|
|
Promoting
Accountability Team Report
Kratie
Province, February 20-March 6, 2006
From
February 20 to March 6, 2006, Naroeun Chhay and Khamboly Dy of
DC-Cam’s Promoting Accountability team used the biographies of Khmer
Rouge cadres to locate and interview former cadres or their
relatives in Kratie province.
|
Biographies investigated |
32 |
|
Cassettes recorded |
23 |
|
Interviews |
|
|
Former cadres |
12 |
|
Relatives of former cadres who are alive, but
moved away from the area |
1 |
|
Relatives of former cadres who died after 1979 |
1 |
|
Relatives of cadres who disappeared during
Democratic Kampuchea |
14 |
|
Former cadres unknown |
3 |
|
Former cadres alive, but not yet interviewed |
-- |
|
Former cadres with no biographies |
1 |
Week 1:
February 20-26, 2006
Summary of Activities
The team
interviewed 5 former cadres and the relatives of 8 former cadres.
The interviews were recorded on 8 cassettes and 18 photographs were
taken.
Geographic Description: Prek Prasab District
Prek
Prasab district is an island separated from the provincial town of
Kratie by the Mekong River. While it takes only 10 minutes to reach
the district by ferry, most of its communes are far apart. This was
the only district of Kratie province that was ceded to the North
Zone during the Khmer Rouge regime. It was part of Region 42.
Summaries of Interviews
Former
Cadres
1).
Phatt Sam Ol aka Lim
(I06223), male, deputy group chief. Interviewed at Kampong Kor
village, Kampong Kor sub-district, February 20, 2006.
When he was young, Phatt Sam Ol studied in Kampong Kor village. He
completed grade 9, but quit school in 1973 when the Khmer Rouge
forces were recruiting young people to work in the Children’s Unit.
After two months, he was sent to the army in Kampong Thom province.
Phatt Sam Ol lived with his older brother Sam At in Kampong Thom; he
was a soldier in Unit 315. For the first five months in Kampong
Thom, Phatt Sam Ol worked as a messenger. Then he was sent to fight,
first in Kratie provincial town and in 1974 in Kampong Cham
provincial town. In 1975 he was sent to fight along National Road 5.
When Phnom Penh was overthrown, he was assigned to patrol in the
Central Market. After about two weeks, he was sent to work in Tuol
Kork. A week later, he was sent to patrol and farm near Chrouy Chang
Va Bridge. In 1976 Phatt Sam Ol was assigned to work at the airport
in Kampong Chhnang province. After three months, Angkar moved him to
fight the Vietnamese in Trapeang Phlong, Kampong Cham province.
Phatt Sam Ol was first appointed as a chief group, then chief of a
small cell, chief of a large cell, and last as a deputy battalion
chief. He returned home in 1979 and was married in 1980.
2). Pen Y aka Chauv
(I03703), male, soldier. Interviewed in Chong Koh village, Koh Tasuy
sub-district, February 21, 2006.
Pen Y was born in 1951. Both his father Mel Men, age 84, and his
mother Nhik Nai Sorn, 78, are alive. He is the second of eight
siblings (five brothers and three sisters). One of his siblings died
during Democratic Kampuchea. Pen Y married Muong Narith in 1980; she
is 47 years old. They have two sons and four daughters.
Pen Y went to school in Kho Tasuy for three or four years and in
1967 went to live in Prek Samrong pagoda. In 1970 he returned home
to study further, but gave up in 1972 because of his family’s
poverty. He helped his parents grow tobacco, corn and sesame.
In 1973 he was forced to join the Khmer Rouge army in Tamau village;
he disliked it. After a year or so, he asked for permission to visit
his parents, but his request was denied many times. In 1974 he was
sent to Camkar Leu, Kampong Cham province, for two weeks’ of
training. Then Angkar sent him to the battlefield in Svay Phleung,
Kampong Cham. He fought for Division 310.
Pen Y was injured during his first battle so Angkar sent him to
Pha-av hospital in Kampong Cham. He left the hospital a month later,
and then Angkar returned him to Division 310. After the April 17,
1975 collapse of Phnom Penh, he was assigned to patrol in Tuol Kor.
Two weeks later he was sent to grow rice in Tum Nup Kapsrauv. After
a month, he was sent to Phnom Penh for three days’ of study, and
then returned to Tum Nup Kapsrauv, where he worked until 1977.
In 1977 he was sent to carry stones in Koh Charam, Kandal province.
There he worked with people from the East Zone. After about three
months, he was transferred back to Tum Nup Kapsrauv, where he worked
as a cook. In 1978 he was sent to Kampong Cham province to fight the
Vietnamese. Injured again, he was hospitalized in Kampong Cham for a
week and then sent to a hospital in Phnom Penh. After a month, he
was sent to Kampong Cham. He returned home in 1979 and got married
in the same year.
3). Sok Savet aka Dy
(I00784), male, soldier. Interviewed in Chambak village, Chambak
sub-district, February 2, 2006.
Before Democratic Kampuchea, Sok Savet studied until grade 10 in
Chambak village, and then became a construction worker in Takeo
province and Phnom Penh during 1966 and 1967. In 1970 he became a
spy in Chrouy Tmar village. A year later he was sent to Kampong Cham
province.
4). Duch aka San
(I05290), female, soldier. Interviewed in Chrouy Ampil 1 village,
Chambak sub-district, February 22, 2006.
Duch was born in the year of the Rooster; she is 53 years old. Her
mother is Hauy, age 77, and her father Chhoeun, 74. She is the only
child in her family. When she was young she lived with her uncle Cha
and aunt Yeing. When Duch was 24, she was recruited into the Khmer
Rouge by Chruoy, the chief of Ampil 1 village. After being taught
medicine for a month, she was sent to carry injured soldiers from
the battlefield in Roung village in the early 1970s.
She was sent to Phnom Penh with Division 310 a week after the
capital fell in 1975. Duch stayed around Wat Phnom for about a month
before Heing assigned her to work as a tailor at Tuol Kork. Soon
after, Heing was arrested and Angkar sent Duch to grow rice in Boeng
Samyap. She stayed there until 1979 and returned home in 1980. She
married Sim in 1990 (he is now age 63); they have one son.
5). Peang aka Rum
(I05241), female, soldier. Interviewed in Chambak 2 village, Chambak
sub-district, February 23, 2006.
Peang is 52 years old; her father was Yang and her mother Rau. Her
parents had one son and three daughters; her brother died during
Democratic Kampuchea.
She had completed grade 9 in Wat Chambak School and then quit school
to help her parents. Rin and Cheng, the chiefs of Chrouy Ampil
village, recruited her into the Khmer Rouge. First she was assigned
to be the Chrouy Ampil cooperative chief. In addition to supervising
villagers, she was also studied politics at the Chrouy Thmar School.
In 1975 Angkar sent her to carry injured soldiers in Kampong Chhnang
province. After Phnom Penh fell, she was sent there for about a
month. Later Angkar sent her to grow rice and build dams in Boeng
Samyap and Tum Nup Kapsrauv. She returned home in 1979 after the
Khmer Rouge regime collapsed.
Relatives
of Former Cadres Who are Still Alive
6). Sim Seng Chin aka Seng
(I06189), male, group member. Interview with his older sister Kim
Chheng Ky, age 61, in Koh Tasuy village, Koh Tasuy sub-district,
February 21, 2006.
Sim Seng was born in the year of the Horse (age 52). He left school
in grade 7 in 1971 to assist his family, which was poor. He was
assigned to the mobile unit of Koh Tasuy village, and later as a
soldier along the border. He did not visit home during the Khmer
Rouge regime, but after the regime collapsed he came home once when
he had malaria. Today, Sim Seng lives in Phnom Penh; Kim Chheng Ky
did not know his address.
Relatives
of Cadres Who Disappeared
7). Ke Thon
(K07282), male, soldier. Interview with his brother-in-law Sam Roeun,
46, in Chrouy Sneng Krabey village, Chrouy Sneng Krabey
sub-district, February 20, 2006.
Ke Thon did not go to school when he was young. He lived and worked
as a cowherd with his uncle Yamm. Ke Thon was forced to join the
Khmer Rouge in 1970. When Phat, the chief of Chrouy Sneng Krabey
village, selected him for to join the revolution, Thon refused.
Instead, he ran away and joined the Khmer Rouge in Chhlong district.
After that, he disappeared. Two of his brothers also disappeared
during Democratic Kampuchea.
8). Kim Eim aka Makk
(I09454), male, soldier. Interview with his older brother in Kampong
Kor village, Kampong Kor sub-district, February 20, 2006.
Kim Eim finished grade school in 1970. After the 1970 coup d’etat,
he worked as a Khmer Rouge spy in Kampong Kor village. In 1973 he
was recruited to be a soldier by village chief Sor and worked with
Oeun, the chief of Division 310. In 1975 after the collapse of Phnom
Penh, he visited his family. He was injured and stayed home for
about two weeks. After he left home in 1975, he disappeared.
9). Leng Sina aka Dy
(I08271), male, solider. Interview with his younger brother Lev
Vanna, 55, in Chambak village, Chambak sub-district, February 22,
2006.
Leng Sina finished grade 7 at Chrouy Ampil Primary School before he
joined the revolution in 1970 in Sambuo, Stung Trang district,
Kampong Cham province. He visited home twice in 1975. Later, Lev
Vanna heard that Leng Sina was sent to Kampong Chhnang province to
be a construction worker at the Kampong Chhnang airport. A man named
In Nan of Chrouy Thmar village told Lev Vanna that Leng Sina was
arrested and killed in 1977, but he did not know why.
According to his biography, Leng Sina joined the revolution on June
10, 1970 and was recruited by Nhem. At that time, Leng Sina’s
parents were dead. He had three sisters and five brothers.
10). Saut Mara aka Ra
(I07786), male, soldier. Interview with his mother Eng Veng, 67, in
Chambak 2 village, Chambak sub-district, February 23, 2006.
Saut Mara did not get much education. He had just completed grade 12
in 1970 when he quit school. After living with his parents, he was
chosen to join the Khmer Rouge forces in 1974 in Chambak village. He
was sent to Phnom Penh before April 17, 1975 and then disappeared.
He 10 brothers and 4 sisters; 5 of them are still alive.
11). Kim Neng aka Heng
(I00702), female, solider, Division 310. Interview with her father
Korng Paoheng, 93, in Chambak 2 village, Chambak sub-district,
February 23, 2006.
Kim Neng joined the revolution in 1974 after the death of her
mother. First Angkar sent her to work as a tailor and later she was
sent to Phnom Penh, where she also was a tailor. She sent something
to her father, but he did not remember the year. After that, she
disappeared. According to her biography, Kim Neng joined the
revolution in 1974; she was recruited by Ren. Later she became a
soldier in Division 310.
12). Chak Buntheng aka Set
(I05298, I03678), male, soldier, Division 310. Interview with his
aunt Chim Sokhan, 55, in Chambak 2 village, Chambak sub-district,
February 23, 2006.
Chak Buntheng finished grade 8 before he joined the revolution in
1974. He joined because he was frustrated with his mother. In 1993,
Chim Sokhan heard that Chak Buntheng was living in Pailin, but has
not heard about him since. According to his biography, Chak Buntheng
was born in 1956 and Chanthy recruited him to the revolution. He
became a deputy group chief in 1975.
Relatives
of Cadres Who Died after 1979
13). Khann Sim, aka Kheng
(I02186), female, solider. Interview with her sister-in-law Dy Yan,
61, in Chrouy Thmar village, Chambak sub-district, February 22,
2006.
Khann Sim studied in Chambak village but quit during the 1970 coup
when she was in grade 5. She joined a Khmer Rouge mobile unit in
1975 and was sent to Phnom Penh to work on the medical staff. She
returned home in 1979 and got married in the same year to Voeun.
They had four daughters and three sons. She died of disease in 2003.
If she were alive, she would be in her late 40s.
Week 2:
March 1-6, 2006
Summary of Activities
Two
former cadres were interviewed, as were the relatives of eight
cadres who disappeared. Information on three former cadres could not
be located, and one additional interview was conducted with a former
cadre for whom DC-Cam had no biography. The interviews were recorded
on 15 cassettes.
Geographic Description: Prek Prasab and Kratie Districts
Prek
Prasab district is described under the discussion of Week 1
activities. Kratie district holds Kratie provincial town; most of
the people living in this capital were considered by the Khmer Rouge
to be new people. They were evacuated from Kratie provincial town
and few of them returned home after Democratic Kampuchea.
Summaries of Interviews
Former
Cadres
14).
Yakk Sokhan aka Tun
(I08179), male, military medical staff. Interviewed at Svay Chum
village, Rusey Keo sub-district, March 1, 2006.
Yakk Sokhan was born in the Year of the Snake (1962); he is 44 years
old. Both his father Youk Chhan and mother Sorn Hean are still
alive. Six of his nine siblings (four brothers and two sisters) are
also living. Yakk Sokhan is married to Lay Virayu, age 46; they have
three sons. He works as a clerk in Rusey Keo sub-district.
After completing his studies at Svay Chum Primary School, Yakk
Sokhan attended Chhlong High School. He quit when he was in grade 4
after the 1970 coup. After living with his family for two years, he
joined the revolution and taught children until 1975. In 1975 he was
assigned to be a soldier on the Pha-av and Dang Tung battlefields in
Cheung Prey sub-district. After Phnom Penh fell on April 17,
1975 he stayed in Wat Phnom for a month. Then he was sent to Kampong
Thom province where he worked as a medic in Kiri Andet for five
months. Next he was sent to Tumnup Kapsrauv to look after farmers
who were sick. In 1977 his battalion was sent to Kampong Chhnang
province. In mid-1978 Yakk Sokhan and his battalion were sent to
fight the Vietnamese in Trapeang Phlong, Kampong Cham province. He
returned home in 1979 and got married in the same year.
15). Seng Heang aka Seng Vorng
(K09155), female, solider. Interviewed at Chambak 2 village, Chambak
sub-district, March 2, 2006.
Seng Heang was born in 1954; she is now 52 years old. Both of her
parents passed away long ago. She is the second of seven siblings,
three of whom are still alive. Seng Heang studied at Boeng Rey
Primary School and quit in 1970 when she was about 14 years old. She
stayed at home with her parents for about a year and then was chosen
to join the Khmer Rouge revolution in 1971.
In 1972 Net sent her to military training in Cheung Prey district,
where she was trained in Traop pagoda. Two weeks later she was sent
to Prek Pnau, where she carried food and weapons to the battlefield.
Seng Heang worked in Battalion 27, Division 1 under the command of a
woman named Chet.
In 1975 after Lon Nol was overthrown, she was sent to Phnom Penh to
work in the Commercial Unit under the supervision of Roeung. In 1976
she married Sith, a Battalion 75 chief. In 1977 Seng Heang worked as
a clerk in the import/export office near Chrouy Chang Va Bridge. In
1978 Roeung sent her and her husband to Prey Sar prison. First they
took her to the K-7 department. There she was separated from her
husband. She returned home in 1979 and got married again in that
year.
Relatives
of Cadres Who Disappeared
16). Khem Nhe aka Nhe
(I00978), male, solider. Interview with his older sister Khem Ty,
66, in Chambak 2 village, Chambak sub-district, March 1, 2006.
Khem Nhe, whose parents passed away long ago, studied at Chambak 2
Primary School, but quit to become a monk in Chambak monastery.
However, his family’s poverty forced him to leave the monastery and
help his parents in the field. Soon after this, he was forced to
join the Khmer Rouge in 1973. His family lost contact with him until
in 1975 after the collapse of Phnom Penh, when he sent clothes and
sarongs to his parents. He has not been heard from since.
17). Trapp San aka Sork
(I00966), female, soldier. Interview with her mother-in-law Kev
Sambatt, 65, in Rusey Keo village, Rusey Kev sub-district, March 2,
2006.
Trapp San was born in the Year of the Monkey; she would be 50 if she
were alive. She attended school for only one year, then quit to help
her family. She lived at home until 1973 when the Khmer Rouge
recruited her to join the revolution. After that, her family lost
contact with her.
Her father died long ago and her mother Keok disappeared before
Democratic Kampuchea. Trapp San had six brothers and sisters. Two of
her sisters are alive and live in Phnom Penh.
18). You Thet aka Thai
(I08245), male, deputy battalion chief, Division 310. Interview with
his older sister You Thaut, 57, in Sralau Damak village, Rusey Keo
sub-district, March 2, 2006.
Because of the economic condition of his family, You Thet quit
school before the 1970 coup, when he was chosen to join Khmer Rouge
revolution. After April 17, 1975 when the Khmer Rouge took control
of Phnom Penh, You Thet visited his family. He arrived in a car and
was wearing a military uniform. He stayed home for only one day and
after that, disappeared.
19). Men Phet aka Prorng
(I07065), male, soldier. Interview with his sister-in-law Neav Yun,
64, in Sra Lau Damnak village, Rusey Keo sub-district, March 2,
2006.
Men Phet studied at Wat Rusey Keo School, but quit in 1970 after the
coup. He lived with his family for two years and then joined the
revolution in 1972. He worked in the mobile unit in Chrouy Banteay
sub-district. Later, Neav Yun heard that he was killed in Suong (no
reason was given). Men Phet’s parents are deceased. He had seven
siblings: three sisters who are still alive, and four brothers, one
of whom is still alive.
20).
Sruon Kret (I00454), male,
small cell member. Interview with his grandfather By Sin, 87, at
Boeng Rey village, Rusey Keo sub-district, March 3, 2006.
Sruon Kret, whose parents passed
away long ago, had four brothers and two sisters; his grandfather
does not know where they live or how many of them are alive. None of
Sruon Kret’s other relatives live in Prek Prasab district and his
grandfather was too old to remember Sruon Kret’s background.
According to his biography, he quit studying in grade 10 and joined
Khmer Rouge revolution in 1972.
21). Prok Thoeun aka Chum
(I09820), male, member, Division 310. Interview with his uncle Leang
Ouch, 58, in Boeng Rey village, Rusey Keo sub-district, March 3,
2006.
Prok Thoeun quit school in 1970 when he was in grade 4 and joined
the revolution in 1972 for reasons his uncle did not know. His
parents died during Democratic Kampuchea. In 1975, Prok Thoeun
returned to his village to take his mother to Phnom Penh so she
could be treated for an illness. He disappeared after that. Leang
Ouch is his only living relative in Prek Prasab district. Only one
of his five siblings, a sister, is still alive; she lives in
Battambang province.
22). Kit Sao aka Sao
(I04706), male, secretary of education, Kratie region. Interview
with his wife Kao Yy, 65, in Wat village, Kratie sub-district, March
4, 2006.
Kim Sao was the second in a family of seven brothers and sisters,
five whom survived the regime. He was born in Prek Prasab
sub-district. Because he was a clever student, Kim Sao finished
primary school in Prek Prasab district and attended high school in
Kampong Cham province. After taking his teacher’s exam, he taught in
Kratie district. While he was teaching, he continued to study in
order to become a professor. He got married when he was 25. Before
the 1970 coup, he was the principal of Prek Prasab School. Then
Angkar sent him back to teach in Kratie and Sambok districts.
Kao Yy stated that Angkar often sent her husband to study, but she
did not know where or what he studied. In late 1978 Angkar sent Kit
Sao to study. Kao Yy waited for her husband for ten days and then
she and her two children were sent to Ausamorch around Khvan Py.
There, she was treated badly and her two children, a son and
daughter, died of starvation. She returned home in 1979 when the
Vietnamese soldiers arrived, but her husband disappeared.
23). Chhin Sean aka Vut
(K00555), male, military chief, Snuol district. Interview with his
older sister Chin Siheng, 67, in Trampeang Pring village, Kratie
sub-district, March 5, 2006.
Chhin Sean finished grade 4 in Kratie sub-district. Then he went to
work at the Snuol rubber plantation for a year and married there in
1969. He joined the Khmer Rouge in 1975. He visited his home once in
1975 after the collapse of Phnom Penh. However, his family sent him
away immediately after they quarreled over his brother’s evacuation
from Phnom Penh. Chhin Sean had refused to help his brother, saying
that it was not his business. Chhin Siheng cut off her relationship
with him, telling Chhin Sean they were no longer brother and sister.
Although the family learned that Chhin Sean had married without
telling his parents, they had no further word of him after he left
home in 1975.
According to his biography, his wife was Sao Sokhon aka Khon. She
was born in Tamau Leu village, Tamau sub-district, Prek Prasab
district. During Democratic Kampuchea, she was a soldier in the
Snuol Department. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter.
Unknown
Cadres
24). Kim Hambin aka Bin
(K05251), female, farmer. Interview with Chum Teng, 66, second
deputy chief of Kratie sub-district, in Phsar Veng village, Kratie
sub-district, and Kim Huon, villager, Rokar Kandal village, Rokar
Kandal subdistrict, March 4, 2006.
According to her biography, Kim Hambin was born in Kratie village
(it did not state the birthplace of her parents). Neither man knew
Kim Hambin or her parents at all. Both interviewees said that most
of the people who were born Kratie village had moved away and that
Kratie village had been turned into a market and offices.
Before the revolution, Kim Hambin worked for the Care organization.
Her husband lived in Kandal province. During Democratic Kampuchea,
she was evacuated to Battambang province and was arrested there in
1976.
25). Sophal Phally
(I10737), female, unknown. Interview with Chum Teng, 66, second
deputy chief of Kratie sub-district, in Phsar Veng village, Kratie
sub-district; Kim Huon, villager, Rokar Kandal village, Rokar Kandal
subdistrict; and Ou Khylay, 54, hospital chief of Kratie province,
in Rokar Kandal village, March 4, 2006.
According to her biography, before Democratic Kampuchea, Sophal
Phally was a vegetable seller. She was Vietnamese and was arrested
in Prey Nup, Kampot, in 1975. None of the three men interviewed knew
her or her family.
26). Lev Sot Sao Phuntha aka
Yuok (I09595), male, unknown. Interview with Kim Houn,
in Rokar Kandal village, Rokar Kandal sub-district, Kratie district;
Chum Teng, 66, second deputy chief of Kratie sub-district, in Phsar
Veng village, Kratie sub-district; and Ou Khylay, 54, hospital chief
of Kratie province, in Rokar Kandal village, March 4 and 5, 2006.
Lev Sot Sao Phuntha’s biography states he was born in Kratie
village, Kratie sub-district. His father was Sot (dead) and his
mother was Chhiv Leang. He was an electricity worker in Prek village
and was arrested there in 1975 at the age of 37. None of the three
men interviewed knew him or his family.
Former
Cadres with No Biographies
27). Thiv Dan (no
biography), male, villager. Interviewed in Banteay village, Kork
Loap sub-district, Kratie district, March 5, 2006.
Thiv Dan was a first deputy chief of Kork Loap sub-district, Kratie
district. We interviewed him because people told us that he knew
many stories related to Kratie province.
Reported by Naroeun Chhay
truthnaroeun@dccam.org
|
|
