After more than a decade of working in conflict resolution around the world, Dr. Emma Leslie, executive director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, together with her husband Dr. Soth Plai Ngarm, brought to Cambodia the Cambodia Peace Gallery. The gallery had its official opening on October 23, 2018, in Battambang province. The vision of the project is to provide a space where survivors can share, reflect on and learn from their experiences. There are three main buildings; the main hall and two gallery buildings featuring paintings and portraits reflecting Cambodia's history and its effort in peace building after the Khmer Rouge genocide. Located 15 kilometers away from the city centre of Battambang province, the Cambodia Peace Gallery is ready to welcome local and international visitors who wish to learn about Cambodia's past.
In Photos: First Cambodia Peace Gallery to Provide a Safe Space to Study Cambodia's History
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A Panorama shot of the interior of the main exhibition hall featuring the beginning of peace-building in the post-war period of Cambodia. (Rithy Odom/VOA)
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Guests observing the portraits of advocates for peace in Cambodia. (Hor Singhuo/VOA)
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20-year-old Pheav Phy (left), 22-year-old Chan Khimhseang (Middle), and 21-year-old Chey Sophann, majoring in Khmer Literature and General Management at the Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University in Phnom Penh, think that young Cambodian should learn about Cambodia's history thoroughly, not to repeat the same mistake as that of the Khmer Rouge. Photo is taken on October 23, 2018. (Rithy Odom/VOA)
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Nikki Singer, Director of Cambodia Peace Museum, stands in front of a painting on the wall, portraying of the brief history of Cambodia as she observes the gallery. (Rithy Odom/VOA)
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Dr. Emma Leslie, Executive Director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, cut the ribbon before leading the crowd to one of the exhibition halls, in Battambang, on October 23, 2018. (Rithy Odom/VOA)
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Dr. Soth Plai Ngarm, a Battambang-born peace activist and founder of the Cambodia Peace Gallery, said the Cambodia Peace Museum will feature art forms that would represent both history and positivity. (Hor Singhuo/VOA)
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At the entrance to the Cambodia Peace Museum, Emma Leslie (in blue) talk with Sharon May (In Emerald), writer and photographer who stayed at refugee camp Site II, one of the largest refugee camps in Southeast Asia between 1985 and 1993. Sharon May spent two years at the border between Cambodia and Thailand to document the life of the Cambodian refugees. (Rithy Odom/VOA)
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Journalists, civil society, monks, students and embassy delegations joining the early morning opening ceremony of the Cambodia Peace Gallary in Odambang Commune, Battambang province, on October 23, 2018. (Hor Singhuo/VOA)
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Guests walked through the museum’s campus to the gallery hall featuring recovery efforts including demining and advocating for victims of war, in the procession after Buddhist monks. (Rithy Odom/VOA)
