Phnom

Penh (VNA), April 13 -- The Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts on April 11 requested an Irish photographer remove photographs of Cambodian victims of the Southeast Asian country's 1970s genocide which were modified to show them smiling and post on an art and cultural website of a US media group.

These original images, which were taken between 1975-1979, now form a central part of the sombre display at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh.

The new images, restored by the Irish photographer , Matt Loughrey, not only have had colour added to them but also, in a horrific twist, have been digitally altered so that some of the victims appear to be smiling.

The ministry argues that Loughrey's action is unacceptable, af...