The Absurd Criteria of the Khmer Rouge
An exploration of the extreme and bizarre criteria used by the Khmer Rouge to systematically execute millions of Cambodians, targeting anyone with signs of education.
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An exploration of the extreme and bizarre criteria used by the Khmer Rouge to systematically execute millions of Cambodians, targeting anyone with signs of education.
Full transcript of The Absurd Criteria of the Khmer Rouge
In 1975, wearing reading glasses was a death sentence. Pol Pot declared Year Zero, outlawing money, schools, and private property. Soldiers targeted intellectuals, defined simply by having soft hands or owning books. Millions were marched into labor camps, and thousands sent to S-21 prison. To save bullets, executioners used sharpened bamboo and palm leaves in the killing fields. Next time you open a book, remember when education made you an enemy of the state.