Photographic Requiem: Tribute to journalists who died during the war in Cambodia

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) and Meta House Phnom Penh are highlighting the courage and perseverance of journalists through an exceptional photographic exhibition dedicated to the brave souls who courageously documented the dark hours of the Cambodian wars of the 1960s and 1970s.

Entitled ‘Requiem: Honouring Journalists Who Died During the War in Cambodia,’ this exhibition, a collaboration between the CETC and Meta House Phnom Penh, pays tribute to Cambodian photographers who paid with their lives to bear witness to the national tragedy. A joint press release highlights the importance of this commemoration in preserving the memory of journalistic sacrifices at the heart of tumultuous conflicts.

The opening ceremony was attended by prominent figures such as Khieu Kanharith, former Minister of Information and current Senior Advisor to His Majesty the King, Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra, and representatives from the Japanese and German embassies. Over 100 local and international guests also attended this emotional event.

Among the 25 photographs on display, all taken from the book Bangsokol - Requiem, Kranh Tony, acting director of the CETC administration, explained that these images not only celebrate the memory of the photojournalists who lost their lives, but also their essential contribution to understanding this historical period. The exhibition aims to raise awareness among Cambodian youth in particular, encouraging them to reflect on the crucial role of journalism in times of war, while supporting the CETC's mission in the quest for justice and truth.

For Khieu Kanharith, these photographs embody the true heroism of journalists who fought to reveal the often hidden realities of the war in Cambodia. ‘These images are essential documents that will inspire future generations to grasp the extent of the suffering endured by our people,’ he said. He emphasised the vital role of journalists during and after the conflict as guardians of memory, witnesses and architects of justice.

Also present, Neth Pheaktra spoke of the emotional power of these photographs. For him, they convey a crucial message to younger generations: to understand the inestimable value of peace, for which so many sacrifices have been made.

‘It is up to all of us to preserve this hard-won peace, otherwise we risk relapsing into the horrors that these images bear witness to,’ he warned.

Veteran journalist Kong Vorn, a former correspondent for a Japanese news agency during the Lon Nol era in the 1970s, shared his poignant memories.

‘Looking at these photographs, I feel deep admiration for this generation of journalists, but also unspeakable horror at the images of the brutal massacres perpetrated under the law of the jungle. Among these journalists are Cambodians and foreigners whom I knew personally and who were savagely murdered by the Khmer Rouge,’ he said emotionally.

The exhibition is inspired by the book REQUIEM, which pays tribute to photographers who died during the Vietnam War and the Indochina War, many of whom documented events in Cambodia. The collection was compiled by Horst Faas (1933–2012) and Tim Page (1944–2022), two iconic figures in war photojournalism. The photographs in the exhibition were taken by Marianne Harris, an Australian journalist and Tim Page's wife.

Through this powerful exhibition, the CETC reaffirms the crucial importance of journalistic testimony in collective memory and the quest for justice, inviting everyone to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who risked, and sometimes gave, their lives so that the truth could shed light on the darkest chapters of Cambodian history.