Altered Images of Khmer Rouge Victims

Outrage and condemnation exploded in Cambodia because of one artist Matt Loughrey (left) who had decided to not only “colorize” photos of Khmer Rouge victims from the archives in Tuol Sleng, Phnom Penh – but digitally alter their expressions to make them smile! 

These sickening images were then published on April 09, 2021 as part of an article by news outlet Vice Asia, titled “These People Were Arrested by the Khmer Rouge and Never Seen Again”. 

The images were of Cambodians from the infamous S-21 prison – which was operated by the Khmer Rouge and is estimated to have sent over 20,000 citizens to their deaths at the hands of the notorious Duch (right) and his henchmen. 

These original photos now form a central part of the sombre display at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and have achieved an iconic status as a demoniac symbol of the horrors of the Pol Pot era. 

Social media users had provided documentary evidence that the “artist” phony-upped many of the images by turning them into smiling portraits – the complete antithesis of what they would have felt if they were in their shoes. 

Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said: “[The ministry] does not accept this kind of manipulation, and considers this work of Matt Lougnrey to seriously affect the dignity of the victims, the reality of Cambodia’s history, and in violation of the rights of the Museum as the lawful owners and custodians of these photographs”. 

Even the text on the VICE article is not only deeply insulting – but it also contains a number of factual inaccuracies, e.g. stating that 2,000 of the S-21 inmates lived through the hellish nightmare when, there were only 12 (seven adults and five children) documented survivors.

If you didn't know, at least 1.7 million Cambodians died during the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. 

After the outcry and protests from Cambodians and their government, on Sunday, at 12:00 GMT, the article was no longer available on the Vice.com website.