Phnom Penh – Cambodian authorities have uncovered the remains of nearly 800 victims of the Khmer Rouge regime in Kandal province, a stark reminder of the country’s darkest chapter.

The discovery was made earlier this week on Koh Romduol, also known as Koh Kor, in Takhmao City. Villagers planting banana trees stumbled upon bones in an old graveyard and alerted officials. A team from the Kandal Provincial Culture Department and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum then moved in to excavate the site.

Between 4 and 6 May, the team collected human remains along with fragments of clothing believed to date back to the Khmer Rouge era, between 1975 and 1979. “Our officials are now digging up more graves on the villagers’ farms, and we expect to find more victims buried there,” said department director Muong Sarim.

The remains are being stored at a local Buddhist pagoda before transfer to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum for preservation and documentation. The mission’s stated aim is to safeguard historical evidence of the atrocities committed during the regime.

The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. At least 1.7 million people died from starvation, forced labour, disease and executions. Mass graves, known as “killing fields”, have been uncovered across the country in the decades since, but new discoveries continue to surface.

Officials say the latest find underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to document the crimes of the regime and ensure future generations understand the scale of the tragedy. The excavation also highlights how remnants of the past remain embedded in everyday life, with farmland and villages still concealing evidence of mass killings.

For Cambodia, each discovery is both a painful reminder and a vital step in preserving memory. As Sarim noted, the work is not only about collecting bones but about honouring victims and reinforcing historical truth.

-2026-05-08

On 5/8/2026 at 10:55 AM, geovalin said:

stored at a local Buddhist pagoda before transfer to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum for preservation and documentation.

Now the deceased will get the reverence they deserve after so many years.

The religious memorial at the Killing Fields -