Chapter 4 - The World Upside Down



Nou Yeb, Samneang's mother Prior to Khmer Rouge. 


HOW DIFFERENT AM I FROM OTHER CAMBODIAN?

I am just one among millions survivors from the Khmer Rouge regime, and I am also one among many people who suffered from the plight in life during the gencidal period. I witnessed many of my family members dying in 1975 from starvation -- first my grandma, then my younger brother, and then my youngest brother, and then my older brother, and after that my father. Khmer Rouge regime took their lives one after another every month. I haven't yet included my two sisters who lost their lives in 1977 from overwork -- not enough to eat -- falling very sick and died.




When reflected back to that era, I almost couldn't believe myself that such terrible things could happen to my family. Before the Khmer Rouge, my grandma used to tell me the story about communist regime. What I could remember from the story was that in communist regime, you are not allowed to own any property even a plate, a spoon, and you are not allowed to eat at your own will. I could hardly believe this kind of statement as I thought how would one survive if they don't have food to eat? And yes, it is more than true. Khmer Rouge did not care whether or not you are able to survive. I finally went through all the experiences of not having shelter, not having food to eat and I was contantly hungry for any kinds of food.. I ate anything that birds and animals could eat. I fell very ill without any treatment at all. Not only that, I also had to work so hard day and night under the heat and rain without an excuse. I was so weak that I could not even get up from my sleep, and I couldn't even recall how I had carried myself up when I was at my home in Phnom Penh.

Moul Sokha, Samneang's sister, died in 1977

I know that I have a lot of things to document about my life, but I find it so difficult to actually start even though I want to write it down so much at least for my niece and nephew to read when they grow up and especially when I am not able to recall anything if not for public audience or the world to understand how an 11-year-old girl could survive the horrible time.



I was 11 years old when Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia. It is unforgettable the day Khmer Rouge occupied the capital city of Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975. The whole family including my parents were somewhat naive. We had no clue what actually was going to happen beside feeling relieved believing that the Khmer Rouge would bring peace to Cambodia and stopped all the fightings that had happened constently over the last few years, especaill, in early 1975, the situation was even tougher and tougher. Every day we could hear gunshots and artilery shelling which killed a lot of lives of civilians in Phnom Penh. Because of all this tension, we became happy when seeing Khmer Rouge troups showed up in the city.

Moul Varun, Samneang's sister, also died in 1977

It was around 7:00 a.m., there were a few jeeps drving pass the road in front of my house, and claim victory of the Khmer Rouge. Every household put up a white flag to surrender and show our support and congratulation to the Khmer Rouge's victory. Believe it or not, my mother in her early 40 was so excited that she hugged my aunt and then my dad believing that we did not have to worry about the war anymore.



Some minutes after, the Khme Rouge solders announced on the laudspeaker "Brothers and Sisters, Agnkar is now asking you to leave your households for only three days as Angkar will need to wipe out the city as there are a lot enemies hiding in the city". Every one of us was chocked with this announce as it was beyond our expectation.



Inside my house, the cheerful environment changed completely. Everyone looked at each other with all the doubt, but no one can explain what the reason behind the request to leave. My mother started to collect some food, clothes and other necessary consuming goods. My two sisters and my big brother helped my mothers with that. My other brother who was two years older than me and me packed a few pieces of our clothes and grabbed one mat, and we both ran to our parents and told them that we would like to leave early with the opposite neighbors, and we promised to meet them and the whole family in Takhmao.



On the street in front of the house, a jeep driving back and forth with many armed soldiers in black uniforms. Most of them were in their twenties and even younger wandering back and forth with fierce look.