KIENG THY

Mr. Kieng Thy is a 65-year-old caregiver for his grandchildren. Because of his health condition this is his primary occupation. Though he is senior in age, he reflects on how much his experiences during the Khmer Rouge era have contributed to many of his current health problems. He vividly remembers how he worked tirelessly under the regime, completely disregarding his own well-being. The memories of the Khmer Rouge infuriate him, and he actively avoids recollecting or being reminded of that dark period. He states with great emotion that he is determined to prevent the regime from ever happening again. Bak Nim village, where Mr. Kieng Thy resides, was once a stronghold of the Khmer Rouge, and due to its remote location, few organizations venture there. However, he expresses immense relief and gratitude towards the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DCCam) for taking on a project to support the village and its residents. Mr. Kieng Thy shares that his education was severely disrupted by the Khmer Rouge, and he only completed up to the second grade before the regime came into power. Despite this setback, he did whatever work he was ordered to do by the regime in order to survive. Despite the horrors of the Khmer Rouge, Mr. Kieng Thy finds solace in the fact that he met and married his current wife during that time. She has given birth to seven of his children, and he holds deep affection for her. He considers finding his wife to be the one true blessing that emerged from that dark period of history.