Beyond the tribunal

Cambodian memorial sites, particularly Wat Thmey, reflect complex and often conflicting memories of political violence. This study reveals that such memorials serve as contested spaces where Cambodians express ambivalent views on state-sanctioned commemorative practices. By analyzing the representational technologies—such as mass human remains displays and information boards—used at these sites, the research highlights how they position Wat Thmey towards both local communities and international tourists. It contrasts day-to-day accounts of the memorial with state-led initiatives like the Day of Remembrance, illustrating the uneven nature of memory animation in post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia.

(Ed.). (2017). Beyond the tribunal. Transitional Justice and Memory in Cambodia, 136–156. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315549972-8