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Cambodian Genocide Program
The CGP, 1994-2019
The Cambodian genocide of 1975-1979, in which approximately 1.7 million people lost their lives (21% of the country’s population), was one of the worst human tragedies of the last century. As in the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian genocide, in Nazi Germany, and more recently in East Timor, Guatemala, Yugoslavia, and Rwanda, the Khmer Rouge regime headed by Pol Pot combined extremist ideology with ethnic animosity and a diabolical disregard for human life to produce repression, misery, and murder on a massive scale. On July 18, 2007, Cambodian and international co-prosecutors at the newly established mixed UN/Cambodian tribunal in Phnom Penh found evidence of “crimes against humanity, genocide, grave breaches of the Geneva Convention, homicide, torture and religious persecution.” On November 16, 2018, the Cambodian and international judges of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) ruled that the former Khmer Rouge regime headed by Pol Pot had perpetrated genocide in Cambodia while it held power during 1975-1979. The court convicted Pol Pot’s former deputy, Nuon Chea, and the Khmer Rouge regime’s head of state, Khieu Samphan, of genocide of the ethnic Vietnamese minority of Cambodia, and also convicted Nuon Chea of genocide of the country’s Cham Muslim minority. Both men were also convicted of extermination and various other crimes against humanity, and were sentenced to life imprisonment. These convictions mean that most of the surviving top leaders of the Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge) regime have now been jailed, prosecuted, or convicted of crimes they committed when in power in 1975-79. Two died in prison awaiting prosecution or during their trial, but three survived to face judgement and are now serving life sentences.
Since 1994, the award-winning Cambodian Genocide Program, a project of the Genocide Studies Program at Yale University’s MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies, has been studying these events to learn as much as possible about the tragedy, and to help determine who was responsible for the crimes of the Pol Pot regime. In Phnom Penh in 1996, for instance, we obtained access to the 100,000-page archive of that defunct regime’s security police, the Santebal. This material has been microfilmed by Yale University’s Sterling Library and made available to scholars worldwide. As of January 2008, we have also compiled and published 22,000 biographic and bibliographic records, and over 6,000 photographs, along with documents, translations, maps, and an extensive list of CGP books and research papers on the genocide, as well as the CGP’s newly-enhanced, interactive Cambodian Geographic Database, CGEO, which includes data on: Cambodia’s 13,000 villages; the 115,000 sites targeted in 231,00 U.S. bombing sorties flown over Cambodia in 1965-75, dropping half a million or more tons of munitions; 158 prisons run by Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime during 1975-1979, and 309 mass-grave sites with an estimated total of 19,000 grave pits; and 76 sites of post-1979 memorials to victims of the Khmer Rouge.
To examine these, and other information we have discovered, click on one of the links on the sidebar.
For a more detailed introduction to the CGP, click here.
Yale assistance to Documentation Center of Cambodia, 1995-2005 (DC-Cam).
GIS and Remote Sensing
The primary benefit of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is the ability to interrelate spatially multiple types of information assembled from a range of sources. These data do not necessarily have to be visual. GIS “shape files” are helpful for interpolating and visualizing many other types of data, e.g. demographic data. Many research models rely on the ability to analyze and extract information from images by using a variety of computer-available research tools and then express these findings as part of a project with images in a variety of layers and scenes.
Remote sensing is the measurement of object properties on Earth’s surface using data acquired from aircraft and satellites. It attempts to measure something at a distance, rather than in situ, and, for research purposes, displays those measurements over a two-dimensional spatial grid, i.e. images. Remote-sensing systems, particularly those deployed on satellites, provide a repetitive and consistent view of Earth facilitating the ability to monitor the earth system and the effects of human activities on Earth. There are many electromagnetic (EM) band-length ranges that Earth’s atmosphere absorbs. The EM band ranges transmittable through Earth’s atmosphere are sometimes referred to as atmospheric windows.
The human eye detects, through the reflective solar radiance humans actually see, only that part of the EM scale in the band length range 0.4 – 0.7 μm. But remote sensing technology allows for the detection of other reflective and radiant (e.g. thermal) energy band-length ranges that reach or are emitted by Earth’s surface, and even some that Earth’s atmosphere reflects, e.g. the EM reflective qualities of clouds. Hence, for viewing purposes, red, green, and blue (RGB) false color assignments are used to express the reflective qualities of objects in these EM band-length groups, and the combination and mixing of these false color assignments express the true physical reflective qualities of all objects present in an image.
When utilizing satellite images to assess most types of land-cover change, primarily those involving change in vegetation coverage, variations in climate must be considered. For better control and accuracy in these analyses, comparing images acquired during the same month or season is advisable. But due to the limited availability of satellite images, obtaining materials corresponding both spatially and temporally to the location and period under research are not always possible. Furthermore, annual and seasonal climate data are not always available for the region or temporal period being researched. Sometimes, changes in average rainfall, temperature, etc. must be inferred using more macro regional or global data.
One standard remote sensing application for detecting temporal change in land cover, especially vegetation, is the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The NDVI application involves a ratio formula between the visual red and NIR EM bands. This ratio application helps to distinguish healthy and stronger vegetation reflection from other materials with similar reflective qualities in those EM band wavelength groups. NDVI applications are useful because two images can be processed into a false color composite, which allows for visual temporal change detection in vegetation coverage.
Moreover, by applying standardized thresholds to multiple NDVI manipulated images, one can create classification training regions and execute supervised computer-generated classifications of multiple images. From these resulting images, area summary reports are calculated. These empirical data enable a more accurate assessment of change in area of the corresponding land-cover classes. More information on some of the above topics, as well as a more comprehensive description of some remote sensing technologies, and a glossary of terms, may be found in the 2009 GSP document, “An Introduction to Remote Sensing and GIS,” compiled by Russell Schimmer.
Audio and Video Resources
00006
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: 0006 0
2014 Rwanda Symposium -- Yvette Rugasaguhunga
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Case Study: Rwandan Genocide
Date of Interview: March 31, 2014
Interviewee: Rugasaguhunga (speech) Y
Place of Interview: Yale University
Speech by Yvette Rugasaguhunga, second councilor at the Rwandan embassy to the United States, at the 2014 symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.
2014 Rwanda Symposium -- Consolee Nishimwe
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Case Study: Rwandan Genocide
Date of Interview: March 31, 2014
Interviewee: Consolee Nishimwe N
Place of Interview: Yale University
Speech by Consolee Nishimwe, author, at the 2014 symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.
2014 Rwanda Symposium -- Edward Luck
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Case Study: Rwandan Genocide
Theme: Prevention
Date of Interview: March 31, 2014
Interviewee: Edward Luck (speech) R
Place of Interview: Yale University
Speech by Edward Luck, former Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the United Nations for the Responsibility to Protect.
2014 Rwanda Symposium -- International Panel Q&A
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Case Study: Rwandan Genocide
Date of Interview: March 31, 2014
Interviewee: James Silk (moderator) R
Place of Interview: Yale University
Question and answer session following the first panel at the 2014 symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. The panel, featuring Edward Luck, James Traub, and Zachary Kaufman, and moderated by James Silk, addressed international dimensions of the aftermath of the genocide.
2014 Rwanda Symposium -- Introduction
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Case Study: Rwandan Genocide
Date of Interview: March 31, 2014
Interviewee: 2014 Rwanda Symposium, Introduction R
Introduction and opening remarks to the 2014 Rwanda Project Symposium on the 20th Anniversary of the Genocide in Rwanda.
2014 Rwanda Symposium -- James Traub
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Case Study: Rwandan Genocide
Theme: Prevention
Date of Interview: March 31, 2014
Interviewee: James Traub (speech) R
Place of Interview: Yale University
Speech by James Traub, Journalist and Council on Foreign Relations Fellow, at the 2014 symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda
2014 Rwanda Symposium -- Local Legacies Panel Q&A
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Case Study: Rwandan Genocide
Date of Interview: March 31, 2014
Interviewee: Joseph Olzacki (moderator) R
Place of Interview: Yale University
Question and answer session moderated by Joseph Olzacki, following the second panel of the 2014 symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. The panel, featuring Yvette Rugasaguhunga, Consolee Nishimwe, and Taylor Krauss, address the legacy of the genocide for the Rwandan people.
2014 Rwanda Symposium -- Reconvene
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Case Study: Rwandan Genocide
Date of Interview: March 31, 2014
Interviewee: Holton (Prayer) J
Place of Interview: Yale University
Following a break, the symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda reconvenes. Rev. Jan Holton offers words of prayer and contemplation.
2014 Rwanda Symposium -- Taylor Krauss
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Case Study: Rwandan Genocide
Date of Interview: March 31, 2014
Interviewee: Taylor Krauss (speech) T
Place of Interview: Yale University
Speech and a/v presentation by Taylor Krauss, founder of Voices of Rwanda, at the 2014 symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.
2014 Rwanda Symposium -- Zachary Kaufman
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Case Study: Rwandan Genocide
Theme: Justice & Prosecutions
Date of Interview: March 31, 2014
Interviewee: Zachary Kaufman (speech) R
Place of Interview: Yale University
Speech by Zachary Kaufman at the 2014 symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.
bosnia danilo 1
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Case Study: Other
Theme: Rescue
Date of Interview: May 17, 2013
Interviewee: bosnia d
KLVH RTouch C 1 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Touch R
KLVH SEath 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Eath S
KLVH SEath 2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Eath S
KLVH SEath 3
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Eath S
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Eath S
KLVH SEath 4
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Eath S
KLVH SKap 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Kap S
KLVH SKap 2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Kap S
KLVH SKap 3
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Kap S
KLVH SODuong 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Duong S
KLVH SOum 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Oum S
KLVH SOum 2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Oum S
KLVH SOum 3
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Oum S
KLVH SSomrith
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Somrith S
KLVH SVisarato 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Visarato S
KLVH SVisarato 2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Visarato S
KLVH SVisarato 3
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Visarato S.
KLVH TChiv 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Chiv T
KLVH TChiv 2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Chiv T
KLVH TChiv 3
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Chiv T
KLVH TKhan 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Khan T
KLVH TSotheavy 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sotheavy T
KLVH TSotheavy 2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sotheavy T
KLVH TSotheavy 3
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sotheavy T
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sotheavy T
KLVH TSoun
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Soun T
KLVH TTim 2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Tim T
KLVH VVan
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Van V
KLVH YSophana 2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sophana Y
KLVH YSophana 3
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sophana Y
KLVH YSophana 4
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sophana Y
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sophana Y
KLVH YSophana 5
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sophana Y
KLVH YSophana 6
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sophana Y
KLVH YSophana 8
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sophana Y
KLVH-CBoroeuth 2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Boroeuth C
KLVH-CChom 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Chom C
Place of Interview:
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Chom C
KLVH-CMonica 2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Monica C
KLVH-CSokhom 1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Sokhom C
KLVH-JINS-2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Ins J
KLVH-JINS-3
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Ins J
KLVH-KUTHK-2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Uthk K
KLVH-KUTHK-4
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Uthk K
KLVH-LUKEANAK*
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Ukeanak L
KLVH-SUKS-2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Uks S
KLVH-TANGT-2
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Tangt T
KLVH-TANGT-3
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Angt T
KLVH-TANGT-4
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Angt T
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Angt T
KLVH-TTANG-1
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Case Study: Cambodian Genocide
Theme: Genocide, general
Interviewee: Tang T