My team and I were on our way to interview a Khmer Rouge survivor. When I finally arrived at the small wooden house that had been pointed out to me, I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The woman who answered sitting inside a shelter made of straw and wood. Her voice was soft, but as she began to tell me her story, it grew stronger and more forceful. Her name is Tun Chanthea, 54 years old, a farmer living in Bak Nim village, Kampot Province. As a child, Tun Chanthea had been assigned to a children’s unit where she was forced to cut specific bushes to make herbs and fertiliser. While life was difficult, she considered herself fortunate compared to many others, since none of her family members were killed. Nevertheless, she was compelled to complete the same chores every day, without respite.
Heng Ma
July 27, 2023
