|
SEARCHING FOR MISSING BROTHER
Dear Youk,
Thank you for your
e-mail, which I read with a sense of sorrow because so many of us have gone
through this most unbelievable event and it changed all our lives, regardless of
age, gender or socioeconomic standing. I am so sorry to hear that your sister
was savagely murdered in cold blood at the hands of the Khmer Rouge in the most
sadistic of circumstances.
I know and share
your pain and the bereavement you have endured for more than two-thirds of your
life. Your view of life about Cambodia and its leaders will never be the same
again. I say this because we’re about the same age. However, my circumstances
were different because I never knew what life was like under the Khmer Rouge. I
was one of the first Cambodians to escape to Thailand on 14th April 1975. But
left behind were my father and six other siblings, of which only one survived.
I, too, might have perished under the Khmer Rouge, but perhaps it was not meant
to be.
What is difficult
for me is how do I go about finding my lost siblings? So far I know for sure
that my father, my sister and two elder brothers are dead, as there were
confirmed reports of their fates. But I also have two older brothers who may
still be alive. If they are alive, they may be crippled or handicapped in some
way by the events in our country and are not able to trace or locate me. It has
been so difficult for me, not knowing for certain if they are alive or dead. Do
you have any suggestions about where to look or how I might be able to find out
if they are alive or dead? They would be in their mid 40s now, if they survived
the regime.
Youk, you have
demonstrated a lot of humanity and the will to collect so much information for
the Cambodian people and the world to reflect on the most barbaric government
the world has ever known. I wish you and the staff of DC-Cam the very best for
the future. I’m sure many of us are very proud to have a son like you.
Keep up the good
work!
I hope to catch up
with you sometime when I’m in Cambodia.
With my warmest
regards,
Neru
|
