Laying the groundwork

My colleague Alan Thornton arrives on July 2 to begin work with me in Cambodia, the second part of my journey towards documenting survivors of war. Alan, a talented photographer and great friend, agreed to jump on board after I sold him the idea generally over tea last Christmas in Santa Fe. As my summer plans began to take form – with such email exchanges titled “Hmm… Cambodia or Colombia? Burma is looking difficult. Nepal violence too fresh” – he stayed the course, and when I finally zeroed in on Cambodia and working with TPO and Khmer Rouge survivors, he signed on the dotted line and bought a ticket. Hats off to Alan for his leap of faith. The project couldn’t go forward without him. I still hope to cover all the above-mentioned countries (the decision was quite difficult given that my Rotary stipend will only finance one such summer internship!), but I can only do one at a time.

It was in discovering the important psychological work being done by TPO in Cambodia that my decision was made. Because while violence erupts every day, and sadly Kyrgyzstan is the newest wound to open, the long-term impact on survivors is rarely mentioned, and nor is the work being done to treat them. My dream of a large-scale photo documentary project on survivors of war fit perfectly with TPOs desire to have a similar public documentation for their work with victims of the Khmer Rouge. Many of those we will interview will be claimants in the country’s War Crimes Tribunal (here called the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, or ECCC). Some of these claimants told me that their testimony to the courts was the first time they spoke of their experience under the Khmer Rouge, and that the presence and support of TPO was the only reason they had the strength to tell at all.

I have spent my first few weeks here first getting settled and then trying to lay the groundwork for the project, starting with creating collaborations with local organizations, some of whom are doing similar projects. We want our work here to benefit and promote the work being done, and not to repeat efforts if at all possible. Collaborations seem the best approach all around, and TPO has been a great entry into what’s happening here – and what could be done. It all depends on funding, and there is always a question of need chasing monies. Now we’re compiling a list based of possible subjects based on a number of criteria: people who are clients at TPO, people who have not had a chance to tell their tale before and would like to, people who are members of the local victims association and also who live near killing site in Cambodia that are not within the jurisdiction of court investigations (there are about 180 killing sites around the country; the Killing Fields is only one such place!!). Then it’s about finding good translation, transportation, and time. Everyone is focused on July 26 when the verdict for “Comrade Duch”, who ran the Tuol Sleng prison, will be handed down by the courts. It will be the first such verdict since the court began its proceedings in 2006, so is sure to be profound. I’m particularly interested in seeing people’s reaction and whether they feel there has been any “justice” given. My suspicion is that they will still feel lacking.