Pek Choeun

BMI0023

Pek

Choeun

Keo Savoeun

Alive

m

[Present age: 60 years old]

04040101, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Leng, Chranauk,

1973????

Volunteer

Ministry of Foriegn Affairs

Central zone(12), Phnom Penh

Vendor

Thy and Phors

No

No

BMI0023 20101015, Wat Chhass village, Malai sub-district, Malai district, Batambang Province. Interviewed by Long Dany. Note: Interviewed with Pek Choeun, male, 60, No Biography.

Pek Choeun, alias Keo Savoeun, male, is 60 years old. He lives in Wat Chhass village, Malai sub-district, Malai district, Batambang Province. Choeun was born in Kang Kep village, Chranauk sub-district, Kampong Leng district, Kampong Chhnang province. His father was named Choeun and his mother was named Nem. In January 1973, Choeun left home to serve as a regional soldier in Kampong Chhnang (also known as Region 31) in order to fight the Republican soldiers. Choeun was trained in Kampong Leng district for three months then went to Trapeng Lung for another three months of training. Choeun entered a special unit of a regiment of which Ta Chip was the chief.

When the Khmer Rouge stopped fighting in 1975, they chose thirty people to work in the diplomatic department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Choeun was the only person chosen from the special; the others were selected from six other units. When he first arrived in Phnom Penh, Choeun was sent to the Cambodia-Soviet school, which Khieu Samphan had chosen as an educational place for the Khmer Rouge. It was located near Pochentong. Choeun underwent the training there for about three or four months. After he finished studying, Choeun was sent to Ieng Sary៌s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There, Choeun worked in the Bobau unit and he was sent to work at the international market near Ou Reusey market. This market was established to sell goods to foreigners. There, Choeun served as a stock recorder and decided on prices of the products and put these prices into Riel [the Cambodian currency]. All of the prices would be checked by Ieng Sary and Pol Pot. There was a disagreement between people on the upper-level regarding the use of currency. Some did not want to have money circulating in the country, but Ieng Sary did. All the income generated in the market was brought to Ieng Sary. Ty, who was Ta Chiem៌s relative, supervised the market. After Ty died, Yeay Phors replaced him. When he worked in the market, Choeun got to know Chum Choeun, a doctor. Chum Choeun often helped the foreign women who worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs give birth. Additionally, Chum Choeun taught some medical lessons to Choeun. When the situation in the country got worse, Sau Hong, who worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, prepared soldiers to fight Vietnam. Choeun fought from Phnom Penh and headed to the Cambodia-Thailand border. About six thousand female and three to four thousand male soldiers who came from Ou Reusey market entered Thailand. In 1980, Choeun married. In 1981, he moved to live in Daung village. Later, Choeun served as a soldier in Regiment 106 of Rnit 450 under supervision of Sau Hong and Sok Pheap. Until 1984, the Khmer Rouge soldiers were sent to T-84 camp in Thailand.

Pek Choeun

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