Learning from Pol Pot's Killing Fields
Description
In 1975, the Khmer Rouge came to power in Cambodia. Everyone was driven to the countryside. Many were forced - under poor conditions - to work on a system of canals, dams and structures that could be used both for storage, drainage and irrigation. Said canals followed the kilometre grid on the topographic maps of the time. The aim was to increase rice production for export.
In 1979, intervention from Vietnam expelled the Khmer Rouge. It became clear that a disaster had occurred in the country with many victims and displaced people. 'Killing Fields' became a household word.
In the 1989 booklet Kampuchea: Undoing The Legacy of Pol Pot's Water Control System, Bert Pijpers describes the lesser-known physical consequences of Pol Pot's water vision for land use and water control in rural Cambodia. He worked at and for the Hydrology Department in Cambodia from 1986 - 1990.
At his home, he will tell us - using visual material - about:
- his work and experiences in Cambodia
- what in his mind were the underlying thoughts for actually a country-wide redevelopment plan and why it couldn't work.
This evening will then be spent in dialogue on what water managers can learn from it
19.00:00 Reception with coffee and tea
19:30 Lecture with visuals
21:00 Could the Khmer Rouge vision of water have worked?
21:30 What can we learn from it?
22:00 Closing/post-dinner discussion
Speaker(s)
Bert Pijpers
Duo Advies
Location
At the home of the water expert
Tulpstraat 16, 3812 VB Amersfoort
Organiser
Land Use and Water Management
Name and contact details for information
Bert Pijpers Duo Advies Tulpstraat 16 3812 VB Amersfoort