The Koh Thma Documentation Center, a branch of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam), serves as a crucial institution dedicated to preserving Cambodia’s history and promoting peace through education. 

Founded with four key objectives, the centre is dedicated to historical documentation, peacebuilding and advocating for survivors, especially among indigenous communities like the S'tieng people of Tbong Khmum province.

“The Koh Thma Documentation Center’s mission is deeply rooted in documenting Cambodia’s tumultuous history, particularly focusing on events between the 1960s and the 1990s,” said centre director Long Dany. 

This includes the country’s struggles during the Khmer Rouge era and the ongoing efforts to heal from its devastating impact. 

The centre’s renovation and organisation of the S'tieng Tribal Community prayer house, completed in September 2024, is a significant step in preserving the cultural heritage of these indigenous people while integrating their history into the country’s larger narrative of resilience and survival.

“More than a historical archive, the Koh Thma centre, located at Kdol Leu village, Tunluong commune [Memot district], which borders Vietnam, plays an active role in peacebuilding,” said Dany. 

Through its educational programmes, the centre engages young people from rural and remote areas, offering them opportunities to learn about Cambodia’s history and the importance of conflict prevention. 

By connecting these youth with the stories of the past, the centre helps foster a generation that values peace and understands the dangers of division and violence.

The newly renovated prayer house, a key part of the initiative, will not only serve as a cultural and spiritual space for 151 S'tieng families but also as a meeting place where villagers can discuss crucial issues such as land rights, development and the preservation of indigenous traditions. 

The architecture itself, designed by students from the Royal University of Fine Arts, reflects the centre’s commitment to both preserving the past and fostering a future grounded in unity and respect for cultural heritage.

New prayer house and centre ceremony

The S'tieng villagers of Kdol Leu held a two-day ceremony from September 11-12 to inaugurate the newly renovated centre and a new prayer house. 

The Koh Thma Documentation Center, a branch of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam), serves as an historical archive and plays an active role in peacebuilding. Supplied

The first day, steeped in rich indigenous traditions, included offerings and alms to elders at the ancestral hermitage under the sacred Chrey Thom tree. 

Villagers conducted a ritual sacrifice, symbolically protecting their homes from illnesses and epidemics. 

The Neak Ta ceremony, featuring painted stones representing spiritual faces, was performed to ward off evil spirits and bring prosperity to the community. 

Although the full traditional ceremony is no longer observed, the villagers maintain the essential practice of invoking ancestral blessings before constructing homes.

The second day culminated in a procession of Buddha statues to the prayer house, where monks offered prayers to bless the gathering. 

Connecting to wars

Koh Thma village holds historical significance as the starting point of Senate president Hun Sen’s journey to topple the genocidal Pol Pot regime, a movement that ultimately led to the country’s unification and peace in 1998.

One of the centre’s primary goals is to encourage survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime to share their stories. 

“These testimonies are invaluable for educating younger generations about the atrocities that took place between 1975 and 1979, ensuring that the lessons of that dark period are not forgotten,” said Dany. 

The recent ceremony at the prayer house, attended by villagers such as 64-year-old Chea Kim Hy, highlighted the importance of these personal stories. 

Kim Hy’s own experiences of forced labour and survival under the Khmer Rouge serve as a powerful reminder of the past, while his hope for the new generation to embrace their identity underscores the centre’s mission.

Reflecting on his past, Kim Hy recalled joining the mobile unit in Choam Treak village in 1975, where everyone had to work and eat communally. Due to rice shortages, he survived on corn porridge. 

"In 1976, the Khmer Rouge evacuated me from Choam Treak to Svay Chres village in Kratie province," Kim Hy recalled. "We were forced to dig stumps, build dikes and clear one hectare of farmland every day with 15 other brigade members. If we failed, there was no rest."

He recounted how the Khmer Rouge divided the population, relocating people from Tromoung commune westward to Svay Chres and from Memot district to other areas in Kratie. 

Between 1977 and 1978, he was evacuated again, this time to the Kampong Cham’s Chamkar Leu district, where he worked in rice threshing fields until 10pm before being allowed to rest. 

"In 1979, when I heard the country had been liberated, I returned home to reunite with my parents," Kim Hy shared. "But one of my brothers had already perished during the … regime."

In addition to collecting survivor testimonies, the centre is focused on documenting the locations where Khmer Rouge crimes occurred. 

The S'tieng inhabitants of Kdol Leu village hold a two-day ceremony to inaugurate the newly renovated centre and a new prayer house from September 11–12. Supplied

This work is crucial for both historical accuracy and for the process of healing. By identifying and recording these sites, the centre ensures that the victims of these atrocities are remembered, and that the crimes of the Khmer Rouge are preserved in the national consciousness.

“As part of its broader objectives, the centre will continue researching the history of the S'tieng indigenous communities, tracing their experiences through the French colonial period, the Vietnam War, the Khmer Rouge era and beyond,” said Dany. 

This research will be complemented by study tours and forums aimed at educating both locals and visitors about the Khmer Rouge era and the importance of preventing mass violence.

A vision for the future

Looking forward, the centre will remain a hub for historical research, peace education and community engagement. 

Its work in preserving the stories of the past and fostering a culture of peace among the country’s youth is vital for ensuring that the horrors of the Khmer Rouge are never repeated. 

“For the indigenous S'tieng community, the centre provides a space to celebrate and preserve their traditions, while connecting their history to the broader Cambodian struggle for peace and unity,” Dany added. 

Kim Hy expressed that the centre’s work represents hope, as he believes the newly renovated prayer house will help preserve the history of indigenous people for future generations, allowing them to understand and contribute to the community.