HumasUPNVJ - This activity is part of the learning in the Democracy and Human Rights course taught by Dr. Sri Lestari Wahyuningroem with course participants from the first batch of Political Science Study Program students, class of 2017.

The purpose of this activity is to deepen one of the topics studied in the Democracy and Human Rights course, namely transitional justice and democratization, as well as to share and learn from each other about the experiences of Indonesia and Cambodia. Another goal is to broaden the horizons and association of Ilpol students and lecturers not only related to subject topics but also many other things including culture, history, and so on.

Cambodia was chosen as the country of comparison because like Indonesia, Cambodia has also experienced a dark period in its history related to serious human rights violations against hundreds of thousands to millions of its citizens. The two countries, Indonesia and Cambodia, managed to get out of repressive regimes and transition to a more democratic regime.

Learning about how these two countries resolved their historical burdens and upheld democracy is an opportunity for students to share and enrich their knowledge.

The first day's activities began with a visit and study at the Cheoung Ek Killing Field, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, one of the sites where hundreds of thousands of Cambodians were massacred during the Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot. The second day was filled with cultural visits to Phnom Wat, Royal Palace, Central Market and Russian Market, as well as interacting with local residents. On the third day, learning continued with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, one of the UNESCO Memory of the World sites. In this museum the students discussed with the deputy director.

From Tuol Sleng, students visited and discussed with international students at the American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP) who came from at least ten countries.

Three students presented material on the Indonesian student movement and democracy, which was greeted enthusiastically by AUPP students and lecturers. The following day was a visit to the Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a hybrid court that combines elements of Cambodia's national courts and the United Nations (UN) to try crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge Regime. The activity continued with visiting the University of Cambodia , which was received by the Vice Chancellor and three deans as well as international officials and the chair of the Student Senate. Finally, students visited the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, and had discussions with the Education staff there.