A lot of people are outraged after discovering that Tuol Sleng in Cambodia was set up as a Pokemon Gym, drawing several "Pokemon Go" trainers to the landmark just to search for the little creatures. Museum staff and survivors deemed the act of catching Pokemon at the old genocide site as disrespectful.
Tuol Sleng in Phnom Penh, Cambodia was originally a high school. Between 1975 and 1979, the place was turned into a security prison where thousands of the Khmer Rouge victims were slaughtered. At present, the place has become a museum and memorial for the Cambodian genocide, which killed about 3 million. Earlier in August 2016, the people working at Tuol Sleng found that two virtual Pokemon Go gyms have also been established in the area, compelling many "Pokemon Go" trainers to visit for the wrong reasons.
Cambodia Daily reported that some of the genocide survivors expressed their disappointment and anger towards the "Pokemon Go" settings. One shared how it was very inappropriate to let the game change how people should feel about the historical site.
One of the gyms was set in a former torture area, while the second was inside the museum. The staff of Tuol Sleng said that it was challenging to prohibit people from playing "Pokemon Go" during tours, especially children. Chhay Visoth, the museum director, said that he did not know that the museum was turned into a "Pokemon Go" gym by Niantic without their consent.
TIME noted that it is not the first time that the "Pokemon Go" creator set up game-related locations tactlessly to the outrage of citizens. Previously, people were searching and catching Pokemon at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Since then, Pokemon have been removed by Niantic from the area.
"Pokemon Go" generally relies on Google Maps to set up its various in-game locations. Many Pokestops and PokeGyms are set on landmarks around the world, such as parks, churches and historical landmarks. It is expected that more "Pokemon Go" complaints from certain countries will surface in the following months. Niantic is likely to remove the settings as soon as the complaints surface. More updates and details on "Pokemon Go" are expected soon.
