible for ordering many thousands of deaths of suspected enemies of the party. she now lives and works under another name elsewhere in cambodia, where she is a senior politician in local government. 14
GeneraL discussion Questions Immediately after the film, you may want to give people a few quiet moments to reflect on what they have seen. If the mood seems tense, you can pose a general question and give people some time to themselves to jot down or think about their answers before opening the discussion. Please encourage people to stay in the room between the film and the discussion. If you save your break for an appropriate moment during the discussion, you won t lose the feeling of the film as you begin your dialogue. One way to get a discussion going is to pose a general question such as: if you could ask anyone in the film a single question, who would you ask and what would you ask him or her? What did you learn from this film? What insights did it provide? suon Photo courtesy of 'enemies of the People' describe a moment or scene in the film that you found particularly disturbing or moving. What was it about that scene that was especially compelling for you? Note: If you can provide an update regarding the trials, it might be helpful for the audience to hear about the efforts to bring about justice at this point in time. For the latest news on the trials, visit the Cambodia Tribunal Monitor (cambodiatribunal.org) and the official site of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (www.eccc.gov.kh/en) 15
discussion PromPts investigation sambath says, My project is to find out why so many people died in the killing fields. Was his project a success? What answers did he find? What questions remain? What was your reaction to the investigative methods sambath used to gain information? What ethical standards should apply to a journalist in sambath s situation? can you imagine yourself in sambath s shoes, developing a relationship with the man responsible for the murder of your family and the genocide of your people? How do you think that effort would affect your life? While sambath s efforts make an invaluable contribution to the preservation of cambodian history, they also take a significant toll on his family. Who in your community is asked to sacrifice family, safety or financial security in order to pursue justice or community well-being? What support could you offer those people? Pol Pot is no longer in power (or alive), so why would it be dangerous for sambath to try to uncover the history of the Killing Fields? Thet sambath Photo courtesy of 'enemies of the People' understanding the killing fields What is the relevance of the film s title, enemies of the People? Who are/were the enemies of the cambodian people? How might sambath, suon or Brother number Two (nuon chea) answer that question? What do you learn from the film about the preconditions for genocide? What types of circumstances trigger the capacity of human beings to kill one another? Were there any particular factors present in cambodia that you think precipitated the commission of the atrocities? Do you see those factors present in any other places in the world today? if so, what should/could be done to ensure that genocide does not occur? A rice field worker says, Frankly, without the wine we wouldn t dare to kill people. What role does alcohol play in enabling people to commit atrocities? 16
discussion PromPts When nuon chea begins to talk about why people were killed, he says that people who couldn t be re-educated or corrected had to be solved. What is the impact of these word choices? Why does language matter? sambath says that Pol Pot and nuon chea wanted to be more communist than china. How did they link policies like the nationalization of all private property, forced relocations and marriages and the arrest of dissenters (and their families and associates) with their goal of empowering the poor? How did such policies create criminals and enemies of the people who then needed to be in nuon chea s words killed and destroyed? The methods of execution, including killing parents and children in front of one another, seem particularly cruel. in terms of helping a regime accomplish its goals, does the method of killing matter? Why or why not? nuon chea considers himself a patriot. He says, if i have to choose between the nation and the individual, i choose the nation. under what circumstances, if any, is it appropriate to demand or impose individual sacrifice in service of the greater good? can you think of other examples of governments that were willing to sacrifice the lives of some in order to preserve protection of the nation for others? What differences are there between what those nations did and what the Khmer Rouge did? healing Former executioners point to places where bodies have been buried as the camera shows roads and placid rice fields an ordinary cambodian landscape. How do scattered mass burial sites complicate land use policies? in its efforts to heal the country, what options might cambodia consider in terms of land use and honoring burial sites? sister em says, if we didn t obey the order, we would have been killed. We felt pity for the victims, but what could we do? We had no choice. so should we go to prison? How would you answer her questions? How should people of low rank who were passed orders to kill be held accountable? suon says, our victims families have a right to be angry. He is afraid that if people knew what he did they would take revenge. How might a formal justice process for those who committed atrocities help assuage aggrieved families or alleviate suon s fear? officially, the cambodian constitution prohibits the death penalty. in your view, should the constitution be amended to allow the execution of Khmer Rouge leaders? Why or why not? suon says, i don t know what i ll be reborn as in the next life, but he is fairly certain it won t be something good. How might widespread belief in reincarnation influence how a nation or culture comes to terms with a history of atrocities? What happens to those who believed they were killing in the name of a just cause when their top leaders deny ordering or even knowing about the executions? sambath s wife is concerned about his involvement in this project. What does sambath gain by completing it? At what cost? additional media literacy questions are available at: www.pbs.org/pov/educators/media-literacy.php 17
taking action identify local organizations or local chapters of national organizations working to preserve human rights (and/or facilitate reconciliation efforts) and find out how you can help. see a list of human rights and international justice organizations in the Resources section of this guide. initiate an oral history project in your own community that focuses on identifying people who lived through injustices or atrocities and create safe spaces (either virtual or physical) in which they can tell and preserve their stories. consider arranging for the stories to be presented in classrooms, religious organizations, libraries, youth programs and/or online. invite a panel of journalists to talk about the role of reporters in a democracy, the risks they take and what they think of sambath s work to uncover cambodian history. Thet sambath (left) and Rob Lemkin, co - Directors/ Producers Photo courtesy of 'enemies of the People' convene a study group on cambodian history and culture. use what you learn to examine u.s. foreign policy towards cambodia and share your insights with your elected representatives, as well as with people in your community. stay informed about ongoing tribunals regarding past crimes against humanity, genocide and other human rights atrocities. 18
resources FILM-RELATED WEB SITES ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE http://enemiesofthepeoplemovie.com Visit the filmmakers website to learn more about the film, the filmmakers, cast and crew and upcoming screening events. Original Online Content on POV Interactive (www.pbs.org/pov) s companion website www.pbs.org/pov/enemies The companion website to enemies of the People offers exclusive streaming video clips from the film and a wealth of additional resources, including a Q-and-A with filmmaker Rob Lemkin (also available via podcast), ample opportunities for viewers to "talk back" and talk to each other about the film and the following special features: Photos from check out our slideshow of still images from the film. Timeline: The Khmer Rouge & Thet Sambath s Cambodia Refresh your knowledge of cambodian history with this interactive timeline that also features information on characters from the film. Film Update: The Khmer Rouge Tribunals David scheffer, former u.s. Ambassador at Large for War crimes issues, provides an update on the Khmer Rouge Tribunals. Live chat with filmmakers on Wednesday, July 13 at 10 AM ET Filmmakers Thet sambath and Rob Lemkin talk with viewers online on website. What s Your POV? Share your thoughts about by posting a comment on the POV Blog www.pbs.org/pov/blog or send an email to pbs@pov.org. khmer rouge tribunals CAMBODIA TRIBUNAL MONITOR cambodiatribunal.org Run by the northwestern university school of Law and the Documentation center of cambodia, this site includes transcripts, footage, commentary, interviews and more from the trials of top Khmer Rouge leaders, including nuon chea. ExTRAORDINARY CHAMBERS IN THE COURTS OF CAMBODIA (ECCC) eccc.gov.kh/en This official site of the extraordinary chambers in the courts of cambodia (the Khmer Rouge Tribunal) is available in english, French and Khmer. it includes summaries of the people who have been indicted, the accusations against them and related legal decisions. FroNtliNE. POL POT S SHADOW pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/cambodia The website for a 2002 Frontline episode about Pol Pot includes links to general information about cambodia, the Khmer Rouge, genocide and human rights. YALE UNIVERSITY CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE PROGRAM yale.edu/cgp This website provides a variety of documents related to the history of cambodia and the Khmer Rouge, including maps and links to tribunal documents in both english and Khmer. Video Streaming on the POV Website Watch the entire film online or browse by chapter FoR FRee, from July 13 through Aug. 12, 2011. 19
resources Cambodia today CAMBODIAN INFORMATION CENTER Cambodia.org cambodians who favor democracy maintain this site to provide current information about cambodia and help those interested in cambodia to network. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH WORLD REPORT 2011: CAMBODIA hrw.org/en/world-report-2011/cambodia The annual report of this international watchdog and advocacy organization provides an overview of the current status of human rights protections in cambodia. KHMER INSTITUTE KhmerInstitute.org This resource provides information from a Khmer perspective on cambodia-related events, issues and culture. PHNOM PENH POST phnompenhpost.com in addition to news articles (including articles by Thet sambath), this newspaper s website includes a blog on the Khmer Rouge tribunal. it is available in english and Khmer. ROYAL EMBASSY OF CAMBODIA embassyofcambodia.org The website of the royal embassy of cambodia includes links to the country s constitution, as well as links to the websites of the parliamentarian institutions and royal government. TRAVEL DOCUMENT SYSTEMS. CAMBODIA traveldocs.com/kh/index.htm This website offers a general overview of cambodia, including culture and history from a u.s. government perspective. human rights organizations AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL http://www.amnesty.org Amnesty international is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights to be respected and protected for everyone. The organization s website provides updated news and country profiles regarding its campaigns, as well as ways to get involved as activists in the fight for justice. THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY (CJA) http://cja.org/article.php?list=type&type=86 The center for Justice and Accountability (cja) is an international human rights organization dedicated to deterring torture and other severe human rights abuses around the world and advancing the rights of survivors to seek truth, justice and redress. cja uses litigation to hold perpetrators individually accountable for human rights abuses, develop human rights law and advance the rule of law in countries transitioning from periods of abuse. THE CENTER FOR MEDIA, CULTURE AND HISTORY http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/media/ The center for Media, culture and History is a collaborative project at new York university, drawing on faculty from the Africana studies program and the departments of anthropology, cinema studies, comparative literature, history and religious studies. it addresses issues of representation, social change and identity construction embedded in the development of film, television, video and new media worldwide. in addition, it focuses on the role that these media play in shaping perceptions of history and culture; in forging individual, collective, national and transnational identities; and in mediating the direction and character of social change. THE ENOUGH PROJECT http://www.enoughproject.org The enough Project aims to build a permanent constituency to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity. The group s official website hosts a blog that features information on upcoming events, information on nations experiencing genocides and ways for people to take action against injustice and join the project. 20
resources FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES http://www.facinghistory.org Founded in 1976, Facing History and ourselves is an international educational and professional development nonprofit organization with a mission to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice and anti-semitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry. THE GENOCIDE EDUCATION PROJECT www.genocideeducation.org The Genocide education Project is a nonprofit organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide, particularly the Armenian genocide, by developing and distributing instructional materials, providing access to teaching resources and organizing educational workshops. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH http://www.hrw.org Founded in 1978, Human Rights Watch is a human rights organization composed of researchers who conduct fact-finding investigations into human rights abuses around the world. Find the latest reports on progress and setbacks in human rights, as well as yearly reports, by searching through the different geographical regions and nations featured on the organization s website. WITNESS http://www.witness.org WiTness uses video and online technologies to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations. The organization empowers people to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for justice, promoting public engagement and policy change. This website features a media archive containing many films related to international justice and social issues. international Justice AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERNATIONAL LAW http://www.asil.org The American society of international Law looks to foster the study of international law and to promote the establishment and maintenance of international relations on the basis of law and justice. its website provides a link to all of the group s publications and other electronic resources from its library. COMMITTEE ON CONSCIENCE AT THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM www.ushmm.org/genocide/about The committee on conscience provides information on current genocides and on possible genocidal activities today. it collects resources on the history and definition of genocide. The website has resources specifically designed for educators and students. CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (CCR) http://ccrjustice.org Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the American south, the center for constitutional Rights (ccr) is a nonprofit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change. ccr uses litigation proactively to advance the law in a positive direction, to empower poor communities and communities of color, to guarantee the rights of those with the fewest protections and least access to legal resources, to train the next generation of constitutional and human rights attorneys and to strengthen the broader movement for constitutional and human rights. GENOCIDE WATCH www.genocidewatch.org Genocide Watch exists to predict, prevent, stop, and punish genocide and other forms of mass murder. it is led by the most noted scholars in the field of genocide studies. The website has resources that can easily be modified for educational use, including a pledge and a description of the eight stages of genocide. GLOBAL KIDS http://www.globalkids.org Global Kids is committed to educating and inspiring urban youth to become successful students, as well as global and community leaders. using interactive and experiential methods to educate youth about critical international and foreign policy issues, Global Kids provides students with opportunities for civic and global engagement. 21
resources INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF GENOCIDE www.instituteforthestudyofgenocide.org What kinds of actions and institutions could prevent genocide? The institute for the study of Genocide advances and reviews such research. its officers and members advise media, governments and intergovernmental organizations concerned with early warning and prevention. The group s website includes archived newsletters, a list of conferences and papers and a list of available books on the subject. INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE (ICTJ) http://www.ictj.org The international center for Transitional Justice (ictj) assists countries in pursuing accountability for past mass atrocity or human rights abuses. ictj works in societies emerging from repressive rule or armed conflict, as well as in established democracies where historical injustices or systemic abuse remain unresolved. THE NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/the_archive.html An independent non-governmental research institute and library located at George Washington university, the national security Archive collects and publishes declassified documents obtained through the Freedom of information Act. The national security Archive also serves as a repository for government records on a wide range of topics pertaining to the national security, foreign intelligence and economic policies of the united states. Community organizations APPLIED SOCIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CAMBODIA (ASRIC) http://www.apa.nyu.edu/asric Applied social Research institute of cambodia (AsRic) is a nonprofit organization devoted to advancing cambodian cultural identity and to restoring, distributing and implementing procedural justice for victims and survivors of the Khmer Rouge. CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INC. (CCDI) http://www.ccdinc.org Built with funds raised by concerned community members, cambodian community Development inc. (ccdi) became the first cambodian volunteer-based organization in oakland, providing assistance in overcoming social, cultural and economic barriers and building capacity for self-sufficiency. THE CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY HISTORY AND ARCHIVE PROJECT (CAMCHAP) http://www.camchap.org The cambodian community History and Archive Project (camchap) documents the history of the cambodian community of Long Beach, california. KHMER HEALTH ADVOCATES http://www.cambodianhealth.org Khmer Health Advocates is a cambodian-american organization with a mission to care for the survivors of the cambodian holocaust and their families through programs for direct service, education, research and advocacy. PACIFIC ASIAN COUNSELING SERVICES (PACS) http://www.pacsla.org Pacific Asian counseling services (PAcs) provides caring, compassionate counseling services to low-income children, adults and families with severe and/or chronic mental illness. The agency has expertise in working with immigrant and refugee Asian and Pacific islander populations. SEATTLE-SIHANOUKVILLE SISTER CITY (SEA-SIH) http://www.seasih.org The mission of seattle-sihanoukville sister city (sea-sih), a nonprofit charitable organization, is to develop cultural awareness and other ties between the people of the cities of seattle, Wash., and sihanoukville, cambodia. UNITED CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY (UCC) http://www.ucclb.org united cambodian community (ucc) was founded in 1977 to help transition refugees who settled into the Long Beach area during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. 22
how to buy the film To order enemies of the People for home or educational use, go to enemiesofthepeoplemovie.com Produced by American Documentary, inc. and beginning its 24th season on PBs in 2011, the award-winning series is the longestrunning showcase on American television to feature the work of today s best independent documentary filmmakers. Airing June through september with primetime specials during the year, has brought more than 300 acclaimed documentaries to millions nationwide and has a Webby Award-winning online series, POV's Borders. since 1988, has pioneered the art of presentation and outreach using independent nonfiction media to build new communities in conversation about today s most pressing social issues. Visit www.pbs.org/pov. POV Digital www.pbs.org/pov 's award-winning website extends the life of our films online with interactive features, interviews, updates, video and educational content, as well as listings for television broadcasts, community screenings and films available online. The POV Blog is a gathering place for documentary fans and filmmakers to discuss their favorite films and get the latest news. POV Community Engagement and Education www.pbs.org/pov/outreach films can be seen at more than 450 events across the country every year. Together with schools, organizations and local PBs stations, facilitates free community screenings and produces free resources to accompany our films, including discussion guides and curriculum-based lesson plans. With our community partners, we inspire dialogue around the most important social issues of our time. Major funding for is provided by PBs, The John D. and catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, national endowment for the Arts, The educational Foundation of America, new York state council on the Arts, new York city Department of cultural Affairs, FAcT and public television viewers. special support provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and sciences. Funding for s Diverse Voices Project is provided by the corporation for Public Broadcasting. Project Voicescape is a partnership of Adobe Youth Voices, PBs and. is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including WGBH Boston and THiRTeen in association with WneT.oRG. American Documentary, Inc. www.amdoc.org American Documentary, inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia company dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc develops collaborative strategic-engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation. Join our Community Network! www.amdoc.org/outreach/events Learn about new lesson plans, facilitation guides and our other free educational resources and find out about screenings near you. Joining our network is also the first step towards hosting your own screening. You can also follow us on Twitter @engage for the latest news from community engagement & education. Front cover: Thet sambath (right) with nuon-chea aka Brother-number-Two Photo courtesy of stillphotographer The see it on PBs logo is a trademark of the Public Broadcasting service and is used with permission. All rights reserved.