Victim Participation Chea Sovanna

Chea Sovanna

Female

Khmer

Khmer

Russei Chhor Village, Ampeou Prey Commune, Kandal Stung District, Kandal Province

Chambak Trap Village, Prek Roka Commune, Kandal Stung District, Kandal Province

Farmer

Civil Party

No;

Justice

The loss of two siblings: - Elder brother Chea Savoeun (alias Dim): He was shot to death at Kampong Thom Province. He and his friend Kauy were assigned to do the farming in Kampong Thom Province. However, his friend escaped and told me that my elder brother was shot dead in Kampong Thom Province. Kauy did not dare to tell me the details as he was too fearful of retaliation. I do not know the current whereabouts of Kauy. - Elder sister Chea Kem: My elder sister was assigned to water the cassava fields. In 1977, about two weeks after giving birth, my elder sister was ordered to carry 100 containers of water per day. This work assignment made her sick and she was given a big cup of black-colored medicine. She refused to accept it, so they forced the medicine into her mouth as if she were a pig. Soon after that she went into convulsions and later passed away at the scene. My father and I believe that the medicine must have been poison. My father saw a mouse eat the same medicine and it appeared to experience the same consequence, falling on the ground and dying soon after. I learned this information from my father, who was present at the scene when my elder sister was forced to take medicine. I asked my father to tell me the name of that cadre, but my father refused because he feared further retaliation. - The death of my father: My father, Chea Kai, died about 1977. Two days after witnessing my elder sister being poisoned to death, my father developed paranoia. Since he was critically ill, I asked for permission to send him to the hospital and he gradually became better. At the same time, a child of the village chief was bitten by a poisonous snake, but the KR doctor could not heal the wound. Observing this, my father used his traditional Khmer treatment and fortunately the child recovered. However, this outcome infuriated the Khmer Rouge doctor and he forced my father to take poison. I learned these details from a patient named Vuth, who stayed in the same hospital with my father. I do not know Vuth’s current whereabouts. The female Khmer Rouge doctor was named Khlei, but I do not know her current address either. The hospital was located to the east of O-Andaung Village, Kantuot Commune. - The mistreatment against me: From 1977 until the end of the DK regime, the Khmer Rouge ordered me to make manure from human feces. I had to carry feces, then mix and stir it with my bare hands. My chief was named Sem (since deceased). There was a high turnover of unit chiefs. At that time, I was living in Prey Rong Pagoda, to the South of Kantuot Commune. When Vietnamese troops were nearing our location, my unit chief, Sem, once threatened to detain me in Sang Prison on the suspicion of stealing chicken eggs. The Khmer Rouge tied me to a Chheu Teal tree with my hands tied behind my back. Later, two combatants were about to raise their gun to hit me, but then they released me instead. I was forced to do hard labor. I was once accused of poisoning the well. After a newly-appointed chief arrived, I saw my name being crossed out in red pen on their victim list. I was told that, had Sem not been taken away, I might have died.