Tun Eich

A shirtless man with shorts and a scarf wrapped around his shoulder sat outside his door on a wooden stool, staring senselessly into the open field in front of his house in Baknim village, Kampot province. It was clear from his vacant expression that he may have endured unspeakable hardships. My team and I introduced ourselves and asked if he would be willing to share his story about his time during the Khmer Rouge era. Despite his initial reluctance, we hoped that preserving his voice would shed light on the atrocities that occurred during this dark period in Cambodian history. His name was Tun Eich, a 69-year-old small business owner. During the Khmer Rouge, he was forced to work like many other victims. He carried and dug land, built dams, and was then sent to farm in different places at Region 31 where finding food was a constant struggle. Tun Eich described how he used to pick up leaves and herbs and eat them sneakily to gain some energy while working. He also witnessed people from young to old being tied up and taken away to be killed. As Tun Eich spoke, I felt a horrible chill down my spine, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to endure the horrors he had faced. We thanked him for sharing his personal and painful past, which we will preserve for future generations.