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THE 17TH OF APRIL IS THE BEGINNING OF THE
SEPARATION
Bun Sou Sour
Many people
understand the17th of April in different ways according to their personal
tendencies. Some understand this
day as the day of victory over the Lon Nol government that was supported by the
U.S. Others understand this day as
the end of the corruptive practices of the Lon Nol regime. On the other hand, the Khmer Rouge, who
worked hard on activities to help the people build their strength after many
years within the Republic government, understand this day as an historical day
of celebration. In contrast, many
of the Cambodian people have many reasons to doubt. They were uncertain in their feelings
what the 17th of April meant as soon as the country of Cambodia was
liberated. Some citizens, including
my father, celebrated and shouted in victory along with the Cambodian liberators
whom people recognized as the Khmer Rouge.
However, I understand that the 17th of April was the first day of
separation for the families of the people as well as my own family.
My family
originally came from Reap Village, Reap Sub-district, Kandal Stung District,
Kandal Province. But after the Lon
Nol government began dropping bombs in 1970, my family forced ourselves to flee
to Phnom Penh and start up a little business in the Daem Takuh Market in order
to support our livelihood. For
approximately five years, until 1975, we continued to live in fear from the
bombing. In May 1975, I was exactly
six months in my mother’s womb. I
have much remorse for not knowing and for not having seen the true activities
that took place on 17th April 1975. But no matter what, when I reached an age in
which I could understand, I often asked my mother about what happened, about the
tragedy, the separation, and the countless pain and suffering of the Cambodian
people and more specifically, the problems that occurred within my own family.
My mother made an
effort to talk about all the problems that developed in my family. She told me that on the 17th of April,
she was six months pregnant and I was the one in her womb.
The 17th of April
is a day of attack and a day of surrender for the Khmer Rouge and the army of
the government. My mother’s
father-in-law who is my grandfather, was willing to take the risk to make the
journey and cross many dangers in order to bring my mother to his house. He understood that it was safer there
because it was a stone house that might prevent accidents from gunfire. As soon as she crossed and reached the
Russian Hospital, she saw many people crowding the streets. At that time, my mother did not yet know
who these people were. On the same
day, when she reached my grandfather’s house in front of the water tank near the
Olympic Stadium, a large gun battle ensued. She saw many helicopters flying and
settling in the clearing of the Olympic Stadium. The sound of large and small guns
answered each other. About two
hours later, the people dressed in black, who were recognized as the Khmer
Rouge, entered my grandfather’s house.
They commanded everyone in the house to leave the house. If they dit not
leave, they would be shot and killed. Fearing the Khmer Rouge would shoot and
kill our entire family, we forced ourselves to leave our home and only took with
us the clothes on our backs. The
Khmer Rouge told us they would allow us to return to our homes after three days
so that they could clean up the enemies in the city.
As we walked along
the 18 March Road, my mother saw many people walking and crowding the
streets. She did not yet know who
these people were. The people
dressed in black ordered those who had motorcycles to give them up. They said they were going to use it for
their work.
The journey
continued and countless painful scenes could be witnessed along the road. Some people had to give birth without a
mid-wife to help them and after they gave birth, they continued their journey
without any energy. Seven hours
later, at 10:00 at night, my mother reached Koh Thom District. As soon as they got there all the
evacuated citizens prepared to cook along the houses of the villagers. Afterwards, the Khmer Rouge worked until
morning preparing a table of the biographies of each person in order to make it
easier for them to divide and send people to different parts throughout the
district. At that time, my mother’s
family, like the thousands of other people who were evacuated from the city of
Phnom Penh, were separated from each other without knowing where their husband,
their parents and children would be driven. The Khmer Rouge sent people like
soldiers, civil servants, police, etc., to different places. After they finished dividing people, my
father and my mother who was six months pregnant with me, were ordered by the
Khmer Rouge to live in Chheu Khmao Village, Chheu Khmao Sub-District, Koh Thom
District, Kandal Province. After
living there for three months, my mother gave birth to me. One month after giving birth to me the
Khmer Rouge sent my family to another place. They told us that there was not yet
enough food for the people here. At
that time, my father acquired a sickness and was not able to do anything.
Therefore, the burden fell on my mother’s shoulders and she forced herself to
prepare everything. Most of the
things she carried in one end of the pole and on the other end of the pole she
carried me. In a wearied tone, my
mother said, “Your face was scorched by the sun and your skin was peeling. I carried you many kilometers for three
days and three nights until we reached the place the Khmer Rouge had assigned us
to go. All of our relatives were
separated from each other. As we
traveled to Preah Vihear Province, when he saw how exhausted and tired we were,
there was one Khmer Rouge cadre named Sou who tried to convince me to name you
Sou. This is his name. He
understood that a person with this name would not die easily.”
Every time we talk
about the 17th of April, I usually remember the day my family was separated from
each other. I still have never seen
the faces of my grandparents and my aunts and uncles. If there was no 17 April 1975, my family
would not have lost so many members.
If I count all of
my grandparents and aunts and uncles on my mother’s and father’s side, the Khmer
Rouge probably killed almost fifty people.
They killed family after family accusing them of being capitalists. One question I always have with me is:
“Why did the Khmer Rouge take my grandparents, my uncles and aunts and all of my
relatives to be killed? What wrong
did they commit? And who is the
source of these unjust acts?”
This question
usually pushes me to discover the truth that no one yet knows with certainty.
In 1997, I was still studying at
the university. I decided to join
and work as a member of the staff at the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which
is an independent institution, a non-governmental organization, and a training
ground for the youth. The office
staff and the leaders are all Cambodians. As soon as I entered and worked at the
Documentation Center of Cambodia I encountered a message written on the
computer: “Searching for the Truth.”
At that time, I had strong hopes that I would realize the truth of my
life that has passed for twenty-five years.
But we still have
not yet discovered this truth, unless there is a tribunal that has international
support.
Therefore,
17 April 1975, which is the start of the separation of the people of Cambodia,
including my family, remains a mystery.
The 17th of April stole the lives of 50 of my family members and
relatives. If there was no 17th of
April, the day of separation and suffering for my family would also not
exist. A trial with international
support should be established immediately, so that we can answer the simple and
general questions of Cambodian people as well as my own. Only an independent tribunal can ease
the suffering of the Cambodian victims that are still alive. With a trial, the 17th of April will no
longer be a question for the public, national, and international
opinion. |
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