GHOSTS FROM THE PAST
Karl Mancini
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(2010-2014) Cambodia is a country in great development. Where foreign investment, mostly Russians and French, have changed the habits and the lifestyle of many people. But, not far from the tourist beach of Serendipity Sianoukville or the magnificent temples of Angkor, the stench of latrines feels strong, people are living in a desperate way and the conditions of children are alarming. In particular, the country continues to be littered with landmines, sad legacy of the tragic history experienced in the last 25 years of the last century. The mines were used in mass by the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. During these years, their leader Pol Pot was the architect of one of the most radical and bloody revolutions in human history. About 1.8 million people died in those years, thousands of people were killed in the countryside or in labor camps. In the following 20 years more mines were placed from the Vietnamese Army and the Cambodian government during the civil war.
Today, Cambodia is still one of the most afflicted country by the problem of landmines and the one in which it record the highest number of amputees per capita: more than 30,000 people have lost limbs to landmines or other unexploded military bombs. The most affected are children and farmers, who, often, during the dry season are established in areas that seem safe to start a new life, to see their dreams shattered a few months after by the lost or mutilation of a relative, cause during the rainy season the ground softens freeing unexploded bombs. 15 years after the signing of the peace agreements, it is estimated that about 20 people/month are still affected by this scourge.
My longtime project GHOSTS FROM THE PAST IS made along years in collaboration with various NGO groups that operate in many provinces to try to solve the problem and offer help to those need a physical rehabilitation and medical support. On next April 17’ll be a tragic anniversary for the country. In fact, 40 years ago (1975) started the Khmer Rouge revolution with the occupation of Phnom Penh and in the same month in 1998 the Khmer Rouge’s leader Pol Pot died. In Cambodia,1 out of 2 family has suffered killings by the Khmer Rouge, many dissidents of whom have returned to their villages trying to forget a hellish past.
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