Thaong Huot

VPA-KT0009

Thaong Huot

Male

Khmer

Khmer

Trapeang Thmar village, Salavisay commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province

19530113

Village chief

Trapeang Thma village, Salavisay commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province

1976

Khmakk village, Salavisay commune, Prasat Balangk district, Kampong Thom province

Malnutrition

In 1976, while living in Khmakk village, Chey commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province, food was scarcer than ever; one can of rice was served for five people. Everyone ate collectively and had only a miniscule amount of watery rice soup for sustenance. We received two meals per day. One unit chief who gave us rations was Khal Run (deceased). I think that the ration portions were based on orders from superiors. Though the harvest was good, there was still not enough food. I used to ask the unit chief where all the rice was taken. In response, he told me the rice was brought to Angkar. In approximately late 1976, I secretly asked a soldier why village people did not receive enough rice and where the trucks took the rice. This soldier, whose name I cannot remember, told me the rice was exchanged for weapons from China. The soldier also told me not to ask this question again, because I might be killed as a result. I cannot recall which people lived with me at this time and also suffered from malnutrition.

Forced labor

In approximately 1976, I was assigned to perform various heavy tasks, such as working in the mobile work brigade, building both the 30 September dam and rice dykes in Prasat Andet, and digging the pool at Santuk. I was ordered to carry soil in Santuk for the duration of my time there. A cooperative chief named Im (female) in Khmakk Chas village, Salavisay commune, Prasat Balangkdistrict, Kampong Thom province assigned me to work in this place.

At the beginning, I carried one cubic meter of soil per day. However, the cooperative leaders began to increase the amount of the soil I had to carry after I accomplished the first assigned task. I then was forced to carry two cubic meters of soil per day. I carried soil from four thirty a.m. to eleven thirty a.m. and, after a break, from one p.m. to five p.m. While I was working at Santuk, I carried soil even at night and received an extremely small amount of extra watery rice soup to eat. I neither remember the people who used to work with me nor understand why the cooperative leaders forced people to work so hard.

Killing of my father-in-law, Chieb Nort

In approximately late 1975, my father-in-law, Chieb Nort, was taken to be killed in Chramas village, Sambour commune, Prasat Sambour district, Kampong Thom province. One night, York, a security police, came to order my father-in-law to receive an education. I was present when the security police arrived and called upon my father-in-law. I never saw Chieb Nort again. I think he must have been killed because he was a Lon Nol soldier. When I used to ask villagers who lived in Chramas village, Sambour commune [about him], they responded that they had seen him being taken to the security centre in Chramas. I can only conclude that my father-in-law died there. I was the only person present during his arrest.

Complainant

No;

Road and School

No;

20080328

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