Report day 2 --by Melanie

The UBELONG Cambodia Expedition to investigate genocide has started! Day 2 was intense and thought provoking: the team visited a local NGO, toured a Buddhist monastery and visited Boeung Kak, a settlement victimized by aggressive land takeover policies. The team also had the opportunity to meet with Robert Carmichael, one of the most respected foreign journalists in Cambodia. He works for German Press Agency dpa and is currently writing a book about Cambodia in relation to the Khmer Rouge.

Each visit offered a unique view on the challenges facing the country and the lingering effects of the Khmer Rouge. Discussions focused on: the challenges civil organizations face in operating in a highly restricted political environment, the effects of corruption, the physiological consequences of the violence and oppression of the Khmer Rouge regime, current political economy, international aid and the role of Buddhism. In meeting with a community where people’s homes were destroyed without notice or fair compensation, these themes took on a highly human dimension. It was impossible not to sympathize with people living in poverty that had lost their only asset: their home. With such a wide range of perspectives and insights, the team learned not only a great deal about the country’s past, but how it continues to affect it today. The rest of the week promises to be just as engaging and compelling- stay tuned!