The Chrey Tree

        The “Chrey Tree” or “Magic Tree”, located in Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, is the tree that loudspeakers were hung and music was blasted to drown out the screams of executions, masking the killings from surrounding villages.

        This tree is utmost important to the history of Khmer Rouge regime as it stands as one of the many witnesses of the cruelty of the Khmer Rouge regime. More importantly, the tree concentrates on mourning and remembrance rituals in a way other museum case cannot.

        In July 2025, UNESCO inscribed “Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection”-including Choeung Ek Genocidal Center on the World Heritage List, underscoring the site’s global educational and commemorative value. The site has also been upgrading its educational infrastructure (video room, AV) to deepen learning.