MOME ANG

As I walked through the narrow, winding streets of the small village, I couldn’t help but notice the old man sitting outside his humble mud-brick home. The sun was on our heads, but the temperature was perfect for an afternoon picnic. At this hour, people would be spending their time with friends or family, enjoying good food and conversation, and spending time outside doing hiking or exploring while also enjoying the beautiful essence of mother nature. The path we took to meet our interviewee, Mr. Mome Ang, was filled with greenery and the noises of animals and insects that got louder as soon as we got to his house. He is a survivor of three different periods: the Lon Nol era, the Khmer Rouge regime, and the current government. According to him, one of the hardest periods was the Khmer Rouge regime, which saw the mass killing of Cambodian people. Many people were buried in mass graves without proper burial ceremonies. He has many criticisms towards our past politicians but because of the hearings today, he knows a lot about the Khmer Rouge. Meeting Mr. Ang reminded me of the importance of valuing the wisdom and experience of our elders, and the resilience and strength that can be found in rural communities.