Description
Object description
Cambodian civilian living in Cambodia during Khmer Rouge period and under Vietmanese occupation, 1975-1979; refugee in Thailand 1979-1980, emigrated to GB 1980
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Cambodia, 1953-1975: memories of childhood and family; move to Phnom Penh; education; life in Cambodia; awareness of Vietnam War and Ho Chi Minh trail; changes of Cambodian governments, early 1970s; work of US mercenaries known as My Force including training received at college; recruitment of young men into army and reason for avoiding it; growth of Khmer Rouge activity from 1972. Aspects of period as civilian in Cambodia during Khmer Rouge period, 1975-1979: events following Khmer Rouge entry into Phnom Penh, 17/4/1975, including corruption in Cambodia; return to home; orders to evacuate home and impressions of Khmer Rouge officials; scenes and movements following departure from Phnom Penh including food and shelter gained.
REEL 2 Continues: description of search for parents including communal meals supplied by Khmer Rouge; prior knowledge of Khmer Rouge and initial reaction to new regime; orders to leave Phnom Penh; start of killings of officials and the rich; treatment from Khmer Rouge officials including story of uncle's arrest; question of concern for safety; rations and health problems; clothing and footwear situation; organisation of workers; description of migration via Peansat and Sosephon to Rohm Waim; opinion of settlement in Rohm Waim; events on arrival.
REEL 3 Continues: rations received; work undertaken; treatment of Chinese civilians; deaths and disappearances; methods of avoiding trouble; work given to old; indoctrination of children; description of indoctrination meetings; aims of Khmer Rouge including treatment of educated and those wearing spectacles; posting to building work on dam in Battambang; details of work building bridges in Section 5; massacres in area and biographies taken from workers; attitude to situation; further details of work; story of visit from Chinese delegation; women in Khmer Rouge; knowledge of Pol Pot including details of work; events leading up to arrival of Vietmanese, 1979.
REEL 4 Continues: reactions to end of Khmer Rouge regime including takeover of cookhouse. Aspects of period as civilian in Cambodia during Vietmanese occupation, 1979: period building up strength in Battambang; movements toward Phnom Penh; news of massacres in East Cambodia; deaths of older civilians; damage caused to roads by Khmer Rouge; journey to Phnom Penh; scenes on arrival; gaining of work; theft of UN aid by Vietmanese; historical relationship between Cambodia and Vietnam; fate of monks under Khmer Rouge; disappearance of workers from Battambang dam camp; decision to leave Cambodia and story of journey to border with Thailand.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as civilian refugee in Thailand, 1979-1980: problems experienced in Nor Chan and Koa I Dang refugee camps; jobs gained by Seng and wife, Vandy Seng; desire to leave for west. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1980: first impressions of GB; gaining of civilian work in Woking; details of work; mental effects of Khmer Rouge period; opinion of modern refugees including contact with Cambodian community and talking about experiences; reactions to experiences under Khmer Rouge.