Walking through Tuol Sleng(S-21) and the Killing Fields was an intense and emotional day that only fueled my inner fire that this is a story that needs to be heard. I grew up in Long Beach, CA, home to the largest population of Cambodians outside of Cambodia, during the 80's. It was then when I became aware of the plight of my Cambodian classmates, not through them, but through a movie. I never once heard of their suffering...never once heard them complain... never once did any of them share the absolute horror they have all endured.

The Killing Fields had left such an indelible impression on me since high school and now here I am walking through S-21, the infamous torture center and gazing upon the faces of these people, pictures posted up on boards, looking into their scared eyes.

It was here where our group met a survivor who recounted his story of what he had endured and heard and saw. He showed us the cell he was in, and pointed out his own picture that was posted on the wall. This dear soul of a man with gentle eyes was so humble, and so absolutely thankful that he was no longer afraid to be silent about his experience here. He will be a witness and will be able to speak out against Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, the notorious prison chief, who will finally be on trial here in Phnom Penh in the next few days.

This man sincerely expressed his wish to our group that we will go out and spread his word and share his experience so that the people who died here did not die in vain...and that this form of atrocity; heinous, horrific torture, may never ever happen again in Cambodia and may end everywhere.
What I saw and heard at S-21, and then walking through the Killing Fields, looking upon deep ditches that are the mass graves, walking up to remnants of clothes and bone still embedded in the earth from thirty years ago...a tree called the "The Killer Tree"- it's trunk scarred from the babies that were swung hard against it to join their mutilated and dying mothers... I was struck so hard by the thought that we are a global community!

I can make a difference...we can make difference... and help this man fulfill his wish, our wish to speak out for our fellow human beings who have been silenced through fear. It is the secrets, the silencing of our voices that perpetuate abuse on all levels and we cannot be silent anymore. We need to stand up and be heard...Cambodians need to be heard...their story needs to be heard. For this form of genocide is still happening in the world today.