Chann Sopheap

VPA-KD0049

Chann Sopheap

Female

Khmer

Khmer

Kraing Ma-kak Village, Roluos Commune, Kandal Stung District, Kandal Province

19510923

Farmer

Krapeu Trom Village, Ruluos Commune, Kandal Stung District, Kandal Province

1977

Sang Prison (Kandal Stung District, Kandal Province)

My name is Chann Sopheap. I am 51 years old and currently live in Krapeu Trom Village, Roluos Commune, Kandal Stung District, Kandal Province.

Sang Security Office:

In 1977, twenty-five village women, including me, were arrested and detained in Sang Prison. I know the current whereabouts of four of those who were arrested with me: namely Meng Aun, Chuong Phum, Saom Kol and Nun Ket. The rest have either died or changed address.

Initially, we were told we would be farming in Veal Kandaol Village, but about 8:00 p.m., we were instead detained in Veal Kandaol Detention Office with our hands firmly tied behind our backs. About 10:00 p.m., we were all led on foot to Sang Prison. At the prison, we were frisked by the prison guards (names unknown), who were looking for valuables. We were not even allowed to own a Krama (Cambodian cotton scarf). Three days later, I was sent to work building levees along the rice fields. We were permitted to eat only a cup of watery gruel. The work was very strenuous and some inmates died while working because of malnutrition. There was no freedom at all when I was there. Even while working in the fields, we were not allowed to look at each other.

I was then interrogated by a 16-year-old cadre named Phan. He asked, “Comrade! What did you do during the feudalistic regime?� I replied, “I did the farming and sold leaves cut from plants.� “Comrade! You don’t need to lie. Whether farming or selling, you are all wives of soldiers,� said the cadre. The next day, Phan interrogated me once again. This time I was beaten with a whip until I could no longer bear it; thus, I decided to falsely confess and I said, “I was the wife of a soldier. I had five husbands.� Later, Phan asked me many questions regarding the five husbands I mentioned. Phan then believed what I told him.

When queuing and walking to work, if I walked slowly or out of line, I would be whipped. This happened frequently because I had no strength to keep walking in the line. I was weak from overwork and lack of food. Every evening at 6:00 when the inmates returned to their cell, I always heard the shout: “Oh! It’s my turn!� Three or four days a week I heard this shout, which meant that the prisoner was being sent to be executed. The killing site, a bamboo jungle full of pits, was about 150 meters away from the detention center.

There were probably 3,000 inmates being held in the center and forced to work, however only about 200 inmates managed to survive the regime. They survived because, after three months of executions, orders were received from the top leaders to stop killing detainees. The remaining 200 inmates were still held [in the center]. However, I was assigned less strenuous work than before. I just had to plant potatoes, dig, and do other simple work. We also had porridge which was more nutritious than before. Still, we were prisoners and did not have any freedom.

I did not know the prison chief , only the man who was in charge of security. He was Ta Heng, a regional chief who often came to inspect the center and prisoners. The prison guards were named Roeung, Mao, Nang, Him and Sem and they always kept an eye on me as well as the other inmates. Comrade Ret was responsible for distributing meals to the detainees. I do not know whether any of them are dead or alive.

Part C:

My name is Chann Sopheap. I am 51 years old and currently live in Krapeu Trom Village, Roluos Commune, Kandal Stung District, Kandal Province. My mental health was severely affected by the mistreatment I endured as a prisoner in Sang Prison. I received treatment several times since 2004 when the Documentation Center of Cambodia cooperated with TPO [Trans-cultural Psychosocial Organization] to offer the treatment program. I have received treatment from 2004 until the present. I feel better during the course of treatment, but I am not yet fully recovered because I still suffer from insomnia and headaches if I do not take the medicine given by TPO.

Civil Party

No;

Mental Hospital

No;

20081003

© DC-Cam