A traditional Cambodian (Khmer) proverb muses, “If Heaven could cry, then Cambodia would never know drought.”
The Cambodian people are resilient. It is survival mode at it’s greatest. Think of the American civil war.
It happened in Cambodia. Think of the war in Iraq today – innocent individuals falling victim to frequent bombings.
It happened in Cambodia. Picture the holocaust.
It happened in Cambodia. Think of the Uganda children soldiers that today are being trained to fight against their own people.
It happened in Cambodia. Think of communism at it’s greatest – brainwashing an entire country.
It happened to Cambodia. Imagine killing off the intelligent and influential in a society with the sole purpose of raising up a country that is brainwashed and re-programmed to respond with actions devoid of love.
It happened in Cambodia.
And Cambodia has survived. It is still alive and kicking today. But at best, limping its way into the future – still plagued by its recent history. Based on the above Khmer proverb, I am surprised that the country has not been demolished by a great flood like during Noah’s time. Through the tears of his precious Khmer children, He has grieved. And the Khmer have become expert swimmers in order to stay afloat.
Ever since Cambodia declared freedom from France in 1954, the country has fallen victim to the spirit of power, fear and corruption. Both power sought by outside forces – the US and Vietnam; and an internal power movement of Pol Pot and his communist-minded followers better known as the Khmer Rouge.
During the Vietnam war in the 60’s, the Vietnamese soldiers used Cambodia as neutral ground. America found out and bombed Vietnamese soldiers. While it took the intended target, it also killed numerous innocent Cambodian peasants – in fact, more Cambodians than Vietnamese fell victim to this bombing.
Leaving out details, in 1970, America helped Lon Nol over throw the King of Cambodia and take control of the government. America’s presence disappeared soon after. From this point on, the Pol Pot Khmer Rouge regime grew in strength and numbers for two reasons: the King aligned himself with this force and many Cambodians joined because they wanted to follow their King and were angry with the recent American bombings. So, Civil war broke out between these two Khmer run groups and in 1975 the Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia.
Between the years of 1975-79, around two million (1/3 of the population) Cambodians were killed directly or indirectly by the hands of their own people: disease, starvation and execution. The Khmer Rouge was merciless and had one goal in mind: to establish a country without any memory.
But as I wandered, horror-stuck through the halls of the S-21 torture prison, they faces of the deceased were silently screaming out,
“remember me, remember me”.
They cannot be forgotten!
Please read If Heaven Could Cry: Part 2 and Part 3 for the rest of the story.
