Ek You Soh

VPA-BM0019

Ek You Soh

Male

Khmer

Cham

Prek Pis village, O Russei commune, Kampong Tralach district, Kampong Chhnang province

Farmer

Tik Thla village, Til Thla commune, Serei Saophoan district, Banteay Meanchey province

1975-1979

Tum Neap Preah district

I was evacuated from my home village to Battambang Province. Traveling was difficult along the road. Under the regime, [I] was mistreated, starved, and forced to work without relief. Though I am Cham, I could not worship and follow our tradition, because it was not allowed.

Interview by phone with Ek You Soh
at the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam), on April 26, 2009,
starting from 02:22 p.m. to 02:58 p.m.
Interviewer, Sokvisal Kimsroy

Lost relatives:


In mid-1978, I lost six family members.

The first loss was my younger sister, Sai Nop.

During that time, my sister was put to work in a mobile work brigade at Prek Sis Village, O Russey Commune, Kampong Trach District, Kampong Chhnang Province. She died from overwork, starvation, and a lack of medicine and medical staff. She died in a field while digging a canal. A Khmer person, who worked in the mobile brigade and whose name I do not recall, witnessed the incident. In the village, there was no medical staff nor hospital. I do not know the Khmer Rouge cadre who served as unit chief, village chief, or security police chief. I think the Khmer Rouge leaders are responsible for her death.

The second loss is another younger sister, My Min.

She died in a mobile work brigade at Prey Sis Village, O Russey Commune, Kampong Trach District, Kampong Chhnang Province. She died from starvation and overwork. My family and I did not witness the incident, because we had been relocated to another region. I learned of this incident after 1979 upon meeting a Khmer family whose child also died in the same mobile work brigade. However, I do not remember their name. To me, the upper level Khmer Rouge are responsible for her death even though I do not know who forced her to work without relief and gave her such insufficient food to eat.

The third loss is my father, Ek Sa-aus.

My father died in O Leaphaiet District, Kampong Chhnang Province – the village and commune were unknown to me. I do not know the village, unit, or security police chief in that place. My mother, Sit, witnessed the incident, because they were together. The upper level Khmer Route are responsible for his death. As an old man, my father died from starvation. I do not know who starved him.

The fourth loss is my mother, Sit Saryfah.

I am not sure about the death of my mother. From my point of view, she died in the village where my father died and she might have died from starvation. For this incident, I do not know who starved them or who the village and security police chief were.

My younger brothers: It Brahim and Sen Saliman.

My two younger brothers disappeared in Prek Sis Village, O Russey Commune. I do not know what happened to the two of them. I do not know whether they were beaten with a stick and rifle or if they escaped to live abroad. However, I believe they both must have died.

Complainant

No;

School

No;

20071025

© DC-Cam