Thim Lean

VPA-KT0145

Thim Lean

Female

Khmer

Khmer

Chambak Khpuos Village, Sam Proch Commune, Stong District, Kampong Thom Province

Farmer

Chambak Khpuos Village, Sam Proch Commune, Stong District, Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia

1975

Nak Ta Svay, Stong District, Kampong Thom Province

Arrest and Imprisonment of my Husband, Sim Nan:

During the liberation of Phnom Penh city in 1975, my family and I were evacuated to Po Plouk Village, Sam Proch Commune, Stong District , Kampong Thom Province. Approximately two months after the evacuation, they arrested my husband and all men living in the village and took them to the security center that was located at Nak Ta Svay of Stong District , Kampong Thom Province.

There I witnessed people being tied up and questioned about their personal background. My husband used to work in the communal office for Sangkum Reas Niyum regime. However, he lied by informing them that he worked at jobs such as chopping down firewood and carrying water. I think that Monh, the commune chief, ordered security to arrest my husband on the accusation of having served Lon Nol regime. My brother-in-law, Kuon, was detained along with my husband. My husband was jailed for five months before being released. They informed my husband that only the honest people were released, not the dishonest people. However, the truth was that the truly honest people were taken to be executed. I think the people who were executed used to work for the former regime (Lon Nol regime). They accused them of being capitalists. When my husband was released after five months of detention, he was bony. I dared not run to welcome him, because I feared I would be killed.

Starvation:

In approximately 1977-78, I endured severe starvation. At that time, I lived in Po Phlouk Village, Sam Proch Commune, Stong District , Kampong Thom Province. Ngam and Siem, the cooperative chiefs, starved me. They gave us only a spoonful of rice to make gruel at mealtime, and there were two meals per day.

Next, they ordered me to work on the construction of Sauphy Dam, located in Brasat Village, Preah Damrei Commune, Stong District , Kampong Thom Province. I was ordered to carry earth to build the dam, which was higher than ten meters. Siem and Ngam, the cooperative chiefs, ordered me to carry the earth. The dam was built to block the flow of water. When I worked on that project, I had to wake up very early and work from three or four a.m. to twelve noon. After having a rest, I then worked from one p.m. to six p.m. I recall that people went missing, but their whereabouts were unknown. I worked there for three months.

After that, I went to help build a dam at San Toung Lake. In addition to these tasks, I also dug canals during that time. It Ny and Pat, my neighbors, used to work with me.

Killing of my younger sister and my family:

In approximately 1978, my younger sister, Tim Yat, and her husband, Ke Suo, and their three children were taken to be executed by the Khmer Rouge. At that time, my younger sister and her family lived in Ta Prok, Chamkar Leu, Kampong Cham Province. I did not witness the incident, but learned of it from my elder sister, Thim Lann, who informed me about the execution of my younger sister and her family. After my sister and her children were killed, her husband fought with the executioners, but he was also killed.

My elder sister did not know the people who arrested my sister’s family. She witnessed them coming to the house and saying that my younger sister’s family should come with them to grow potatoes. However, the truth was that the person who accused them loved my sister’s husband

Complainant

No;

Statue and school

No;

20080319

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