Tao Cham

VPA-KT0023

Tao Cham

Male

60

Khmer

Khmer

Vollyeav village, Damreislap commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province

19670312

Farmer

Vollyeav village, Damreislap commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province

1978

Vollyeav village, Damreislap commune, Kampong Svay district,

Torture

In 1978, because I was starving, I snuck away to steal about half a can of rice. Ta Te, a village chief, caught up with me and wanted to kill me. Te put a bucket over my head and said that I would have to meet the next day with a unit chief I did not know. He found out I was stripping off rice grain in Vollyeavvillage, Damrei Slap commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province. When he witnessed this incident, he insulted me and said I was a traitor, a Yuon or C.I.A agent, who was sneaking to steal rice.

At this time, instead of going to meet the unit chief, I escaped to the forest behind my house and hid there for three nights. They stopped searching for me only when my father went to beg them to release me. Upon my arrival home, because I could not do anything, there was not enough food to eat. As I had committed many wrongs, my father told me that he could help me only for a limited period of time.

If I committed wrongs again, I would be killed. At the time, I pretended that I was insane, tearing off my clothes and walking around naked. Even though I was given trousers, I threw them away and still walked around naked. I behaved this way because I was afraid of being taken away to be killed. Though my father actually grew aware that I was only pretending to be insane, he still told everyone I was insane. This faked insanity took place in Vollyeav village, Damrei Slap commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province.

Family separation

In mid 1975, a village chief named Te, who took control of Vollyeavvillage, separated my siblings (consisting of my sisters, Nort and Nam, and my brothers, Taon and Chet) and I from our parents. At this point, I did not know where my parents had been evacuated to because I was just a ten-year-old boy. Te ordered me to carry soil at the 23 September dam, but I was unable to do this work.

Because I could not carry soil, Te beat me twice with a carrying stick and then sent me to work in a children’s unit in Prey Phdek village, Damrei Slap commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province. When Te arrived, he told me to work on building the dam instead of going for useless walks.

Killing

In late 1975, I saw a killing take place at Tuol Trabeuk, located in Thmei village, Sankor commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province. I witnessed two people being killed with sticks and bamboo by four executioners whom I did not recognize. I do not know why these people were killed. I witnessed the killing when I went to take rice from the cooperative. An executioner saw me and told me to go away; I would otherwise also be killed. I then ran away.

My mother died in 1978 because of overwork; she was forced to work until she died. At the time, she carried soil in a place that I do not recall. She coughed up blood because of overwork and malnutrition. She was forced to work until she died in a place where there was no access to medical treatment. She worked at Bachaechy dam, located in an unknown village and commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province. I do not remember who ordered my mother to work until she became ill and died.

Complainant

No;

Road

No;

20080327

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