Description
Object description
Cambodian civilian in Cambodia, 1975-1979; refugee in Thailand, 1979-1980; emigrated to GB, 1980
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 1956-1975: family origins; father's employment; description of countryside; daily life; education; reaction to overthrow of Sihanouk by Lon Nol, 1970; effects of terrorism in Phnom Penh and US bombing in countryside; relations between Cambodians, Thais and Vietnamese; description of Tuol Sleng High School; bombardment of Phnom Penh prior to entry of Khmer Rouge, 1975; story of sheltering with family in bunker; opinion of Cambodian Army.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period in Cambodia under Khmer Rouge, 1975-1979: description of events leading up to entry of Khmer Rouge into Phnom Penh; problem of leaving city by only road; story of parents leaving to stay with grandmother; divided into work groups; description of manual labour; story of family members being sent to work in jungle; death rate from malaria and malnutrition; description of various work projects; state of health of family members; problem of growing rice; description of daily life and living conditions under Khmer Rouge regime; indoctrination meetings; methods of recruitment from age ten upwards; attitude to Khmer Rouge; disappearance of people for 're-education'; question of awareness of the 'killing fields'; physical condition and state of health; story of brother being sent away to work; working hours and conditions for smaller children.
REEL 3 Continues: story of teenage work groups building own accommodation; clothing; food rations; relations with other workers; problem of lack of food; reaction of parents to events; question of Pol Pot not being mentioned by name; description of working during monsoon; comparison of Khmer Rouge and Holocaust victims; further comments on effects of hunger; description of conditions in hospital and medical treatment; story of stealing rice; question of lack of trust; story of friend beaten to death for stealing.
REEL 4 Continues: conclusion of story; brutal nature of Khmer Rouge regime; story of being beaten for stealing vegetable; description of arrival of Vietnamese forces in Phnom Penh, 1979; story of retrieving rice hidden by father; attitude to disappearance of Khmer Rouge and possible return; description of walking to Phnom Penh; relations with Vietnamese; attitude to entry of Vietnamese forces into Cambodia; looting by Vietnamese forces; story of stealing sugar and salt; description of conditions in Phnom Penh; story of moving into empty house; attitude to replacement of Vietnamese by UN forces; reaction to use of Tuol Sleng School as interrogation and torture centre by Khmer Rouge; description of Khmer Rouge regime's policy of killing intellectuals and professional people; question of being identified as intellectual if wearing glasses.
REEL 5 Continues: further comments on policies of Khmer Rouge; indoctrination of young children and informing on parents; use of child soldiers; story of rice harvests being used to repay debts to China; story of family being clubbed to death after being denounced by villagers to Khmer Rouge; story of search for brother and return to Phnom Penh; attitude to arranged marriage, 1979; treatment of women; story of escaping to Thai border with husband; description of journey and dangers; arrival at UNHCR camp at Nor Chan; moved to UNHCR camp at Khao I Dang, Thailand.
REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period in Thailand, 1979-1980: description of daily life and living conditions in Khao I Dang refugee camp; inmates; rations; security; restrictions on movement; danger of leaving camp at night to obtain food; story of attempting to obtain sponsorship to emigrate to GB; description of work as interpreter with Christian Outreach Aid; birth of son while in camp. Aspects of period in GB, 1980-2003: arrival at Heathrow Airport with family, 11/Nov/1980; first impressions of GB; problem of homesickness and difficulty with English language; opinion of help received from sponsor and community in Woking , Surrey.
REEL 7 Continues: husband's employment; part time employment; story of opening own shops in Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea; children; story of visit from parents; question of compensation; gained British citizenship; attitude of British people to events in Cambodia; Cambodian community in GB.