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αααΆαααΆααααααααααΆααααααααααααααααααα·ααΆααααΆααααα αααααααααααααα―αααΆαααααα»ααΆ
αααααΆαααα αααααααΆαα αα·ααααααΌαααΆαα
αΆαααΆα
ααααααΆαααααααΆαααααααα ααααααα½α αα·ααααααΉα
αααααααααα ααα αααααααΆαααΈ
αααΆαααΆααααααα ααΆαααΆαααα ααααααΆ
α
αααΆααα’αΆαααααααα·ααααααα αα»α ααααΈααααα
ααΌααααααα αα»α ααααΈααααα αα·α ααΆαααΆααα ααααααΆ
αα ααααΆααααα¨αα·αα£α ααΆααΈααααΉαααααααΈα© αααα»αααα ααααΆαα’α α’α¦ αα·ααααΆαα»αα·αααααααΆααααΈα‘α’α ααα½αα‘α€ααΆαα (ααααΈα©ααΆαα αα·ααααα»αα₯ααΆαα) ααααΈαα·ααααΆααα α αα»α ααα αααααααΆα ααΆαα αΌααα½ααααα·ααΆααααΆααααααααα ααααααΆααΆαααααααααα―αααΆαααααα»ααΆ ααααααααααααα αααααΆααααααααααΌαααΆαααΎααααααα·ααΆααααΆ αα·ααααα αΆα ααΊ Β«αααααααΆαα αα·ααααααΌαααΆαα αΆαααΆα α αααααααααΆααααααα»ααΆαααα»αααΆαα αΆαα ααααΈααααααααα(α‘α©α§α₯-α’α α’α₯)αααααα ααα»αααααααΆα ααααααα·α αα αα»ααααα·ααΆα αα·ααααααααααααΆααα’αΆαα»ααααααααααΆα αΆαααααΆαααΆαααΒ»α αααααΆααααααααΆαααααααααΊ Β«ααααΉαααα·ααΆααααααααααααα»ααααααααα»ααΆαααααΆαα·αααααα (α‘α©α§α₯-α‘α©α§α©)Β» ααααααΌαααΆαααΎααααααα·ααΆααααΆααΆαα½ααα·ααααΆαα»αα·ααααααα αααα·ααΆααααΆαααααααα ααΆααααααααααααΆαααα ααα½αααΈααΊα α‘) αααααααααα·ααααΆαα»αα·αααααΌαα ααααααΉαααααΈααΈαααααααΆαα αα·ααααααΌαααΆαα αΆαααΆα αααΎααααΈααααααααααααΆααααααα»ααΆαααααααΆααααααααΆααααααΉαααα·ααΆααααααααα αα·αααααααααααααααααΆαααααα»ααΆ-ααα α’) ααΆααα·ααααΆααααααααααααααααΈαααααααα·ααΆαααααααααααααα α αα·α α£) ααΆαααααΉααα·ααα·α αΆαααΆααΈααΆααααααααΆααα’αααΎααααααααΌαααΆααα αα·ααααααααΆααα ααααα»ααΆααΆαααα’ααΆααα
ααααΌα§ααααα ααα αααααααΆαααΈ ααΆαααααΆααααααα·αααααΈαααααΆααααααααααΌααα·ααΆααααΆαα αααα»ααααααααααΊ Β«αααααααΆαα αα·ααααααΌαααΆαα αΆαααΆα αααΎααααΈααααααααααααΆααααααα»ααΆ αααααΆααααΆαα αΆαα ααααΈααααααααα αααααα ααα»αααααααΆα αα»ααααα·ααΆα ααααααα·α αα αα·ααααααααΆααααααΆααα’αΆαα»αααααααααααααΆααΈααΒ»α ααα αααΆαααΈ ααααΆαααααΆααααααα·ααααααααΆ αααααΆαααααΈαααααααα·ααΆαααααααααααααα α ααααααΌαααΆαααΎααααααααααααα αααα»αααααααααααα
αααααΆααααααααΌα§αααααααΆαααΎαααΆαααα½ααα ααΆαααα·ααααΆαα»αα·αααααΆ Β«ααΎαααααΆααααααα»ααΆ ααααΆααααα½αααααΆαα αΆαα ααααΈαααααααααααα»ααααΆαααα αΆααααΆααααΈααααΆαα‘α©α§α₯-α’α α’α₯? αααααΆααααΈααΆαααΆααα·ααΆααααΆαα·α αα½α αα αααα»ααααα»ααα·ααα αααβ αααΆαααΈ ααΆαααααααααΆ αααααΆααααααα»ααΆααααΆααααΆαα αΆαα ααααΈααααααααααααααααα½αα ααα½αααΈααΎαααΊ ααΆαα αΆαα ααααΈααααααααααααααααααΉαααα·ααΆαααααααΆαααααααααααααααααααααααααααα α ααΆαααααααα½ααα ααΆαααααα»ααααα·ααα ααΆαααααααααααα»αααααααααααααααααΆααααααααααΈαααααααα½αα ααα½α αα·αααΆααααααΉα αααααααααααααααααααααΆααα’αΆαα»ααααΆαααααα»ααΆ αα·αααα αααααΆααααααα ααΆαααα·αααΆαααααααααααΉαααα·ααΆαααααΆααα£ααΆαααΎ ααααα·ααααΆαα»αα·αααααΌα ααΆααααααα
α‘) ααΆαααααααααααααααα αααααΆαααΆαααααααααα’αααΆα
αααααΆαα¬α’αΆαα»α αα
αααα»αααααααααααααΎα’αααααΆα ααΎαα·αααααα·ααααα ααΎαααααααΆααααΒ«ααΆαααααααααααααααααΆαα’αααΈαααα? ααΆαααααααααααααααααΆααααααααΆααααΌα
ααΆααααααα
– ααααΎα±αααααααΆαααααα½ααΆαα αααααΎαα‘αΎααααΆαααααααα ααααααΎα±ααααΆαααααΆαα·ααααα½ααΆα ααΌα
ααΆαααααααααααα αααΆααααααααααααΆααα
ααααΈααΈαααα»αααααααααα
ααΈααααααααΎααααα
ααααΆα αα·ααααα
αααα
ααααΎααΆαααΆαααααααααααααΆα
– ααΆαααΆααααααααααααααααααα·α αα
αααααααααααα αααΆααα’αααΆα
αααααΆααααααα»ααΆααααα
ααΈααααα»ααα ααααΆαααααα½αααααΈαααααααΆαααα·αααΆααααααα·αααα·ααΆααααΆααα ααααααααα αααΆαααααΆαααααααΆααααΆαα
ααααααααα£αααα αα·αααΆα
ααααααααΆαα’αααΈα
αααΎααα α αΎααααααααααααα»ααααα»αααααααααΌαααΆαααααααααα ααα»αααΎααα αΌαα
– αα·ααααααααΌαα
α·αααα ααΆαααΎαα‘αΎαα
ααααα’ααααααααααααΆαααααααααααααα α ααΌα
ααΆααααα
ααΉαααα’αα αα
αααααααααΏααααΆαααΆαααΈαααααααααααα αα α’ααααααααΆαα αααααααααααΆαααααΆααααααͺαα»αααααΆαααΈαααααααααααα α αα·αααααΌαααΆαααααααααααα
α
α·ααα
αΉαααΎαααααΆααααΆααααΈααΌα
ααααα·αααα½αααΆαααΆαα’ααααααΈααααααα ααΆααΆ ααααααααααΆαα αα·ααααααΉαα’αααΈα’ααααααααΆααααααααα½α αα½αααΆααααΆααααα·ααααααΌαα
ααααΆααααα’ααΈαααΆα ααΌα
ααααααΆαααααααα
ααΌαα’ααααααααΆααααααααα½αα
αααα·αααΆαααααα½αααΆαααααααΆαα’ααααααααΆαααααΈα
α’) ααΆαααααααα½ααα
ααΆαααααααααα αααα
ααΎαααααΆααααααα»ααΆ αααααΆα’ααααααααΆαααΆαααΈαα·αααΈαααααααααααα ααααα ααΆαααααααααααα½αα―αα
αΆαα
ααααΈαααααααααα α¬ααααααααΆαα· ααΎααααΈαααααααααΆαα
αΆαα
αααα
αααα
ααααααααΎααααΈαα»ααααα·ααΆαα ααΎαααααααΆααααΒ«ααΆαααααααα½ααα
ααααααα ααΆαα’αααΈαααα?Β» αααααααΆααααααΆαααααααα½ααα
ααααααααα½α
ααΆαα
– ααΆαααΉαααα’ααααΎαααα½α (ααΆαααααα―αααΆαααααααααα·α
αα
)α αααααΆααααααααα½αααΆααααα αα·αααΆααααααααααααααα·α’αααΈααα ααΌααααΈααααΉαααααΆαααΆαααΉαααααΈααΆααααα
α
ααα±αααααααΆααααααααααααΆααααα½αααΆααα½αα’αααααααααΎααααΆααα±ααααΆααα½αααααα α
αααααααααααΆααααααΆαααα»αα αΌααααααααα½ααααααΆα αααΎαααΎαα’ααααααααα
– ααααααΆαα’ααααα αα»ααΆαααΆαααααα±ααΆααα·ααααΆααΆααααααααΆα αααααΈααΆααααααααααααΆαααΆαα’αααααααααααΌα
ααΆααααααααααααααααα½ααααααΆα ααα»αααααα
ααααααααααααΆαα·αααααααααα
ααααααα½αααΆαααΌαααΆαα’ααααααΆααα
– ααααα·αα»α αα·αααΆαααΎαα’αΎαα αααααααΉαααΆαααααααααααα
αα·αααΆαααΎαα’αΎαααΈααα
αΆαααααα»α ααΌα
ααΆααααααααα½αααααα»ααΆ αα
ααααα
αααααααααααα»ααΆ-αα ααΆαααΆαααΎαα’αΎαααΈααααΆαα·αα αα·αααΆααααααααααΆαααΈααΆα αΆααα α αΎαα’αααααΆααααααα·αααΆααα
ααααααααΈα£αααααα αααααααααααΌαααΆαααΆα αΆααααΉααααααΌααααα·α αααααΆαααααααΆααααΆααααααΆααααααααααα
– αααα αΆαα»αααΆαα ααααΊααααααΈαααΆαααΆααααα»ααααααααααααα’ααΆααα ααΌα
ααΆααααΊαααα»αα
αΆααα αα·αααααα»αααααααααααααα½αααααΌααα·ααααα·αααααααααααΌα
ααΆα αααααααααΆααααΆαααααΌα ααΆααα·αααΌαααΆαααα»αααα¬ααΎαααΆαααααα ααΆααααΈα, αααααααΆααα½αααΌαααα»ααα,αααααααααααα»ααααα ααΆαα
ααα’ααααα ααααααααααα’αΆα αΆα αα·αααΉαααα’αΆα,αα·ααααααααΌαα
α·ααα ααΆααα·αα
αααΆααααΆααααα’ααΆαα αα·α αααα αΆα―αααΆααααααααΆαααΆ ααα»αααααααΆααααα αα·ααΆαααα½αααΆαααΆαααΆαααΆαα
αααΆααα
α£) ααΆααααααΉαα
ααααΈααααααααααααΆαα ααΊααΆααΆααααααα
ααααΆααααΈαααααααααα»αααααααΆα ααΎαααααααΆααααΒ«ααΆαααααααα½αααΈααααααααααααΆαααΆαα’αααΈαααα?Β» αααααααΆααααΆαααααααα½αααΈααααααααααααΆααα½αααΆαα
– ααααα±ααααΆααααααααααΆααααΎααΌαααΆαααΆαα αααααααΉαααααΆααααΆαααααΎα ααααΆααααα ααααΆααααΈα αααα’αΆα
αααααΆαα±αααα·ααΆα αα·αααΆαααααααΈαα·αα
– ααΆαααααα
αααααΆααααααααΆα
α αααααΆαααααααΉαααααα·αααΆαααα’αααΈααααΆαα½αα
αααΎαααα ααααΎαααΆαααΆα±αααααα
ααΆαααΈαα·αααααα½α
αα»αααΈααααΆαααααααααααααΌαααααΆαααΆαααΆααααα αα·αααααα»αααααααΆααααα’αααΈαααααααααααααα· ααααααααααααααααΆαααΌα
ααΆαα
– ααΈαααΆαααααα
ααααΆααα
α»αα ααααααα
ααααΆαααΆα αα·ααα»ααααααααΆαα α αΎααααααααααααααα·αα½αα
ααα½αααααΌααα·αα
αααααααα
– αααα αΆαα»αααΆαα ααααα
αααααΌααααα»ααααα»αααααααααααΆαα’ααΆααααααααΆαααααΆαααααααααα½αα
αααΎαα
αααααΆααααΈαααα ααααΆααα·ααΆααααΆααΈαααααΆαααααααΌααα½α αα ααΆαααα·αααΆαααααααααααααΈαααααΆαααααααΆαααα½ααααααΊ αααααααα·ααΆαααααααααα»ααΆαααααΆαα·αααααα (α‘α©α§α₯-α‘α©α§α©)α αα αααααααα ααΆαααα·αααΆαααΎαα‘αΎαααΈ Β«αα»ααααααααΆαααααααααΆαααααα»ααααααααααααα αΒ» ααΎααααΈα±αααα·αααα’αΆα ααΆαααΆαααααααααααΌα ααΆα α‘) ααΆαααααΎααααΎααααααααΆα (αα»αααΆαααΆαααααααααα½αααΆαα»α αα»αααΆαα’αΆα αΆαα αΌααααααααααΆαα αα·αααΆαααΆαααααααΈαα·ααα ααΆαααααΌα)α α’) ααΆαααααΎααΆαα»αααααααΎααΆαααααααΆ (αααααΆααααααα»ααΆααααΎααΆαα ααα½αα‘α’αα α‘α₯αααααααα»ααα½ααααα ααΎααααααααΈααααα‘αΆαααααΆαα§ααααααααααααααΆαα)α α£) ααΆαα’ααααααΆα αα·ααααααααΈαααΆαα· (αααα’αΆα αΆαααΆααααααααΆα ααΆαααΎαα αα ααααα½α α¬ααΎααααα½α ααααααααΆααααααα»αααΆαααααααααα)α α€) ααΆαααΆαααααα·αααα·ααΆααΌαααααΆα (ααααααααα½ααΆααα ααΆαααα ααα αα»ααααΆααααΆαααΆ αααα·αααΆαα’αααα)α α₯) ααΆααααααΆαααααααΆα (ααααααα’αΆααααααΆααααα αα·αααααααααααΆααααααααΆα α’αααααΆααααααααααΆαα)αβ α¦) ααααααααααααααα»ααΆαα·ααΆα (ααααΆαααααααΆαααααΊαααα»αα αΆαα α’αΆααααααα αα·αααΆαααααΎααααΆααααααΆαα’αΆα αααααααΆα)α
ααααααααααα
ααα»α
αααααΆαααα·αααΆααααααα±ααΆαααααα·ααααΆαα»αα·αααααΆαααΎαααΆαααα½αααΆααααααΉααααααΆαααααααΌα αα·ααααααΆααααααααΆααααα·ααααΆαα»αα·αααααΈαααΆααααΆαααΎαααΆαααα½αααΆα
o ααΎα’αααααΆααααΆαααΆα’ααΈααααΆα ααααΌαααΆαααααααααα αααααΎααΆααααΆαααΌα
ααααα
αααα?
o ααΎαααααΆ ααΎααααααΆααααααα»ααΆααΆααα·αααα·ααααΈααΆαααΈαααα»αααααααααα α?
ααΆαα α»αααααα ααααΌα§αααααααΆααααα αΆαααΈ Β«αααααΌαα αΆαααΆα ααααααΆαααααααΆαααααααα ααααααα½α αα·α αααααΉα ααΎααααΈααΆααααααΆαααΆαααΈαα·αααΈα ααα»ααΆαααααΆαααααααα·ααΆαααααααΆαααααα ααααΌα§ααααα ααΆααααααααααααααΎαααααΌαααΆααα»ααααααΆαααααααααΆαα αααααΆααααααΉαααα·ααΆααααα»ααααααΆα αααααΌαααΆααααααααααΆαααα αααα»ααααααααααααα α ααΊααααΌαααΆαα αΌαα α»ααααααααααΆαα αα·ααααα·ααΈααΆαααααααΎααααΈααΆαα αΌαααα’ααα αααααΌαααΆααααααααααΆααααααααα½αααΊ αα»ααα»ααααα·ααΆα αα·αααααα·ααΆα αααααΆααΌαα ααα»ααΆαα±ααα’αααααΆαααααααααααα½ααα ααΆααααααααααΈα£ ααΎααααΈα’αΆα ααΆαααΈαα·αααααα αααααΎαααΆααα»αα α αααααααααΌαααΆααααααΆαααααααΉαααΈα ααΊααααα·ααΆα αααααααΆαααααα αα·αααααΆααααααααΆαα ααΆαααα·αααααΆαααααααααα·ααααΆαα»αα·αααααααα α’αααΈααααααααααΆααααα·ααΆαααΆαααΊαααααααΆαααα»αα±ααααΆααααααααΆα αααααΈαααααααΆααα·αααααααααα½αααΎααααΈααααΎαααααααΆαα
Teaching Activity Report: Classroom Forum Project of Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam)
Topic: The Impacts and Essential Needs of Evacuees, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Instructor: Pheng Pong-Rasy
Report by: Dararα th Meta
Student Reflections by: Thon Sreypich
Photos by: Thon Sreypich and Dararα th Meta
At 8:30 AM on February 9, 2026, 14 Grade 12 students (9 females and 5 males) from Hun Sen Kampong Leav High School participated in a classroom forum organized by Prey Veng Documentation Center. The main topic of discussion was “The Impacts and Essential Needs of the Cambodian People Forced to Leave Their Homes (1975β2025) Due to Political, Economic, Safety Reasons, and Armed Conflicts Caused by Thai Aggressor Troops.” A secondary topic, “Evacuation Events During the Democratic Kampuchea Regime (1975β1979),” was also discussed.
The forum had three primary objectives: 1) to provide students with knowledge regarding the impacts and survival needs of Cambodians who experienced forced evacuations and the Cambodia-Thailand border conflicts, 2) to further study Khmer Rouge history, 3) to encourage critical thinking on the prevention of genocide and future wars in Cambodia.
IMPACT OF EVACUEES, REFUGEES, AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSON
Instructor Pheng Pong-Rasy opened by asking the students: “How many times have Cambodians been left their homes between 1975 and 2025?” Following a group discussion, Mr. Rasy summarized that there were three major instances:
1) Forced Evacuation (Khmer Rouge Era)
Driven by political power and armed force to serve the “Angkar” in the agricultural sector.
– Family Separation: Sudden displacements led to missing family members as people were moved from Phnom Penh to rural labor camps.
– Loss of Property: Citizens instantly became impoverished as the Khmer Rouge abolished private ownership. Many were told they would return in three days, only for their homes to be ransacked.
– Psychological Trauma: Lasting grief and anger.
– Identity Crisis: Orphans raised abroad often lost touch with their culture, language, and original identity, adopting new foreign identities.
2) Escape to the Border (Refugee Crisis)
Survivors seeking safety or a path to a third country.
– Aid Dependency: Total loss of economic independence; refugees relied on delivered water and weekly rice rations.
– Lack of Education: Children lost standard educational opportunities.
– Security & Discrimination: Refugees faced exploitation and abuse by Thai soldiers. Some were tragically forced back and killed at the Preah Vihear (Dangrek Mountains) cliff.
– Health Crises: Rapid spread of infectious diseases (malaria) in overcrowded, unsanitary camps, along with the dangers of landmines and human trafficking.
3) Border Conflicts
Immediate escape from active combat zones.
– Physical Danger: Threats from bullets, bombs, and landmines causing disability or death.
– Living in Fear: Fleeing with nothing just to survive, while constantly worrying about destroyed property.
– Economic Decline: Sudden abandonment of jobs and livelihoods; some property was seized or looted.
PRESENTATION OF LIFE UNDER KR (1975β1979)
The instructor highlighted the extreme suffering during this regime to allow students to compare historical hardships:
– Arduous Travel: No preparation, lack of food, and many deaths along the way.
– Physical Torture: Working 12 to 15 hours a day on dams and canals without proper tools.
– Starvation: Diets consisting only of watery porridge mixed with banana stalks or wild tubers.
– Loss of Basic Rights: Abolishment of religion, education, and the family unit.
– Mass Killings: Purges of intellectuals under the “pineapple eyes” (constant surveillance) of the Angkar.
– Healthcare Collapse: Deaths from malaria and cholera; use of primitive “rabbit dropping” traditional medicine.
STUDENTS Q&A
Students engaged with the material by asking:
1- How were Muslims treated and persecuted by the Khmer Rouge?
2- When did the Cambodian people finally regain their freedom from the Khmer Rouge?
ESSENTIAL NEEDS OF EVACUEES, REFUGEES, AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSON
In closing, the instructor emphasized that “essential needs” varied by era:
Khmer Rouge era: The primary need was food and survival strategies.
Refugee era: The need was safety and a path to a better life in a third country.
Conflict era: The current need is peace, social stability, and the absence of war.
CONCLUSION
Mr. Rasy concluded the lesson/topics and gave the students a meaningful message. The final message to students was that peace is maintained through educationβunderstanding the history of war is the first step in preventing its return.
Student Reflection
ENGLISH BELOW
αααα»αααααα αα½α ααΆααααΆαααΆαα αααααααΈ α’αΆαα»α‘α¦ααααΆα ααΆαα·ααααααααααΆααααΈα‘α’ αααα·ααααΆααα α αα»αααααααααααΆαα αααααΆααααΈαααα»αααΆαα
αΌααα½ααα
αααα»ααααααα·ααΈ αααα·ααΆααααΆααααααα
αααα»αααααααα ααΆαααααΎα±αααααα»αααΉαααΈααααΉαααα·ααΆααααααααααΆα ααΆααααΈαααα ααα ααα ααααααααααααα α αα·ααααααααΆααα αΌαααααααααααα
αα
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αααα»αααααααα α
αΌαααααααααααααααααα α α’ααααααααΆααααααααα½ααα»αααΆααα·αααα·αααααααααΆαααα
αααα»αααΆαααααΎα’αααΈααΆαααΆααα’αα αααααΆααααααΌααα
ααααα
αααα»ααα αααααα½α αααααααΆαα’αΆα αΆαα αΌαα
α»ααααααααααΆαα αα·α ααααΌααααααα±ααααααΎααΆαααΆαααΆααααααααΌαα’αααααΆα α
ααα½αα‘α’αααα αα
α‘α₯αααα αααα»αα‘ααααα ααΎαααΈααααα
ααα αα
αααα»ααααααααααα αα
αααααααααααΆααααΆαααααΊααΊαα»αααΆαααααΆααααααΌαααΎααααΈααααΆααΆαααΆαααααααααααααΆαααααααα ααΈα―αααααα
αα
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αααααααααααΆααααααααΆα αααααΆαααααααααα
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α·ααα αα·α α’αΆαα·αααααααααΆααααααααααααΆαααααααΉαααΆααα αα αΌαααααααααααα αα½αααΆαααα
αααα·αααΆααααΆααααααααααααΆααααααα
ααΆααααα½ααα
α‘αΎαααα ααΆαα·ααα αααααΆαααααααααΆααααααα
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α αααα»αααΆαααΆααααααααΆα ααΌααααααα
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ααΈαα»α α αΎαααααααααααα½αα
ααα½α ααααΆαααααααααΉαααααααααα
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αα½αααΆαααααΆαααααααΌαααααααααααΆα ααα»αααααααα»αααΆαααΆαααααΆααα
α·ααα ααααΌα
ααΆααΉαα
α·ααα ααααα·α
ααααα½α
ααΎααααΈα§αααααααααΌααααααΆαα αα½αααΆαααααα αααααααααααΎααααΆαα αα·α ααα·ααΆαα½αα
ααα½αα ααΎαα·αααΆααααααααΎαααΆαααααα·ααΆα αααα»αααΆαααααΆααα·αααααααΉαααααααααααΌααα ααΎααααΈα’αα·αααααααααα α±ααααΆαααΈαα
ααααΎα ααΆαα·ααα ααααΌαααααααααααΈαααααααΆαα±ααααΆαα
αααΎα αα·α ααΉαααΈααΆααααααααΆαααααααααΆαα
Chhuon Sandavan, Female, 16 years old, Grade 12 student at Hun Sen Kampong Leav High School
After participating in todayβs classroom forum, I have learned a great deal about the history of war in Cambodia, ranging from the Lon Nol era and the Khmer Rouge regime to the conflicts that have continued into the present day. In the past, our country suffered from civil wars that broke out internally. During the Khmer Rouge regime, refugees possessed no rights at all; they were forced to live in cooperatives without sufficient food and were coerced into performing heavy labor for the “Angkar” for 12 to 15 hours a day. Furthermore, during that era, when people fell ill, there was no proper medical medicine available for treatment.
In the present day, when war occurs, people living along the borders are asked to flee to safe zones. Beyond that, people are displaced from their homes and suffer from food shortages, a lack of basic supplies, and poor sanitation. My heart is heavy with pity for the Cambodian people who are victims of displacement. Even now, they still do not have a comfortable place to live. I am especially concerned for the people who once lived in the 14 areas that were seized by Thailand. I deeply regret the loss of those 14 locations because they are places where Cambodians lived for generations, and some of those areas are connected to Cambodia’s tourism sector.
As a student, while I cannot provide physical labor to support our soldiers, I offer them my moral support and small contributions, including food, daily necessities, and some funds. If our country remains at peace, my commitment is to study hard to help develop our nation. Most importantly, I want to study the history of war extensively so that I can understand how to prevent it in the future.
ENGLISH BELOW
αααα»αααααα αα½α ααΈααΆα ααααααα»αα’αΆαα»α‘α§ααααΆα ααΆαα·ααααααααααΆααααΈα‘α’ αααα·ααααΆααα α αα»αααα αααααααΆαα αα
αααααααααα»α ααΆαα
αΌααα½ααα
αααα»ααααααα·ααΈ αααα·ααΆααααΆαααααααααΆαααα
αααα»αααααααα ααΆαααααΎα±αααααα»αααΆαααααααααΉαααΈαααααΆαααααααΉαααααααααα ααΆαα½αααΆαα ααΆααα½αααΉααααα·ααΆαα’αααΈαααα αα·αααΆαα’αΆαααααααααααΆαα
αααααααα½αααΉαααααΉαααα·ααΆααααααααααΆαα ααΆαααΈαααααα»α αα
αααααααααααΆααααΆααα½αααΉααααα αΆαααααααΆααα½α
αααααΆααααααααΆαααα
αααα»ααααααααααααα α αααααΆαααΈαααααα αααααΆααααααΌαααααΌαααΆαααααΎααΆα ααΆαααΆαααααααΆαααααΆααααααΆαα ααΎαααΈααααα
ααα ααααααααα α ααΆααααα’ααα’αΆα αΆααααααΆαα αααααα±αααααααΆααααααΎααΆαααΆαααααα α αΎααα
αααααααααααΆααααΊ ααΊαα»αααΆαααααΆααααααΌα ααΎααααΈααααΆααΆααα α αΎααα
αααααααααα ααΊαα»αααΆαααααααααα’ααααααααΉαααααΌαα‘αΎαα α
ααααα―αααααααΆαααΆααααα
αα
α»αααααα ααΊααΆαααααααΆααα
ααΆαααααααααααΆαααααα»ααΆ αα αααααααΆαα
αΌαααααααΆααα
αααα»αααΉαααΈααααα»ααΆ αα αΌαααααα ααΆαααΆααααΆαααααααα
ααα½αα‘α€ααααααααααααααα»ααΆα αααα»αααΆαα’αΆαααααααα·ααααααΆαα
α·αααααααα ααΆαααααααΆαααΆαααΉαααΈααααα»ααΆ ααΆαααααααααα»ααΆαα·αααΆααα
ααααααααααααΆαα½αααααΆαααααααα ααααα»ααΆ ααΆααααααααΌα
αα·αααΆααααααΆαα»αα
αααΎα ααΌα
ααΆαααααααααα ααα»αααααααα
ααααααααααΆαααΆα αα·α ααα»ααααααααΉαααΈααααα»ααΆ α’ααααΆα
αααΎαααααΆααα αααα»αααΆαα’αΆααααααα’αΆαα·αααααααααΆαααααααΉααα
ααΆααααα ααΆαα αααα’αααααααααααα α’αααααααααΌαααα
αΈ ααΆαα·ααααααα»αα’αΆαα·αα
αΆααα αααααΆααααΆαααααααΆαααααααααΆαααΈαα»ααα½α
ααα αΎα αα·α α₯α‘αΌαααα αα½αααΆαα ααααΌααααα½ααααααααΆαααααααα αααααΈαα·αααααααΆαα ααααΌααααααα
ααΈααΆααααααΆααααααΆααααα αα·α αααααααΆααα αΌαα αααα»ααα·αααΆ αααααΆαα·ααΆα αα½ααααααααΆααααααααΆαααα αααααααα·αα·ααΈ ααΊαααααααΆαααΆαααααΌαα
αααΆαα α αΎαααΎαα·αααΆααααΌαα
αααΆαα ααΎααα
αααα·αα’αΆα
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αααααααα»αααΆαααΎαααΆααα
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α
αααα»α α±αααα·ααααααα±ααααΆαα
ααααΉα ααΎααααΈαα»αα±αααααααααα·αααΆαααΎαααΆα α αΎααα·αααα’αα·ααααααααααααΎαα±ααααααΆαα α¬αααΆαα αα
ααΆαα α±ααααΆαααααΎααΆαα½αααΉαααααααααααααα
Thuok Lythai (Male), 17 years old, Grade 12 student at Hun Sen Kampong Leav High School
Participating in todayβs classroom forum has given me a much deeper understanding of displaced personsβspecifically the hardships they endure and how they feel when caught in the midst of war. In the past, after the initial conflicts, our people fell into the Khmer Rouge regime. During that time, they suffered from horrific abuse and mass killings. Furthermore, the Khmer Rouge starved the population, forced them into heavy labor, and provided no medicine for the sick. There was also no proper education system during that era.
Regarding modern conflict, I am referring to the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, where Thailand has encroached upon Cambodian territory and occupied 14 locations belonging to us. I feel deeply unhappy that Thailand has invaded Cambodian land, especially since Cambodia did not provoke any conflict with them at all. Cambodia is a small country and does not possess as many weapons as Thailand, yet Thailand continues its aggression and has attempted to seize Cambodian territory for many generations.
I feel immense pity for the displaced people in the camps. Some are pregnant, some have newborn babies, and I especially pity the elderly who have already survived past wars only to face war once again. Their lives have been a constant cycle of fleeing from bombs and conflict.
I believe the government should resolve this conflict peacefully through legal channels. However, if legal means fail, war may be the only option left. Since Thailand invaded our land first, as the owners of the house, we have every right to defend ourselves and take back what belongs to us. If the country achieves full peace, I will study very hardβespecially the history of warβto protect our nation from experiencing it again. I will tell my children and grandchildren to study hard and become knowledgeable so that neighboring countries cannot look down on us. I want to develop our country to be strong, or at least equal to other nations.
ENGLISH BELOW
αααα»αααααα α
ααα·α
αα·αα»α αααααααΈ α’αΆαα»α‘α¨ααααΆα ααααα
ααααΆααααΈα‘α’ αααα·ααααΆααα α αα»αααααααααααΆαα αααα»αααΆαα’αΆαααααααααααΆαα
α·ααααα
αααααΆαα
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ααΆααΆαααΎαααΌαααααΉαααα·ααΆαααααΆααα’αααααα’ααΈα
αΉα ααΌα
ααΆ ααΆααααααααααααΆααααΈααααααα½ααα
ααααααα½α ααΆααααααα±αααααααΆααααααΎααΆαααΆαααΎααααααΆαα α αΎααα
αααααααααααΆααααΊ αα»αααΆαααααΆααααααΌαααααΆααΆααα ααΊααΆαααααααΆααα½ααα»αααα ααΊααααΆαα’αΆα
αααααααΆα ααααααααΆααααΊα’αααΈ αααααααααΆαααααααα αα
αααα»ααααααααααα ααααααααΆαααα»αα’αααΈααααα·α
ααααα½α
αααααα
αααΆααααα ααΌα
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ααααααΉαααΆα
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ααΆαααααααα ααααͺαα»ααααα»α ααααα
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ααααα―ααααΆααααααααα»ααα·α ααααα
αααα»αααΆαααα ααααααααα·αααΆααα ααΈα―αααα»αααααα
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ααααααααΆααααααααΆαααΌα
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αααα»αααΆααααααα
ααΈαααααααΆαααΆααα αα
ααααααα»ααααααααΆαααααα αͺαα»αααααΆα αα·α ααΆαααΆαααα»α ααααααααααααααΉαααααΆαααααα»α α αΎααααα»α αα·αααΆααΆαα’αΆαααααααα·ααΆαα
α·ααα ααΆαα·ααααααα»αααααΆα
ααΆααααααα½αααΆαα αα·α ααααΆα
αα½αααΆαααα½αααΌααααααααααΆααα’αααΈαα½αααααΆααααΆααα αααα»α αα·α ααΈααααααααα»αααΆαα±ααααααΆααααα»α ααααααααααααααααααααααα ααα»ααααααΆαααα·αααα ααΆααααΆααα·ααΆαααΆ ααΎαα·αααΆααααΌαααααΆαα ααααααΆαααα
ααΈαααα
α»αα ααααΆααααα»α ααααααΆααααααΎααΆααααααααα
ααααααααααααααααα
ααααααααΆααααααααΆαααΎαααΈα‘ ααα»αααααα
ααααααααΎαααΆααααααααΆαααΎαααΈα’ααααααα ααΊααΆαααα·αααΆααααααααα
ααΆαααααααα αααααααΆααααααΆααααΆαααααααα
αααΎαααααα αΎα ααΎαααΆαααααααα
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ααΈααααααααα α αααααΆααααΈαααααααΆαααΆααααα
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ααααααααααα»ααΆ ααΆαααΆααααααααααα
ααα½αα‘α€αααααααα
ααα αααα»ααα·αααΆααΆαααΆααααααααΆαααΆαα ααΎαα·αααΆα’αΆα
αααα»αα
ααααααΎααΆααΆα αΆαααΎααααΈααΆαααΆαααΉαααΈ αααααΈααΆαααα»αααααΌααααΈααΎααααΈααΆαα· αααααα»ααα»αα
α·αααααα αααααααααααααααααααα»α ααΊαααα»αα
ααααααΎααΆαααΌααΈα α αΎααααα»αααα
ααααααΎααΆααΆα αΆααααα αααα»αα
ααααΆαααΆαααΉαααΈ αα·α αα·αα
ααα±ααααααααααΆαα½α ααααααΆαααΆα ααααααααΎααα α αΎααααα·αα
ααα±ααααΆαααααααΉαααΈ αα
ααααααααΆααααααααααα αααααααΉαααΈααααα»ααΆαα½αα
ααα½α ααααΆααααΆαααΆααααααα
αααααααααααα α’ααα
αααΎαααα αΎαα αααααΆαααααα·ααααα»αααααΆαα ααΎααααΈααα½αααΆαααΉαααΈα
ααα½αα‘α€αααααααααα·α αααα»ααα·αα
ααααααΎαααααααΆαααα αααα»αα
ααα
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αΆαααααααα·ααΆα ααααα·ααααα αΌαααΆα ααΆαα±ααααΆαααααααααα αα·α αααααΆααα ααα»ααααααΎαα·αααΆα’αΆα
αααααααΈαα·ααααααααα»ααα½αααΎααααΈααα½αααΆαααΉαααΈα
ααα½αα‘α€ααααααααααααα·α ααΊαααα»ααα»αα
α·αααα ααΆα
α»αααααα αα
ααααααααααααααΆαααααα·ααΆα αααα»αααααΌααααα·αααααααΉαααααααααααΌααα ααα
ααααααΉα αα·α ααααΆα ααΎααααΈα’αα·ααααααααααααΆαα·α±ααααΆαααΆαααΈαα
ααααΎα αα·α ααααΎααΆααααααααα’αα½αααΌα αα
αααα»αααΆααααααααΆ αα·αααΆαααΆαααΉαααΈα
Chrich Vibol, Female, 18 years old, Grade 12 student at Hun Sen Kampong Leav High School
I felt very happy to listen to the teacherβs explanation regarding Khmer Rouge history and the current history of the war between Cambodia and Thailand. Regarding the Khmer Rouge era, as the teacher explained each event, it was as if I could actually see them happeningβthe evacuation of people from one area to another and the forced labor beyond human endurance. When people fell ill, there was no proper medicine; there was only one kind, “rabbit-dropping medicine” (traditional herbal pellets), which people took regardless of their ailment. In that era, even a minor mistake would lead to someone being taken away for “re-education” (korsang). Most Cambodians suffered greatly under that regime.
Regarding modern history, I gained a lot of knowledge from the teacher about the war between Cambodia and Thailand. Speaking of my own family, my parents and grandparents live along the border; my father is in Battambang province, while my mother lives in Veal Veng district, Pursat province. I currently live in Prey Veng province with my aunt. Because of the war, I am deeply worried about themβespecially my grandparents, who are very elderly and find it difficult to flee from conflict. Whenever fighting breaks out, my parents and grandparents always send word to me. I feel so distressed because I am terrified of losing them or having them meet with a serious accident.
My aunt and I asked my mother to evacuate to Prey Veng, but she refused to come. She said that if she must die, she will die there. My mother had already been displaced to various places during the first conflict; since she has been evacuated so many times before, she decided that for this second conflict, she would not move again and would stay put.
After the conflict ended, Cambodia lost 14 areas to Thailand. I feel such deep regret. If possible, I want to become a soldier to protect our territory; even if I have to sacrifice my life for the nation, I am willing. My goal is to become a police officer or a soldier because I want to protect our land and ensure no other country invades us. I donβt want to lose any more territory to other nations, as Cambodia has already lost so much land in the past.
In my opinion, to reclaim those 14 areas, I do not want war. I want peaceful negotiations without bloodshed, which leads to the loss of soldiers and civilians. However, if sacrificing my single life could win back those 14 areas, I would do it. Finally, when the country is at peace, I must strive to study hard to gain the knowledge and skills needed to develop the nation and be a good citizen who preserves and protects our land.
ENGLISH BELOW
αααα»αααααα ααααΈ ααααα α»α ααααααα»α α’αΆαα»α‘α¨ααααΆα ααααα
ααααΆααααΈα‘α’ αααα·ααααΆααα α αα»α ααααααααααΆαα αα
αααα»ααααααα·ααΈ αααα·ααΆααα
ααααΆααααααα
αααα»αααααααα αααα»αααΆααα·ααααΆααΈαααααααααααα α αααααΆαααααααα£ααααΆα α¨ααα’α αααα αααααααΎα±αααααααΆαααα½αααΌαααΆαααααΆαααΆα
αααΎαα ααααααααα α ααΆααααααααααααΆαα αα·α ααααΎα±αααααααΆαααααααΆαααααα»ααααα½ααΆαα ααΎαααΈααααα
ααα ααααααααα α ααΆααααα’ααα’αΆα αΆαααααααααΆαα αα·α ααααααααααΆααα±ααααααΎααΆαααΎααααααΆααα αααα
ααΈαααααααααααα α αααα»αααΆαααΆαα
αΆααα’αΆαααααααα
ααααααααααααΆααααΆαααααα»ααΆ αα·α αα ααααααααααΆαααα αααααΆαααααΈααα
ααααΆαααΉαααΈααααα»ααΆ ααααΎα±αααααααΆααααααα»ααΆααααΆααααΆαααααααΈαα·α αα·α ααα½αα’ααααΆα
αααΎαααΆαα α αΎα αααααΆααααααααααΌαααααααα½α ααΈαααααααα½ααα
αααααααα½αα ααΎαα·ααΆαααΈαααααΆααααααα»ααΆαααααΆααααααΉα αα
ααΆααααα αααα»αααΆαα’αΆααααααα’αΆαα·ααα½αααΆαα αααααΆααααΆαααΆαααααααααααααα ααΈααααΈ α αΎαααΆααααααΌαααααααα
αααα»ααααα ααααα·αααΌαααΆαα’αΆα αΆααααααααααΆαα αα·α αα·αααΆαααΉαααα’αΆαααααΎααααΆααα αααα»αααΆαα’αΆαααααααααααααΆαααα αααααα
ααα½αα‘α€ααααααααααααααα»ααΆ ααααΌααα α
αΌααααααααααααα ααΎααααΈααα½αααΆααααααααΆααα‘α€αααααααααα·α ααΎαααΆαααααααΎααΆαααΌα α αΎαααΎαα·αααΆααααΎααΆαααΌαα αΎα αα
αααα·αααα½αααΆαααΌααααααα ααΎαα’αΆα
ααΉαααΆααα
αααααΆαααααΎαααααααΆαα ααΎααααααααΎαααΆαααααα·ααΆαα αΎα ααΎααα½ααααα·αααααααΉαααααααααααΌααα ααΎααααΈααΆαα
ααααααΉα αα½ααααααΆαα’αα·ααααααααααααΆαα·α±ααααΆαααααααααΎαα‘αΎαα ααΎαααΈααα ααΎααα½ααααααΌαααααΈαααααααΆαα±ααααΆαα
αααΆαα ααΆαααααααΆαααΆααααααααα’αα·αααααΆαα’αααΈαααααααααααααααααΆαα·α ααΆα
α»αααααα αααα»αααΌαααααΆαααααΎααααα»αααααααΆαααααααα±αααα·αααααααΉαααααααααααΌααα ααΎααααΈα±ααααααααααΆαα·ααΆαααΆαααΈαα
ααααΎα αα·α ααααΌααα·ααααΆααααααααααΈαααααααΆαα±ααααΆαα
αααΆααα
Kry Penghong, Male, 18 years old, Grade 12 student at Hun Sen Kampong Leav High School
During today’s classroom forum, I studied the Khmer Rouge regime, which lasted for 3 years, 8 months, and 20 daysβa period that caused immense hardship for the people. The Khmer Rouge forced people to evacuate and caused families to be torn apart. Furthermore, they starved the population and coerced them into working beyond their physical limits.
Aside from the Khmer Rouge regime, I was particularly interested in the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. This war resulted from Thailand’s desire for Cambodian territory, leading to many deaths and injuries among Cambodians, while others were forced to flee from place to place. Regarding the displaced Cambodians living in camps, I feel great pity for them; they lost their homes and land, and had to live in shelters without enough food or clean water.
I feel deep regret that 14 of Cambodiaβs areas are now under Thai control. To reclaim these 14 areas, we must rely on diplomacy first. If diplomacy is conducted and still yields no results, we may eventually have to resort to war. If our country remains at peace, we should strive to study hard to gain the knowledge necessary to help develop our nation for the better. Additionally, we should study the history of war clearly to understand the negative impacts it has on a nation.
Finally, I would like to send a message to the next generation of youth: please strive to study hard so that our nation can prosper, and make sure to study and understand the history of war thoroughly.