François Ponchaud: A Voice Against Khmer Rouge Atrocities Dies at 86

The Rev. François Ponchaud, known for his influential book "Cambodia: Year Zero," alerting the globe to the grave human rights violations during the Khmer Rouge regime, died at the age of 86 on January 17 in Lauris, France. His passing, announced by the Paris Foreign Missions Society, attributed his death to cancer.

Father Ponchaud dedicated a significant part of his life to Cambodia, spending a decade immersed in its culture and people. Following the Khmer Rouge's rise in 1975, he was expelled from the country as it sealed its borders. Despite this, he played a crucial role in documenting the brutalities that resulted in the deaths of nearly two million Cambodians. By diligently gathering accounts from refugees and contrasting them with the propagandistic narratives from the Khmer Rouge, Ponchaud raised awareness in the West, which had largely neglected the unfolding tragedy. His work remains a critical testament to the horror of that era, ensuring that the voices of the victims are not forgotten.