We spoke to a woman who had lived in Bankim village for over 40 years. As she began to recount her experiences, it was clear that she had lived through unimaginable pain and trauma. Her name is Sang Sokhom, 60 years old, a widow working house chores daily and living in Baknim village, Kampot province. She describes her past life as a horrifying nightmare. She was divorced at the age of 32 and was forced to work non-stop. She shed tears as she remembered the loss of her siblings, and her recent loss of her mother also caused her great pain. Despite all of this hardship, the woman we interviewed showed incredible resilience. She had managed to rebuild her life and even found love again after the Khmer Rouge regime ended. As we wrapped up our visit, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to hear Sang Sokhom’s story. Her strength and perseverance serve as a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable horrors.
English text by Chey Chansineth
Interview by Phan Vanny
March 30, 2023
