Cambodia: Vice removes modified photos of Khmer Rouge victims

by

The article received strong criticism from readers, who said the artist had added smiles to some of the photos. On Monday, Vice said he had removed the story and photos from his website.

The article “It included photographs of Khmer Rouge victims that Loughrey manipulated beyond colorization,” Vice said in a statement.

“History did not come together [our] editorial standards, “the publication added.” We apologize for the error and will investigate how this editorial process failed. ”

Khmer Rouge executioner 'Comrade Duch' who oversaw the notorious torture prison dies at 77

Despite the withdrawal, Cambodian authorities have strongly opposed the use of the images, after a government review, it was found that several photographs were changed to add smiles.

“The alteration of these photographs shows an absolute insensitivity to the people who died, the families who have had to continue without their loved ones and the historical truth itself,” said Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts from Cambodia on CNN Business on Monday.

“We understand and respect artistic freedom. However, in this case, the artist has clearly desecrated the memories of the dead and stolen the dignity of the victims of the Khmer Rouge. Distorted photographs have unnecessarily traumatized families and our nation. “. ”

The minister calls on the artist to “immediately stop spreading these horrible images and specifically to remove them from his website and out of public view.”

Loughrey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Khmer Rouge scars: How Cambodia is cured of genocide
An online petition was circulated over the weekend demanding that Vice remove the item. By Monday it had already gathered more than 7,000 signatures. Activists called on Loughrey to “stop using photos of Cambodian genocide victims for his experimentation and entertainment.”

On Monday they noted that while the story had since receded, “there has been no apologies from Vice or Mr. Loughrey “.

There is now a new petition from the same group apologizing to the Cambodian community.
At least 1.7 million people – almost a quarter of Cambodia’s population – died as a result of execution, disease, starvation and forced labor under the Khmer Rouge regime that ruled the country between 1975- 1979.
In 2018, almost four decades after the brutal regime collapsed, a UN-backed court ruled that the Khmer Rouge had committed genocide.

– Helen Regan of CNN contributed to this report.

.Source