Pivoine

Please tell me about your life during the Khmer Rouge regime, and what you remember.

Sarun

At first, I stayed here. I was 7 years old. I studied at Kvit Thom school and then at Oda junior high school. I finished high school in 1972. Then the fighting broke out. I went to study at Toul Svay Prey in Phnom Penh near the Sisowath School. The school’s name was 18 March. Between 1973 and 1974, I studied medicine. In 1975, the Khmer Rouge took control and I went to Prey Koy and Roka Kaung in Kampong Cham province. I was unable to return to my village because of the fighting.

I met my family in Prey Koy and Roka Kaung, where this photograph was taken. After that, I went to work in a women’s mobile unit. I also carried dirt to the rice fields.

Some people in the Khmer Rouge asked about my family. They wanted to find out whether my family was connected to the CIA or KGB. After that, I returned to my village. Later, I moved to Tangien forest. In 1979, I returned to my village.

Pivoine

Do you have any other stories to tell?

Sarun

No. I just want to find justice for me and my family members who disappeared. I joined the revolution to help my country. During the regime, if someone didn’t join, they were punished or sent to prison. I want NGOs to find justice for my family. This is because when I was young, I was forced to work hard and live in the forest. I had no rice to eat, no freedom. Now I have freedom and my son can attend school.

I was hurt because I joined the revolution for my country, but I didn’t know anything. My family members disappeared. There was no one to find justice for me.

Pivoine

I am very interested in what you told me, but I didn’t hear everything. I would like to know more. I would like to ask you some more questions about your story. I’m sorry; what is your name?

Sarun

My name is Ban Sarun.

Pivoine

How old are you?

Sarun

I am 54 years old.

Pivoine

How about your husband?

Sarun

My husband is Bueng Liep.

Pivoine

How old is he?

Sarun

He is 50 years old.

Pivoine

What is your village’s name?

Sarun

Angrong village, Kvit Thom subdistrict, Prey Chor district, Kampong Cham province.

Pivoine

When did you finish high school?

Sarun

Between 1973 and 1974. When the fighting began, I had an interim certificate, but had not graduated.

Pivoine

After you finished high school, what did you do?

Sarun

When I finished school I took an exam so that I could study medicine in Phnom Penh. After 1975 I left Phnom Pehn. I didn’t return to my village; instead, I went Prek Koy for the revolution. I was there when they took the photograph.

Pivoine

Before you left home, what was the situation in your village?

Sarun

There was fighting in Kampong Cham province, and bombing. So I ran to study in Phnom Penh.

Pivoine

Did you go to Phnom Penh when the fighting broke out?

Sarun

Yes, because I wanted to continue my studies. My brother [Ban Sarin] ran away to the forest. He studied with Tiv Ol [his friend].

Pivoine

After he finished school, he went to the forest?

Sarun

Yes because some students joined in a strike. Then he joined the Khmer Rouge.

Pivoine

How many siblings do you have?

Sarun

I have seven.

Pivoine

How many females?

Sarun

Five females and two males.

Pivoine

In addition to your medical studies, did you study anything else?

Sarun

I studied general subjects.

Pivoine

I’m a little bit confused. Earlier, you said that after you finished high school, you went to study medicine at Phnom Penh.

Sarun

I only went to Phnom Penh for a few months. Then the situation turned bad and I left.

Pivoine

Which school did you study at in Phnom Penh?

Sarun

March 18 School.

Pivoine

Oh, the first school that you told me about?

Sarun

Yes.

Pivoine

Who else studied with you at Phnom Penh?

Sarun

Some people who lived in Kampong Cham province joined me, but some of them were killed.

Pivoine

Did you have any family members living in Phnom Penh?

Sarun

My sister-in-law.

Pivoine

When you first came to Phnom Penh, what did you do?

Sarun

I studied and also worked in Prek Liap near the city. I worked very hard.

Pivoine

How many months did you study medicine?

Sarun

I studied only a few months and then people were disrupted.

Pivoine

How were they disrupted?

Sarun

By the bombs. Then I was evacuated along the road to Rka Koung and Prek Koy. I worked in a woman’s mobile unit.

Pivoine

What is Prek Koy village?

Sarun

Prek Koy is the name of a commune in Prek Koy subdistrict, Kang Meash district, Kampong Cham province. I was unable to go to my village because I was so scared.

Pivoine

What was the situation in Rka Koung?

Sarun

It was very strong. I cannot say. Someone told me not to go there because if I went, I would die. Also, I was a student and I knew that my brother was still alive. Someone in the Khmer Rouge asked me about my brother. Because they suspected him and because I was a student, I nearly died.

Pivoine

What did you do at Prek Koy village?

Sarun

I worked in the women’s mobile unit. I carried earth to the rice fields.

Pivoine

Did you work as a spy for your unit?

Sarun

No. I was a student. I only carried dirt. I had the photograph of my brother whoi was in prison. For this reason, the Khmer Rouge suspected me and wanted to send me away to kill me. But then the Khmer Rouge collapsed.

Pivoine

When you lived at Prek Koy, did Ban Sarin ask to take your picture?

Sarun

No. The photograph was taken when I went to visit my mother in my village. After I was in the village for 10 or 20 days, someone arrested my brother and sister. The Khmer Rouge made them carry earth. They also interrogated my brother and sister [Ban Sarin and Ban Savath; the latter disappeared in the forest]. I survived the regime.

Pivoine

When did you come to visit your home village?

Sarun

After 1975.

Pivoine

Did you visit your village in the same year that you were living in Prek Koy village?

Sarun

Yes. I went to visit my parents.

Pivoine

Did you run away or ask permission to go home?

Sarun

I asked permission, but it was still difficult for me to go there. I missed my mother very much.

Pivoine

How did you get home?

Sarun

I walked for one day and one night.

Pivoine

Did you come alone?

Sarun

I went alone. No one else went with me because the Khmer Rouge didn’t allow this. I wore a black dress. When I came to my village, someone said I had higher education. So I worked to make my hands look rough and I cut my nails.

Pivoine

I want to ask you more about the visit to your home village. Can you tell me more about the situation when you came home?

Sarun

All I wanted to do was talk with my family. I had only one night at home. I cried and I hugged my brother and sister. I was afraid. Later, my brother and sister disappeared. I didn’t know if someone had betrayed me. I don’t know which one is wrong and which one is right.

Pivoine

When you came home, were you able to talk to your parents?

Sarun

Yes. But I could not talk about my brother with them.

Pivoine

What sorts of problems did you discuss with your parents?

Sarun

I told them about my studies and about my work after I left Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge cut my hair and my fingernails, and made me wear black clothing.

Pivoine

When did they cut your hair and your nails?

Sarun

In 1975. And I also worked very hard.

Pivoine

When was the photograph taken?

Sarun

It was taken after I left Phnom Penh.

Pivoine

Where was it taken?

Sarun

In my house in this village.

Pivoine

Where is your house?

Sarun

I sold my house.

Pivoine

Who took the photograph?

Sarun

I don’t know. I forgot.

Pivoine

Who else is the photograph (the two children standing near you)?

Sarun

They are my nephew and niece.

Pivoine

Do you remember their names?

Sarun

I don’t remember.

Sarom

The girl is Nak and the boy is Reak. Their parents were taken away to be killed at Steung Trang.

Pivoine

When was the photograph taken?

Sarun

I only know the year: 1975 when they made me wear the black clothes and I visited my parents.

Pivoine

When you visited home, were your brother and sister also there?

Sarun

Yes, my brother came.

Pivoine

When your brother came home, did he take the camera? Who took your photograph?

Sarun

I don’t know who took the picture. I don’t remember. When I came home, my brother and sister were happy. But there were a lot of people in my house, so I don’t remember who took the picture.

Pivoine

Were other photographs taken at this time?

Sarun

Yes. I took the pictures because I wanted to keep them after our family separated.

Pivoine

Were they pictures of your family?

Sarun

No. They were killed between 1976 and 1977. They didn’t allow me to see my family during this time.

Pivoine

When you came home, which brothers and sisters came with you?

Sarun

All my brothers. But I was young. My brothers and sisters were told to farm at Phnom Penh. I called them to meet me at my village.

Pivoine

After you returned from visiting your village, what did you do?

Sarun

I worked in the mobile unit at Prey Kok village.

Pivoine

What did you do in this village?

Sarun

I worked in the mobile unit. And I was a student. I transplanted rice and taught children. The work was very hard. My brother disappeared. I still wonder what happened. Why did I have so much work during the revolution? They took my brother away to kill him.

Pivoine

Is your brother in the photograph?

Sarun

Yes, he is Phen [Ban Sarin].

Pivoine

When did he join the revolution?

Sarun

1967 or 1968.

Pivoine

How did he join?

Sarun

Like I told you, he studied at Kampong Cham with Tiv Ol.