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Circular on
Preservation of remains of the victims of the genocide
Committed during the regime of Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1978),
and
preparation of Anlong Veng to become a region for historical tourism
Following the liberation of 7 January 1979,
numerous graves were left behind throughout the entire
territory of Cambodia as physical testimony of the crimes
committed against the innocent Cambodian people by the
genocidal Pol Pot regime. Right away, the authorities and
citizens made efforts to take the remains of the victims and
to preserve them carefully, some in stupas, and some in
other forms of appropriate memorial. However, the government
has observed that since that time these memorials have not
been properly maintained.
In order to preserve the remains as evidence of these
historic crimes and as the basis for remembrance and
education by the Cambodian people as a whole, especially
future generations, of the painful and terrible history
brought about by the Democratic Kampuchea regime against the
people and territory of Cambodia during the period
1975-1978, lasting 3 years, 8 months and 20 days, and
especially to preserve and prepare the Anlong Veng region to
become a historical museum for national and international
tourists in the future, the government issue the following
directives:
1. All local authorities at province and municipal
level shall cooperate with relevant expert institutions in
their areas to examine, restore and maintain existing
memorials, and to examine and research other remaining grave
sites, so that all such places may be transformed into
memorials, with fences, trees and informative plaques for
both citizens and tourists; the Ministry of Culture and Fine
Arts and the Ministry of Tourism shall issue further
technical guidelines, and shall appoint expert officials to
work together with the local authorities on this issue.
2. With particular reference to the Anlong Veng region,
in the district of Along Veng, Otdar Meanchey Province,
which was of historic importance in the final stage of the
political life of the leaders and military organization of
Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge, the Ministry of Tourism shall
continue to make efforts, as previously directed by the
government, to cooperate with the local authorities and with
all relevant ministries and institutions, especially with
the Ministry of Land Management, Construction, and
Urbanization, Military Region 4, the Cambodian Mine Action
Center and the Documentation Center of Cambodia to eradicate
mines, to prepare a sound master plan, to research document,
to establish a historical museum, and to search for sources
of grant in order to preserve all historical evidence and to
transform Anlong Veng into a national region of historical
tourism. It is absolutely prohibited to encroach on or
subdivide land in an anarchic manner, or to undertake any
form of construction in Anlong Veng that has an impact on
this historic region without government permission, except
for construction of housing for residents of the village and
commune, in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry
of Land Management, Construction and Urbanization.
3. Efforts shall be made to implement the above
provisions before 7 January 2002, the 23rd
anniversary of the overthrow of Democratic Kampuchea. On
receiving this directive, all relevant ministries and
institutions and local authorities shall implement it
effectively.
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