The Killing Fields: The Facts behind the Film

Introduction
"The Killing Fields: The Facts behind the Film" is a 1984 book written by Sydney Schanberg, an American reporter who worked as a New York Times reporter in Cambodia during the 1970s. The book is an accurate account of the atrocities dedicated by the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979, throughout which an estimated one to 3 million people were killed. Schanberg's first-hand experiences and reporting on the ground enabled him to craft a comprehensive and painful account of the grim realities dealt with by the Cambodian individuals throughout this time, with the book eventually inspiring the critically acclaimed film, "The Killing Fields".

The Rise of the Khmer Rouge and the Fall of Phnom Penh
The book starts with Schanberg explaining the political background of the Khmer Rouge program, which was led by Pol Pot. The Communist Party of Kampuchea, more commonly referred to as the Khmer Rouge, took control of Cambodia after overthrowing the existing federal government in a bloody civil war that lasted from 1970 to 1975. By the time the Khmer Rouge seized control of the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh in 1975, they had actually currently begun to execute their radical vision of an agrarian, egalitarian society.

Evacuation and Forced Labor
In the after-effects of the fall of Phnom Penh, the Khmer Rouge began a massive forced migration of the city's locals to backwoods. Schanberg recalls experiencing this unprecedented mass exodus, as whole families, including the senior and ill, were required to desert their homes and march to the countryside, frequently without adequate food, water, or shelter. The main motivation behind this forced migration was to rid the nation of its "damaged" urban dwellers and develop a society of agrarian peasants.

Upon arrival in the countryside, citizens went through unthinkable conditions and forced labor, typically working long hours in the fields with little food or rest. The regime subjected the Cambodian people to starvation, abuse, and execution in its mission to maintain complete control.

The S-21 Prison and the Genocide
Among the most infamous elements of the Khmer Rouge program was the S-21 prison, likewise called Tuol Sleng. Schanberg information the scaries that happened within its walls, where it is approximated that around 14,000 individuals were put behind bars, tortured, and killed throughout the brief life of the jail. S-21 was emblematic of the broader genocide being perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge throughout Cambodia, with an approximated one to three million individuals killed, representing in between 13% and 30% of the country's overall population.

The Personal Story of Dith Pran
Central to Schanberg's account of the Cambodian genocide is the individual story of Dith Pran, a Cambodian journalist who worked together with Schanberg throughout his time in the nation. Pran was not able to leave Cambodia with the other global reporters during the fall of Phnom Penh, and as a result, he went through the same brutal treatment as other Cambodians under the Khmer Rouge. Pran amazingly made it through the routine, and his painful experiences act as the basis for the film "The Killing Fields".

Conclusion
In general, "The Killing Fields: The Facts behind the Film" supplies a sobering account of the atrocities that took place in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime. The book not just documents the ruthless policies and actions of the routine however also gives a voice to the many victims through the personal story of Dith Pran. In doing so, Schanberg's account acts as a powerful testament to one of the darkest chapters in human history and a reminder of the requirement to hold those responsible for such criminal activities to account.