Pol Pot killings in Cambodian text books for first time

At least 1.5 million people were killed in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge. [Reuters]
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At least 1.5 million people were killed in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge. [Reuters]

Last Updated: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:39:00 +1100

Cambodia has unveiled its first school textbook on the mass killings of the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge era.

Education officials say many young Cambodians know little about what occurred during the period, when an estimated 1.7 million people died under the rule of communist leader Pol Pot.

There is also said to be little understanding of the United Nations-sponsored process that has been set up to prosecute the surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge.

More than 500,000 copies of the text book will be distributed.

The US-funded Documentation Centre of Cambodia, which has documented Khmer Rouge atrocities, has played a key role in bringing out the textbook.

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