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Year of the Rabbit
Tian Veasna
Translation by Helge Dascher

Drawn & Quarterly

Entire contents copyright © 2019 Gallimard. Translation copyright © Helge Dascher, with thanks as always
to Dag Dascher. All rights reserved. No part of this book (except small portions for review purposes) may be
reproduced in any form without written permission from Gallimard or Drawn & Quarterly.
Originally published in French by Gallimard as LAnnée du Liévre (2011, 2013, 2016).

drawnandquarterly.com

978-1-77046-376-9 |First edition: January 2020 |Printed in China|1o 9 87654321

Cataloguing data available from Library and Archives Canada

Published in the USA by Drawn & Quarterly, a client publisher of Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Published in Canada by Drawn & Quarterly, a client publisher of Raincoast Books
Published in the United Kingdom by Drawn & Quarterly, a client publisher of Publishers Group UK

Drawn & Quarterly acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada and the Canada Council for the
Arts for our publishing program, and the National Translation Program for Book Publishing, an initiative of
C aes the Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2013-2019: Education, Immigration, Com-
anada munities, for our translation activities.

Drawn & Quarterly reconnait l’aide financiere du gouvernement du Québec par l’entremise de la Société
de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) pour nos activités d’édition. Gouvernement du
Québec—Programme de crédit d‘impot pour l’edition de livres—Gestion SODEC.

Cet ouvrage a bénéficié du soutien des Programmes d'aide a la publication de I’Institut frangais.

CENTRE
NATIONAL
OU LIVRE
 To my parents, my brother, and my family.
To Jean, who would have been happy to see this book.

Thanks to Lewis Trondheim and Thierry Laroche for their advice,

to Delphine Perret, Lucie Albon, and Genevieve Villard for
their support, and to Rithy Panh.

Tian
 Preiace
By Rithy Panh
It is the mark of a talented artist to be able to
give the illusion of simplicity to an account
of the unthinkable. This story is so painful
that for years, survivors were unable to tell
it to their children. The experience of chaos
eats away at our insides and leaves us help-
less, torn between wanting to live again and
the fear of not having the strength. It’s like
standing in front of a bridge that lies in ruins
and looking at the other riverbank, where our
souls might find peace and ease...
Conceived by radical ideologues and imple-
mented by zealous leaders, the murderous
utopia of the Khmer Rouge regime could only
be achieved through the unleashing of a reign
of terror, one that isolated individuals and de-
stroyed every vestige of traditional society.
Family ties, solidarity, respect, faith, compas-
sion... All moral foundations were annihilated,
just as the people who believed in them were
exterminated. It was not only a matter of kill-
ing, but of erasing us and denying our dignity.
How can one understand what those black-
clad men inflicted on others?
But humans are not easily eradicated, and that
is their strength. In Tian’s description of his
family’s desperate escape, disaster is repeat-
edly averted through minor miracles. Like the
Khmer Rouge chief who lets the young doctor
get away, the old peasant who intervenes to
save the family from execution, and the villag-
er who offers his hut so the young woman can
give birth. As long as humans resist, it seems
as if nothing truly irreparable could happen,
even when everything is collapsing and fear is
destroying society. But how long cana person
hold out against the spread of a totalitarian
terror that only gradually reveals its true face?
Where can a person find refuge when every
door is locked? Who can be trusted when
every movement is watched? When divulging
a name can result in death?
| first encountered Tian‘s work in The Year of
the Rabbit. His talent speaks for itself. | noted
the documentary precision—the maps, defi-
nitions, proverbs, and slogans. | admired the
tight structure of the narrative, the fluid draw-
ing, the movement, the various perspectives,
the abundance and accuracy of the details—
like so many points of reference mapped in
our memories. It is these points of reference
that connect us to our dead.
More than anything, though, | was moved.
His book touched me to the core because
it is accurate, because it is true, because it
is essential. Many readers will find in it the
strength to get through their long nights of
grief... Their impossible mourning.
Rithy Panh is a filmmaker.
His works include the influential
$21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine
and The Missing Picture
mot hey
?

Win LKONGCHA |
Crows will fill the sky. The towns and houses will be emptied of people
[...] Blood will flow as high as the elephant’s chest. The alienated and
the ignorant will seize power and enslave the learned. It will be atime
without religion, without Buddhism. The thmil [atheist barbarians]
will have absolute power and will persecute the believers [...].
Only the deaf and mute will survive.

Put Tumneay
Eighteenth-century prophecy
 |

pa rf one )
GOODBYE, PHNOM PENH f ~ —“/

i) Sor
(ee IN
:
al
yy y Y Ag |} i foul Bir Ma| 1
S-8) Cs p K

Ni
\y
 Chapler 1

GLORIOUS APRIL 17, 1975!

 Chine J hye,

DIY Y
9, ‘Phnom Penh af”
<4
vietnam ) Wx
St

i ™
6 bee
: eed
; oo6
Thailand oyu Re,
oY an, we “en capital
Ww 7 < yes i al Bovder
ia Se
Sia a, ps w~ 0 50 100 km
y) L #—+—4 5
I) Rivey
Wy, Nw TS
ZF WN
 Bandages...

oo a O
HNOM PENH HOSPITAL | / ee

This should
be enough...
 £ \d this i
The way is ovey, we ave among 3 ee ae ie ie
brothers! Stay quietly in your homes. “at A 4 P nS
Lay down your @rms
Negoti@tions ave underway!

Aftey five yeavs of Fighting the Americ@n-becked Khmey Republic,

} =the Khmer Rouge Seized Phnom Penh on Apvil 17, 1975
Some people believed the revolution despite not fullyunderstanding The
to free the country motives of the Khmer Rouge.
wes necessary
from American imperialism...

many wondered if The wer

wes really over.
Hey, you!
Stop The
cer!

Get out of
The c@r— now!

This Zone is
off-limits!
 ALNVAAL

victory of
The Khmey

We call on The cuvfew has

all Republican been lifted!
soldiers... Co
\ The way is over!

iN
|
AN

*FUNK: National United Front of Cambodia

 Mmm... Something
smells good! Thanks, Wut I’m
L Hello, Uncle!
Just passing by...

; Hoare EN Excellent! \
Not yet You'll See.
you, Key? Kongche, Come, have They’ve Finally
SS have you been
a seat. arrived!
out Side?

If seems that the Khmer Rouge timed theiy Victory to

coincide
with the New Year. It was all) céerefully planned...
The vevolutioneries hate business [| think
people like uS, you know. you're
Judging
Them

means greater equality

and prosperity for everybody!
The Communists
if | weve you.

Our country im mostly

has always been worvied about
dominated by
foreign powers.
This Time, The
Khmer Rouge are
proving That we
can be The
masters Of Our
own destiny!
 His past as @ lieutenant
y undey the Republic could
oe Re Cone cost him deérly.
with hig whole

Hide this, but careful

nobody Sees you

Kongcha!
Don’ Tworry!

22
 Wheat did
And whet did Ther | have
Key want? Cpe wes
Just Shering you Sey? doubts about
his excitement This peace.
about the
Khmey Rouge
victory.

Bong! Bong!*
It’s me, Your
neighvor!

You go.
He probably
forgot
something.

Have you seen

Oh, it’s
my husbend No, the tervible,
and daughter? 2 4
haven't
been herve.

Come ON
inside @
moment.

- afl
23
Bong. older brother (honorific used to address someone older than oneself)
 The Khmey Rouge fovced my husband tried to veeson
us out of our home! \ with them, but they beat him!

We didn’t even have time to take ow

Things. The stveet was full of people...

an explosion
Rn \A
Ww { sent everyone

‘
JOA
7)
C\ 4
“OS
f
ae Bee. running!

Y
) haven't been ms |
able to find KS “4 Herve? That’s
my Family! am Khim‘s father
 I've always loved oe The one of you Vp
iM Your wedding ——
This photo. Laat

Careful, |
it’s fragile!

Hello, Ming* Houy!

Wher ’
on Why So much Stuft?
all that

Haven't you heavd? The Khmey Rouge

ave evacuating everybody. They s@y The
Americans @re going to bomb the City.

oe
Xming. auntie (honorific used fo address a woman who is older than oneself but
younger Than one’s parents)
 << | NOUNS 3 aaa
My wife is about

for you To be in To give birth...

ThiS Zone.

and | was in a
hurvy To get
home.

| found This in his

pocket, Met!*

Find Met Kry Looks like we might

and let him h@ve ouy ClA Spy

Xmet. comrade
=
aa Ther’s what | was
L tvying to Tell you.

nothing to
understand.
Just go!
met! Where’s | let him go,
The spy? met. He was
iNnocent

Lyty

Mini
/

These imperialist
Come, we
dogs have ae
have ordevs
To evacuate
The city!
 Don’t worry, I’m Everybody's
sure you'll find Them. penicking...
Good luck!

Wil) we have
To leave,

pa! ma! The Houys have It’s because of

left theiv home! The Khmev Rouge.
Mey was Just here.

Whet ave we going We'll wait for

to do, Paz? Khim To get

We need to But we'll start

keep calm. packing. You
never Know...
 'm getting reddy
Phara’ whet are
Fo leave, like
you doing in that
everybody else.
out Fit?

You can’t go s The Communists ave in Charge

outside in those now! Go get changed— you'll only
clothes! os attvact unwented attention!

LA @
L) KOPP Wore Tey eS

: SG C\ ed Yl Py be, <A |
es
 Khim! The Situation is
At last! becoming dangerous!

Love, | think we
should (eave the
A CIA spy? whet photo aloum here.
a cvazy idea,

Pa, wait!
Everybody veady? Have Reth if miSsing.
we forgotten anyone? Il go get him!
 | was sure I’d
find you here.

Airmen

lm gonna have
To Leave The
scooter behind

Don’t WOorvy
We’ll be back in
Three days!

it’s Foo
complicated

ll (eave the key in The

ignition. If somebody Steals
it, at least it won’t
get damaged!
 Residents of Phnom Penh,
our capital has been
liberated by our Courageous
and victorious @rmed forces!

THE NEW DEMOCRATIC KAMPUCHEA

 /
| | \W Y Sat
'
q Republican ig » ee
defense positions jy WY \ ek a
\ A (ag

American
embassy
~~ 4
~F
_- = — Wy

A few days before seizing the capital, \w/

Khmer Rouge forces surrounded and w=Orr-
shelled the Republican army’s defenses
On April 17, 1975, The revolutionaries
Finally entered Phnom Penh and took
power. In The hours that followed,
They evacuated the city.

SEIZURE OF PHNOM PENH

BY THE KHMER ROUGE
 You must leave The
city before night fall!
The Americans are
planning To bomb.

Everyone must
Take the Monivonsg

Follow the
ovderS...

Me
Xs Ge

NG Sic
 bX clear-sighted
Sg aymy!

of the See oe
corvecy...

Unbelievable!
Everyone is actually
leaving!
4

Pa’ whet ave those

people doing? PMS: This if way. People ave
Stocking up any wey

a Theyre looting Shops

j That weve abandoned
by theiv owners.

36
Grandme Som,
I’m scared!

Look, Something’s
burning!

Banknotes! Theyre throwing

money into the Five!

Pa, did you See

the soldiers
dvessed in black?

They must
be the Khmey
 Khim, | can’t see
Pa and Vuthy’s
c@r anymore! Dials
we've lost 7 We'll wait
a moment

Are you al| mW Reth, look! Isn’+

right, love? That your meth
Teacher?

a . oe
:
Ve A

ee Z Abie — ‘ something
Gp & fo drink.
,
fy
va ig
“igs GX
Hey, it is!
Professor!
 Does he Know
Say goodbye to the My Son Joined when the
capital. we won't be The vevolution. Americans
back anytime Soon. He knows what’s will $+ @rt
Gong on. bombing us?

Did you Say “bombing”?

It’s a lie. They went
To velocate us
Thet‘s what
The Khmer Rouge
outside the city.
ave Saying.

Fovevey?

1 don’+ know,

So that after, there'll be no

my Son tells me The Khmer more Corruption and injustice,
Rouge want fo Completely No rich @nd No poor.
reform Society.
Let’s hope
he’s right!
 Pa, | couldn’t find
Khim’s c@r. It’s Foo We’l|
dark out. look again
Tomorrow

Try to get some

sleep. I’m sure
your parents
are fine...

N
LipN
NN

la Aee ee Z. YH * they can veally do away with

: 7 Wake corvuption and Inequality , maybe
it ‘I all be worthwhile
 Khim, |
can feel
The baby
moving.

We're going to
stop to eet and

(
JANN

We’ll take
a bveak. You
could give bivtTh
anytime now.

VI stay with Lina, We'll go find Hold on, |

Just in case. some Food, B Any luck? think I’m onto
something...
 How much ave
Those, ma’am?

{<>
LP
Ney 4,

Are You | heavy the Khmer Rouge @re

Fine, we'll cvazy? going To abolish money
Take them She’s ripping
all! 4s that even
possible?

Soon Our county To vival the

will be able... united States!
 Long live the hevoic
revolutionary army!
Long live Kampuchee!

} wondey whet‘s | hope nothing’s

keeping Those fwo. h@ppened to Them...

They ‘re too Smart Foy cut off their heads

and put Them
that... They'll be back
on pikes!
soon with lots of food.

because
they had
Beatles
h@iveuts?
 One Khmer Rouge Soldiev
He said western fashions ave
wes holding up @ head... a polSon for Soc iefvy!

/
Y Vv aesaS = nS)52) = T you
went to sleep un-
brothers are hack!
/
der The mosquito
Hey, wher S

pee
The metter?

CZ
OU
HAN

Vis
ge

ih
OY, YTD
by

S pyobab |Yy thinking

/
He
about his scooter.

SS
Se
 PassoGeeamms
River

NO)
{ity
2
(Zita) ean /
he
ASANO) AM mee)
Ki =. Uy),
"y mt

/ L 87,
fas Gath /
~~

To Ta Ca=y, }e
e 49 VENi
NX
e"
se MONIVONS
Khmau
Bridge

~~
ON one

ae
eS | Refugees
coming from To Saigon
Phnom Penh
ene whet We'll stay here
) an dau...
weit? pre
Me@nwhile, vight Nearby...

can | help
you, Siv?

If you went my
spot, itll just
be @ moment
 Yes, you do. You helped my wife give
birth at Phnom Penh Hospital.

lm certain
You must be of it.
mistaken. |) remember
1 don’t it like it was
know You. yesterday.

Ze
his

ffMiya,
You even refused fo
let me pay you.

No, | Just
avrived.

Actually..we haven't found a

And where @re
place yet. we got here yesterday
you staying? and we’re Still 2 little lost with
everything thet’s happened.
 maybe I’ have more
luck over here.

Senior officers! Technicians! HRSISrReSese UEC anes

Enlist with Angker for a united Solidarity: Together, ve will
and prosperous Cambodia! rebuild the country

Looks like the revolutionaries

went to make peace with the
old regime Wait until | tell Vuthy
about this. He’s not
going To believe it.

OR y

i /

So
 My hut c@n Fit fifteen
people. You won’t have
to Sleep on the ground

It looks like that

Thenk you $O0 mu ch for
baby is due soon.
your hospitality.
 whl
NeWlw an

Somebody's
coming this

52
 Bong, I’ve Wrought @
Don’t mention it. You
midwife To help you.
did so much for me

Good, now
breathe.

SS
Y

And just 2
bit more.
.. f it’s thanks to Vl get the vest
Lina! Your p@rents ave Reth. we bumped of the Family.
here! Whet a surprise! into each other
right nearby.

7 ’}
Have you named
him yet?

Cwan veasna. Chan is the Type of tree outside

The hut, and veasna means destiny, in the
hope that he’]) have a happy life
 We’ve been waiting avound aN NN And new refugees
for days already \ keep stveaming in...

| know. I’m stavting jj We're crammed gedev Ota

To lose hope. in like animals, happening in Phnom
ti with improper Penh right now.
hygiene and no
Supplies.

Khim and Sokhe have gone to

see if it's possible to return | hope they/ll have some
To the City. good news for us.

ie vErol
Miiwenre
 Deer and respected compatriots!
Angker needs you To rebuild the country!
All Senior officials may return to
The city. The new government is
waiting for you!

Sokh@, whet do you think | The Khmer Rouge

of the vevolutionaries? When | was studying principled and they had
in France, | had many noble intentions.
communist friends.

Did theiv ideas Back then, they

appeal to your seemed veesonable,
but | don’t
know whet
To think
anymore.
| found This Spot by
following a Jeep

Sokhe,
faster!

s/ There’s no way
Those ave weming
shots!
 Doctors, managers, engineers! You @re asked to
report to the capital! Angkar needs you!

ave now prohibited

You must return
from vetuvning to
To your home
The city!
villages.

To begin tilling the Soil! Thanks

To Angker, the Khmer people will
recover their ancient glory!
Chapler 4

rae
ANGKAR
\STHAILAND | ee
oN a
ONS

; ms A

ah YS me
Battambang
¥ \ ne
:

BEL pL
ca, KK cam \
EQ DUT EW
SRP OLY Thy
Kompong

me
om fiSop HE Pp
fou, DAP OR ops
AD
Vy
‘
ore auth
@ Co) Yp Ta Prom
apy , Phnom Penh village
Scarlet blood thet covers our mother]and
The fowns and plains of Sublime blood of workers
Kampuchee, and peasants,

Of revolutionary fighters , You freed us from Slavery,

Blood thet turned into On the glorious day of
seething fury, Apyil i?!

tet us unite fo build

a new Kampuchea,
a new society!

2s

Sz
PST
 Egalitarian and just... Let us resolutely defend our
motherland and ouy glorious
revolution!

Raise high The red flag

of the vevolution!

ih
4

NY
:A

\al

Let us make it advance in

greet leaps to be more glorious
and marvelous than ever!

ae

62
 We all have skills That Angker needs. If we
Falk to Them, maybe they'll let us

You're
cvazy, Moni!
Returning to
the city would
be too risky.

a
WZ
WK

Sokh@ @nd | Saw 2 Fiving

squed The other day.
Who Knows whet the
Khmey Rouge @re
capable of?

Well, then we need fo Find a | suggest we go To Battambang.

solution quickly. we can’t I'm Sure my perents would
stay heve. welcome us all.

’ i" 5 x
RD vv he SS SS
SY RL \ ar <
SS SRM Fa \S
Ne ay .
 Jes, why not? It’s always been How would we get there? The Khmer
a prosperous province. Life might Rouge have blocked Route 5.
be better there.

(a | x

We'll go a different way. | was

thinking of the 6.

H Heve,
VN draw

Pasa tn w

To reach the 6, we'll have to cros

s Ze Pees Which means leaving
the vivey by boat.
behind enything bulky.
 ugh! It’s get-
Ting divtiey and
dirtier here.

Ae |

Wait, would oe
you like @
h@nd?

non’t stay too long, the

water is Filthy. You'll be
itching all over!
 Goodness, it’s
ming, Could | trade ty an emerald!
you this ving for
some vice?

Of course,
my deer. Here,
Fake 5 kilos.

ma, whet’s wrong? Look what I’ve

; You Seem upset! got! 4 big bag
a of vice!
1 can’t Find
my ving.
sea
||a

oh S
l
Soo
NY
‘ :
L—
cy
 a e

We c@n cvoss here, Let’s offer

but we’ll have To them fuel and
negotiate, a bag of
medication.

Wee * ' We'll keep the axles to build

/

a cart and the gas to

havter with.
You want fo
Take Qpart
The cars?!
 fF} Are you going What about it?
Fo help? j Want us fo start
with mine?

g _T ¥

\ And these? “ %

fi “Ne

—————_—

N
You'l| ns
See in f Ce =
x sec
Wt

e's yy —
Cie
—— jl =f st Ay 1
 Yes, and it’s just
a short distance To
the Thai border.

SS SSO P
> Wy

od : If we run into
will be able SS" ay We) Trouble, we can Try
To help us. = VP asking for political

We have fuel and a Z We're three families, 50

bag of medication. we'll need several boats.
 <x
Look! oC N=
=

i FAV Sy
NC ZZ TINY
ark
sheRe N |
eihy
by Zt 8 rae

re

Bong, we'll stop

at this pagoda
for The night

70 Lear Heny Phnom Penh Goodbye, Phnom Penh

 Here come The
new refugees from
Phnom Penh!

me Too, eftey
f Welcome to Rakakong. |
: the friendly everything I’ve
We’re among brothers LF)
& = w) welcome / weard about them.
here. Angkar will
Pec Ps Re
take care of you!
<t
a
y
f s
x 2

Route 6 is Just
a shovt boat vide
fvom here.
Let’s stay on
our guerd.

6zz ioch > ane

i pe \ IV ig @2 ARERR

TFSS
a) ES S
~~
amour:
)=
 Khim, @l( these
Soldievs in black
scave me.

They look | and those

jn lik e pivates... fi sandals made
out of old tives
ave horvible

Residents of Please report to the

Phnom Penh and pagoda office!
survounding
aveas! Angker
calls on the
solidarity of
al) Khmey s/ |A Gay ; ay & é : Z ¢

| repeat.
Residents. 2] BZ fi EV (B | < oy

ag: Gwe >)

 Excuse me, why co
we have to go fo
The office?

Z es SER
: = S. Dy S

ara
=

), SaAesldYel<y“H , 177 a Yo? TS a

—_ = Theat‘Il be quick! |
The Khmer Rouge want
can’t read or wyite.
us To wvite Our
“nistovies.”

NAL
KG
yes
7
te

They probably want To know Hey! You two! Get in

where we Stand politically, live like everybody else!

 What ave we
going To do, é : ( WZ f
my dear? oh, — \ Write down
im scared. “/oon’t worry SL Lal\> he z h Sets
‘ ‘Gi e ; you did as
a business-

We're here with ouv A Sokha, write down That

Seven Children. l : rl). | want to be 2 midwife

. Your name is Moni, you're an y Physician? Angker

engineer, you're married to y, will certainly need
er, and Fim your Services.

74
 \ WL

You're @ Veterinarian,
with three children?

Join The group

on the left
You'll be served
a warm mee)
pan
ns WVSIEE
VaLAudhyn.
oN ALA

can you believe it? They

were inteyrog@ting us.
hancled it well.

Vm stunned!
meet! It’s been
so long!

—a

" Too bad we're

og
TY
v1 leaving Tomorvow.
The food i$ good
here! Ss
 Good thing
Koli@ne, | bvought my
move
pillow
over!

Shh! There @re

people trying

Ui,

| swee@r That
little boy is
wet ching US
It’s meking me
nervous

Doesn't it
seem Stvange
2 = = 2 ee x= M Sts2 oO Mw =x 2 S x 2 tfa)= esY i Ww
 SOLDIERS OF THE
KAMPUCHEAN REVOLUTIONARY ARMY,
A.K.A. THE KHMER ROUGE

Khmey Sc@rf, Symbol \

of Khmer identity
 This way! Huvry up!
Depayture to Kompong
\i
= \ cham in Five minutes!

ia ‘AONEMORSE
ct Sf

a (le

We were told fo get

on this boat. But we gyoup on the
can’t— we're going to Jett?

Then your
gvoup |S
going To
Kompong
chem.

Hey!ae Wait, | need

Come 0@c To let my family

SS

Po
ones. You'll See, it’s
not a bad place.
cS
28

heey =
?

1
 All vight, everybody, The Khmey Rouge Say
change of plans. we have To get on
Their boat.

To Kompong chem!

But thet’s
Not ou
destination!

Foy thousands of years, the

We have driven out
imperialist colonialists end
the imperialists end
reactionary feundalists have
liberated our netion!
dvagged us through the mud.

But we have
vegained our
 The @rmy is hoarding It’s aS good time
another group of City as any to feke
a break.

We don’t went to go to
Kompong cham!
eel
Angkar’s orders
must be obeyed. On J
board, all of you! &

Kmouy,* | Know move! You're

one of the men holding up
in the group. the line!
“) : - <

85
*Kmouy nephew (honorific)
 Theyre my family! | don’t They have no
went them going To choice. Angkér

Kompong Cham with the will take c@re

others! of them!

1 Just told you:

Theyre Staying
here.

C’mon, let’ y
aoe the aoa Are you deaf ov whet?
We'lloedeal with
old man leter. i Peer hey reams
NY\ Be quiet, old man)
\ oy else.
\NX X\ >
WY x ;
NAG ISS~S
\ IWN

4 WX

Let him be! Met Ly,

deal with the other
passengers!

1 s@id (eave Everybody on board!

him alone! Start the engine!

= LY
Se p
 Close enough. 4 very long
Thank you So much for That.
J Z 2 Time ago) ! worked for you.
But we're not family, why
would you say that?

Of couse! Lok* Rong! You So you lied to help us.-HOw did

Now | worked at the you know thet we weren't going
to Kompong chem?
vemember! ice factory!

Every morning, the Khmer Rouge

the ntrusiy2) leave with @ boatload of people. They
| didn’+ know. say that’s wheve They're going.

*Lok:. honorific 85
 | can’t say for sure, but the villagers There @re yumors that the boet stops
have noticed that the passengers ere in the middle of the Tonle Sap Lake
all formey buveaucrets or intellectuals. J and comes back empty.

One night, @ nephew of mine sew The Khmer He swore he Saw pools
Rouge cleaning the boat. of blood on the deck.

You have To he lf you went to survive under The new regime,

very careful! remember the old Saying...

86
you need to plant kapok and palm Thenk you,
tvees avound your house. Lok Rong!
Good luck!

non’ tT WOrY y about me! Route 6

It ‘Il take you To
is on the other Side!
Battambang. May Buddha
protect you!
 Pa, re did he me@n about
planting Kapok end palm trees? It’s an old
Khmey proverb.
NATIONAL ROUTE 6
 Zpols

i | > —F
fish paste)
A
Akq
{ }) market value under
The Khmer Rouge regime
4 A
pineapple
Zs
bananas
Zs A meter mango 10 ko
fy —> gf
LPN)
reer aS ne

an watch
fabric by the meter

ff
fruit /

A
clothing

2 7 [ v Ip ¥

Ri oo A Noreen 2 (ua)
CA

cigarettes ee i package of palm sugar

vegetables
 @

Oy
ey

Li
AA
 There. Need Are those
anything else? your hoards?

It’s Tvue...we have

Yes, but besides medication,
nothing left to trade
what do you have thet you
cen Tvade?

a
WW
hi
Yi

You're Suve These ave

Good idea, giving Except now | have French quality?
him our shivts! nothing To weer a OF course!
See the crocodile? §
 Not bad! Some fine-tuning
and then Ill get started
on the Second one!

Ow new
mercedes!

Hmm,..and wheve’s
the engine?

happened
To your
shiv tS?
 © :
<I)

\x YW py)

\ 7
\
f J

And then you sew an

invisible Seam.

There’ Now Your

Jewelry’s safely
hidden in your Clothes

But I’m so vad Wouldn’t This be a

Maybe if you had a bit
at sewing. better place?
of cleavage.
 Okey, Sweetie, whet
does Pa do? Pa, why do | It’s so the Khmey Rouge
have to (ie? don’t Try To hw us.

Can we go back Reise Remember what Lok Rong seid. we can’t

after everything is tell the truth—it’s too dangerous.
SE We have to hide our identities.

INVES 2 :
i/ Vix fee Wve Already got @ So, whet does Pa do
“~ cover. I’ve found for work?
my profession. oe
a faxi
dvivey,
colonel!
 Okey, @re you done? can
| bury it all now?

We can’t Jet anything If you have things To Jewelry, medication—

give us wey, trade, hide Them hide everything!

FM

[ZZ

LE
oS
4

ee.
Be
 some water!

etal fe A cvazy. The

=
meat weter’s
2) WHS
YY
Ly
wuch too
=F }. iy

WV -
But we'll
boil the
weter,

rama: Khmer scarf 97

(go get more
bottles

We might as well
wesh ow Clothes while
we're heve

What a pleasure
to clean up a bit!
iS pevfect
DO you have
soap?

“AS

Yes, but he ‘Vee

cé@reful! It’s all
1 have left...

Watch
This dive!
is
I ==SSS ec

“yw
~ =
2 ys
AGS ose oe 22
Sis SwVv\ 1S)
res £5
re oe
i2 E — y ~ 9) oe
26 =S
2B)

r) > g a) ==@ aS) SSry) o = = 3 = atso

+ fo) 2 rs) Ro & Vv = :
=KS
 Peace had vetuyned, @nd | was | was with my cousin, my brother, @nd
weaving my dress uniform. f other friends from the military police.

The truck had Stoppedin The The others got out

middle of a rice Field. to Stvetch

But|
preferved
To wait in
The Truck.

100
 After @ while, | got and | decide
d
Tired of
waiting...
step out to
side.

l can’t get th
out of
e image
my mind.
 How long have
you been having thet
nNightmere?

Ever since we left . (pray for Buddha

the pegode. yy | to protect you.

and now my imaginetion’s

running wild...

4 4

SAE

Thank you, AunTie.

1 think we undevestimeted
The Khmer Rouge...
DO you Think people We're @bout to find out.
still live There?
1 don’t c@re. I’m 0 ,

Tired of Sleeping Ns
out Side! |

> ly 4) W244 ‘ny one

:>Se
SSS
We need to go! Whet do you
I explain later! Think happened
in thet village? mg
SS LES
>>
, ROX

-
LAK xs
4 Jf maybe the
| Khmer Rouge
Well, we can’t
leave the bodies
like that. who's
coming with me? y
_— Those
with kids,
Stay here.
 Not So f@st.
We need to We'll be
honor the dead sleeping outside
propevly.

ia

lcan’t find the And the cutlery? We’l( eat

cooking pot! ; with ou
Is it gone Too?
<f hands.
Nae
ANY\\\
AW

pretty soon
we'l] have
nothing left lz

| should’ve kept Looks like 2 lot How @oout you

my lighter. of Trouble... go Find some
kindling?
 Hello! We’ve come al! the way from
Phnom Penh. We’re out of food. Can
yOu Spare some rice for us?

Sorry, we barely . dark Times

have enough for i; — for everybody.
Ourselves.

Here, This is all

| can give you.

106 *Pou. Uncle (honorific)

 o te ) = 2 ry)RS
Es

fae)
-
=
rs)
v
>

outdoors like this...

4
Who s singing?
it’s beaut iful.
|

Kongcha’s daughter.
She must be putting §
 n
/ Li
l
Hom fe 2

Ao [hdaay
|\
TRNAK /
me Uy;
re daay n
an

Khim)
you sleepi
ahem
ng? &
=

x ys
Dy

108
 iP
MY
ij ZG

DESCENT INTO HELL

 TO AVOID TROUBLE WITH THE KHMER ROUGE,
AVOID CARRYING THE FOLLOWING...

Five@rms Photos

1D Diploma Eyeglasses Radio

military uniform Passpovt Lightey

fvom the former
regime
mid-August, 1975, not fay from the Town of Kompong Thom...

damn! The bridge

iS broken! Wheat
do we do now?

can't Turn
beck...
/ VIF SYL i

We have to Vy LY fy In 2 few
get across, WY Ws iz hows, the
and fest! (gee? / water will be
VL O +00 high!

label
 ‘
SY

g ——— 4 =

U\~
This wey! It’s safe to It’s all right, Ma,
cvoss here! Hurry up! we've got you. The
| weter’s not
very deep.

This if @wFul/
I'l never manage!
Go ahead without
me—l can’t

We're (ucky to be blessed

by Buddha’s fears!
iif

Almost there! ¥
Come, we'll be out #
of the vain!

Lig
Lif

f
AL
\\ ONS

p ugh! Fivst the vain,

es 3), now This mud! | hate
. The wey you get
stuck in it!

S ra
wy

Look! There’s
someone up
wes a Khmer |
Rouge.

Looks like he
1 know him, too.
knows you. i we
HiS Name iS Song r FD we

What does , Fy N
he want? Phy)

AR \ 2A |
’ \,
s\n
ey iolyy)is
4," ob
—_>
Hello, boss! what are We’re going to , Mmm looking
hi) looking £ for
you doing here? Battambang, my brother. You
haven't seen
A\ him, have you?

Have a safe
a few nN | Journey!
families , ‘
but | don’t
think | eS. ll keep
Saw your =—— Re a) looking.
brother. |@ | Sag fA. | Sorry for
‘zl holding

He seems
friendly enough.
always making
Friendly... trouble one
| don’t he worke
FOV me...

117
 The aim of the revolution is
to create an independent,
unified Kampuches...

a peaceful Society of
Tyue happiness, equality,
and Justice...
VK
2 SPH) oS

a democracy with no rich

and no poor, no exploiters
and no exploited!

Long live Angkear!!! Long live

glorious Kampuchee!!
Mata. LOIN IAIN
An ry, Ae -

A: oy
6 There’s the
next town
It’s probably

118
 -
=
hs
Zz, a
Sf
ii ><
=23 e ——
 Power will remain
A new Society
forever in the hands of
will be built!
The progressive workers!

ELE,
aw) RA
ZN i y,
“iD ANNAN Gf la
=
Taig im ‘ ar Fadl Wiig pe bi
S Tho

Covruption and
depraved traditions
will be eliminated!
Angkar is all-
powerful!

It’s saree era

The Khmer Rouge
haven't checked us.
 uncle Vithya?!
Se

What ave you

doing in this

We’ve walked for five Good luck, my

Whet? You
friend! Ha ha ha!
months. we hope to be went to go to
in Batrambang in @
few days.

Because it’s off-limits. I'm sorry To Say, but your Journey

The Khmey Rouge won't ends heve. The Khmer Rouge @re
rounding people up to rebuild
The countvy.

121
 Stay with your uncle, we'll See They won't let you
Through. You’re
you later. we want to Try fo
negotiate with the vevolutionaries. bettey off

Aren't the Yes, his

eu‘) |
others coming? Toner name is
us (ater.
Ch@n

He w@s born He’s lucky to

along the way, beating | had evevy-
Thing ready
for his
avrivel

‘4 You Know
Y the Khmer
Rouge @re
recyuit ing
doctoys?
 id like you To meet
Ming Vy. And This is my pany and Phella. we
met them on the wey.

HY 7

<j

NE
&
SSS
=~

~
4
0 Y= :
i

And these @re theiv Cousin$, Bo and \

Thy. we all tvaveled together.

The truth is, we Stay with us. There

went to go To may be @ way to get
Battambang, gi through The Khmer
TOO. Rouge checkpoint.
 But otherwise he’s
@ nice guy. He didn’t seem
very happy

We can’t leave
Why include them
Them here. He’s
iN ow plan? we'll
my nephew, he
be too many
hes To come DO you know
how dangerous
That is?
 Navy, would you go Take This krama.
get my bag by The It’s not much) but iv’)
entrance? be useful.

pr.

Greve ohat-hm el Rouge Between 2 @nd 4 am., they’re all

checkpoint on the edge of town. asleep. That’s our chance.
The Soldievs don’t alternate
often and They're
exhausted at night.
 yt v (

The Soldievs took

Our c@rt.

It’s all right—we

may be able To go To
Battambang Tonight

| Fold you, you

can’t negotiate
with them

Bo Thinks
we Can get
Through The
checkpoint
between 2

126
 Oh, hey, it’s
Time to go!

They must have forgotten Those bastards! They even took

To wake us up. They left without us! ff the cart!

Huvry!/ we
might still be
able to get
 Look, those
soldiers!

<<

Just 13 or 4 \
years old.

The one who's ea@ting— that

must be their leadey. He’s
older Than the others.

uncle, See
that guy?

ma, look!
They have
Our cert.
 1 Think it’s
smart.

Il vead it to you: “Angk@r authorizes

uncle Vithya, that’s
The following families to tvavel to
too dangerous!
Battambang via Nationa] Route 6.”
 yy)
Some Khmer Rouge don’t even Y c Hey...Wait...1 never said I’d be
know how to read! GZ The one showing it
To them!
; “t's your idea,
Theyre all from ta al es isn’t jit?
The countryside.

Vm sure
Fhis‘ll wovk!

We have @ travel
permit To go to
Battambang.
 Your permit isn’t valid)
comyade.

Because it hasnt
been Stamped.

It needs
a stamp?

f x |

You're all going to

follow me. Let’s go!

\\

Ut
Tf

132
 —
ao
s‘

is
2:
a
es
nak
ae
‘|
=

=e

~~7

a _
cS @) 2 ce)= 3 eo) oc WA >

my,
 Let us abolish The monarchy @nd establish Angker*!
Let us abolish taxes and establish voluntary contributions!
Let us abolish The white and glorify the black!
Let us dignity The ignorant and eradicate the learned!

XAngkar. organization
 Aftey theiy arvest by Khmer Rouge militia, Khim and Vithya’s families were
sent to a village to be reeducated according to the principles of Angkér.
There they again met Song, the young man on The bicycle. AS one of the
“old people” from the countryside, Song was assigned to help relocate
The “new people” from the cities. He suggested that the two families
come to his village of Roneem.

Thailand ) _ laos

Siem Re@p
Khmer
Rouge
checkpoint
2

®
£473 re
Z
Soe
boas aa —

Mekong
River

viet Wan

SK capital
a \ \ M \\ y N

Route traveled W oe \ ‘ Rigise

by Khim and — MayNY aoe
vithya’s Families
 a cx= 52)= Ney ca< » I9F5

el pe a I mal,
eA
|(| aes
=B =)
E/

139
 —

si
eee

We come
Together
Fo build...

“aq rd
Wy

= — WA 1 =

A new 3
K eurUSne ss
pe ae society! 7
Bieecremar

—
 Rone@m, October 975

Thenks To :
Angkér, we have
won The wer!

yen Tion is not over!

Old people! continue to} New people! You

follow the enlightened must buy The pest!
rebuild the policies of Angker!
countvy!

You must think avout The future!

Such luxuries only
Forget about cognac, forget about
corvupt The spivit!
expensive clothes and Mercedes!

144
 We don’t need
The land
the technologies
is Our school!
of the west!

We
don’t need
diplomas!

The plow is
; We will write
our pen
Our histovy by
plowing!

The revolution depends on the MA

\ contribution of each and every one of you!
 You, for example
Could you vead this

Met Seng, |
/
don T know how
To vead French.

Who can help me vead

This document?

ass vs

Exess:
ads

Be proud,
Wet
SV 52

ow
ON re.
ge
Lee
a

comvades!
Ss
.
oO

We’re all one call you to Phnom Penh

143
 We hold these daily because They
meetings... help us to raise
our revolutionary
consciousness.

lf you have any

~¥ a
Be
—
at pee a
ee concerns, Speak
up! We are all
free and equal
in The new
Kampuchea!

The only Thing

That wants to How can they SQy
speek up is my we're equal when
SsTOMaCh. The old people eat
more thén we do?
 non’t worry!
Soon, we
Angker knows
what’s good will be able
To vival the
Americans!
Angker will
lead us fo
victory!

We ave the masters of Those who refuse To work

our destiny, @nd we no longer and make sacrifices wil] be
depend on foreign powers! crushed by the wheel of
the revolution!

Long live
Angker!

SRS
A

Long live the

revolution!

145
 We’ll be back in the rice
fields tomovrow! You can go
To your huts now

yy) >» .

WAY WALEN
SHEEN a
Quick, let’s get
out of the vain!

1 wish | could
weke up and
Fe)| myself it’s
all Just @ bad

147
 What are you doing
up? You should be
sleeping, ma. I’m worvied
about your
boys. Do you
know where
They @re?

Theyre @wey with @ mobile | It’s all right,

bvigade, vemember? They go they'll be beck
fvom worksite To worksite. soon. You need
to get Some 1 know, but
1) miss Them
So much.

She’s been
getting weaker
evey Since the
Khmev Rouge
Tvansfevred us =
pe
To this village. PT:
Lee
ZF,

Vm worvied
4 Pr
&
about her health.
 ctobey |
7
TH)

gyoups
mobile

working!
| @nd 2, Stopeet!
:

Come

CE

ey treet khe.
Reth! woTh
uS rse then ShSoutmeonupe, So
might y
animals...
y

Koli@ne, my stomach hurts. ¥

1 can’t eat This horrible SS Youe
Phare. s need
ur
1 3 vuel anymore...
ym To ge yo
t

we need To get
if
Through This
we ever want
to see Them
 am ‘ . But..what are
met? Has Angker mB my children doing
Told my family
That I'm going To
Phnom Penh?

\}
\\\}
)

Please! we
haven't done
" How Can these capitalists
even think thet theyre still
a useful to Society?

be needing §
French
where
They’re
Going...
 Chapler q

CHILDREN ARE LIKE BLANK SHEETS OF PAPER

ON WHICH ANGKAR CAN PRINT WHATEVER IT WANTS.
 \Ce> RONECAM
\\ Azo, Met Khvon
\\ y be Khmer Rouge chief

Head of Group @

74 AED.
Vithya’s family Y
Vi) ee
Old Chinese x
community
MWe
Little Ten’s Kuy
house \ community Ww oe / a , he
#
Bes met Seng ES in
Khmer Rouge chief OsOia
Head of Group (@) #7"

<< A
Communit y

Kongcha’s
family

militia chief Joe Qo

Cooperative hall containing

x confiscated belongings

Kompong Thom <¢——mmemey

ee
. NS 9

*Kuy: Khmer ethnic group

 Met Nath,
you're the
district chief,
so You $tert

NI
|

a 7, Hitecoms
Died Wp oo nen
Dives

wWe’ve had Angkér would

a good like to see
harvest this rice yields
yeay. | hope ineveese
Angké@r every
apprecieres yeav...
The quality
OF OU
 We're doing | Nature can be contvolled with
our best, dams @nd canals. You need a
but nature building Campaign, that’s all.
isnt alweys
predictable. f

Mobilize The
people! Divert
more water
fyom the viveys
to the fields!

Ta / three tons per Tell the

Rice production has % hectare... That’s mulethan*
To increase fo three ee . impossible. what needs
Tons per hectare eek To be done...
— fig The ordeys
come from
high up.

154 Xmulethan: Khmer Rouge cadres

let’s go...One
more Yow.
 SS tS re) ) = a a ) oO Va
fake permit )
we wouldn’t

si
back
hurts oo
much. | have
 HiS face i$ as hard
Oe ee (
Probably. Kids ave so
impressionable...

DO you
Think he’s
a chhlop*?

158 *chhlop: Spy

 Who wants to come
to the blackboard? /f

It’s not up to your

We ave all one family.
perents To tell you
Angker will protect us.
what to do!

159
XA peasant term designating 2 boy
 A-Ten, make him stop.
A-Ch@n. Your He’s unbearable!
gy andmother

| Go tell the
yothee* ther
The day iS over!

6 Yothea: Khmer Rouge soldiers

 Those idiots must be Imagine not)
Coming, Lina? It’s Time to
from the big city.. knowing wha
a leech is?
Chenda! There’s some-
Eesh.
Thing stuck on my leg.

Looks like he
knows YOu...
ay

Yes, thet’s my nephew

Khim. we got arrested
GREE together and Sent here
WS <a oa for tvying to get past
 Wheat ‘re you doing?! It’s
time to leave the fields!

1 was fold
To wash The
buffalo First

Well, then
hurvy up!

These’) |
be a

for Chen

162
 tf Chan hasn’t
stopped
cvying. He
kept asking
for you.

C’mon, let’s go He didn’t

want fo eat...
Well, 1 think we’d
see youy M2.
1 had to finish better go ask
his plate.
The kitchen for
some food.

my gyandson hasnt
eeten..Would you have a ff
bit of vice for him?

Nea
SSS.

up whetever’s : '
mleft in ae)

*Yeay. grandmother
 -

“i &

vithya, C’mon, let’s not sit He made it out of @ mudguard

at the Same Table as the guy Whenever theve’s soup, he
with the big Spoon...
— - i
scoops it all up!
 Angker lets
the old peop
extyva food le bring
foy theiy meals. Fee bans v

ar 1
e

We're goin
g to
stavve to deat
h
if this keep
s up

g SA

Ka

Haven't
yo
Se every thoughu
t
=== za Of escapi
=< fs ng
this hell?
Z
la

*Pobo: vice grue 165

l
 The people were
liberated on Apvil 17!

Stand united!
Stand united

Let’s heavy
it Foy the
future of
Yes, | Just
nodded off

And yet one of

you seems To have
forgotten that
fact

Comrades, @)|
childven are
under the
protect ion
Of Angk@r

166
 most respected assembly,
most veSpected Comrades,
1am the guilty one. My son
went to get my mee! for
me because | was Sick.
i When ne Came
JF Komenuhe told me
f he’d eaten it all.
&

And that’s why |...

L hit my Son.

| sincerely
regvet it... f
|) w@s 50
hungry, | lost

Get on your
knees and
apologize!
 It made me
Think avout
How humili@ting for
Everything Our Own Son...
That father!
is upside

Shh! | think
someone’s Spying Look, between A chhlop! | was
On us. The boards. SUTe Ot sit!

Khim, whet
could those
lights be?
 Chapler 4

yar
ANGKAR CARES FOR ALL!
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FATHERS AND MOTHERS!
THE PEOPLE ARE ANGKAR’S BRAIN!
 everything is
undev the
organized: water,
Supremely intelligent,
soil, vivevs,
enlightened, and just
animals, @nd men.
leadeyship of revolu-
All must be
Tionary Angker...
integrated into
The harmonious
plan of Angker.

F Deputy
Chief

Chhlop: Every kamlang® is

ae ea watched over by ~~ Chhlop
Giv]) Group f ie) (eA vet chhlop, vecruited bee ;
Secretary Chie
i Boy group
among theeeeegs Secretary Chie Deputy

5 Chief

Kaml@ng 1 * v x
See young Kamléng 2 Kaml@ng 3
men an a n married Couples The eldevly

mobile work brigade, Work in the vice Weave baskets, care

moved from Site paddies, plow, gather for The childven,
to site wood, plant fruits weter the collective
and vegetables gardens

Children:
Taken in
ec er charge by The
Foy the new people, wn) Khmev Rouge to
reeducation Through herd : develop their
labor and destruction of
*Kamlang: workforce The family unit a> revoluti
a onary
és spivit
Roneem, February 1946

Zi, \ Ak

f lina, chen,
~ * :

ul
| {

Vinee
AN ii

Mit
i

winapi_|
gnen see LA
y{|

Aen
"|

UU
f
BAG
i i
(|
TANVP RTS
"

mh come See! Af il ie iy Y
Pn | Naat eA
yi BS i\= YS NG) i) Be “A
nN
MUU mag
CH b 3
es SSS SSNS
<—s

als
LWA. —~
Are you going to go
see the Chinese?
Yes. | better hurry,
before the work bell vings.
Can you @sk
Them fov So@p? ay é
Yow, but move
We have nothing than anything oe
To wash with. ered

first Tomatoes.
We'll be able to ¥
eat them tonight!
 hz a Ln
met Nath
iS gone? ic
a S) A Hey) that OP
Yes, he was mobi- ONL YW looks ike
fsa i
cnige MM), (lized by Angkar. _/Mll ny
i. pl | \ Song’s bike! A

arrived This ONG

morning. —

We won't be able
+o barter and trade
anymore
| m

itif
Hit
OY :

5 es a itiiA
n CE iN
4
ul iSS MTR 1iy Tea

' | Thought | could

From now on, all < an protect you when wef
goods belong to San tid » met again in Sandan. ,
HOM 3 tt
mini iy

Twanks for let- *

Ting us know, Song.
We'll manage.
 We need to save
4 my rice plot some for ourselves
1) hope The q has been req- "i Neanet supply you
Chinese have rice iY | uisitioned by iM anymore.

Wait, | have some- Please. We need

thing That might ’ To eat, Too...
interest you.

Thim, could you Fake

out a bag of rice? Pa, | want
——E se Course. +o drive
a (i > BN\ CE wo ie Hf) The cart!
 This iS my son-in-law. He’s from
Phnom Penh like you. He settled |B /nid you leave Nos Tue been
here with my daughter the city on nm Ronear since
and their son. Apvil 17? 1970, before the
Lon Nol period. *

l imagine it
wasn’t easy,

pee
=I

Hey, there’s my
2 nephew. want me to
uss / EL intvoduce you?
4 ANU
“ Too had these cigavettes BY) gy SS)
don’t /ast fovever.

: cen “

ee at
SO Miitiy isn = =z
tas,
lly) 1
A
WT WW
Gham
My lly yyy r= =
= "
== SS

‘pf *Lon Nol period: from General Lon Nol’s 4.S.-backed coup in 1970 To the fall of Phnom Penh in 1975
Khim, I’d like you to ~ You Should
meet my friend Kay! Cigavette? \ take one.
The Khmev
Rouge only
allow breaks
if You're
Smoking.

| need to go
Oh, Just to talk! 1 don’t work...Quick, |
j See yOu much... don’t went them
: noticing.
 SO you've got an escape
plan, but do you even
know where we are?

\ >
=
SES SSS
SS
Sara
= \ Wie o>
yrs

176
 The Thai pono
bordey is ae a
70 Km goed 7

fyom here. That?

1 was 2 colonel under

the old regime.

7 FOY my
q plan to work,
1 need your

| managed fo get
a Khmer military
map before | lett
the capital.

177
 (go in when —
the sentries ere J and I’)
sleeping... sadam neutralize

Then we'll Steal the chiefs’

horses. We’ll head for the about The
Jungle. It‘ take Two days ap rest of your
To get to Thailand. Ls family?

[that’s not
a problem,

We'll come CONS) QRS ‘ ‘ You can do whatever

back foy them NY \ | aN : you want. I’m not
M4 an leaving without
My nephew is right.
We can’t just go okay, we'll
like that. Falk later.

BetTer get busy.

That chhlop Saw us...

Nl SSN
um aa, :

ime:
uN aN Sa |

The new people ave foo lezy

To work. They need to be
watched all The Time!

SS > SS

Vivre
; |
We Siyees
\I
 Angker has decided To mobilize
a group of men and women to
work in Kompong Thom.

A group of mulethan will

mothers ,
be accompanying The
childyen,
rest of you
and the
elderly will
stay in The
»% village. £

180
 AX daybreak.

Youre leaving...
Tomorrow?

UUM) YA
Hi [Ni Nas pt ae iN a A / Uj
| don’t want
you to go, LM Ie ie ?
Pa!

non’r worry) Lina,

) won't be @lone.
They ‘re Sending 7 put three
forty Of US. | months is 2
=\ long time!
 Today, | Saw Some
| don’t want & MEheo 0 people tied up in
you So Fav y lind, it’s need to
Mm all right,

There’s a rumor that they tried

To escape from the village... hope you
i don’t Try
anything
dangerous
while you're
away.

ma, be careful! You know

By the grace of the That praying is forbidden!
Buddhas, may Mother
get better.

May ouv
family be |
protected.
 fall
SO

gs Kong chalat,*
attention!

New people, old people, @

gyeet dam is being built
in Kompong Thom!

ih

XKong chalat. mobile brigade

 Those City people don’t know
Good. Let them see what
how to work with theiv hands...
a peasant’s life is like. ae

I'd s@y some manage

pretty well

MUM

oy 7
(97

Angker h@s not ye :

authorized you to gvow es MUSES
your own tomatoes! ‘ \ Angkar hes eyes
a eee St everywhere! /

Little ners. |
/
: lonthe wey To Kompong Thor... .

©
J
'

Two trucks \"7 | recognize

ave headed —|{them. Theyre
This way!

Long live Angker!

Long live the
revolution!
 Any idea where
/ maybe back to
we're Going?
our village.

50...We haven't
seen the family in f We won't know til) we
months Z get there. The Khmer
Uf y Rouge never fel] anyone
ah nO ihe nG 5 ae \ what theyre doing hh
 Chapler 4g

THERE ARE NO CAMPS OR PRISONS

IN DEMOCRATIC KAMPUCHEA.
WHATEVER THE CRIME,
THE ONLY PUNISHMENT 15 DEATH.
 PERSONAL BELONGINGS OF THE
NEW PEOPLE IN DEMOCRATIC
KAMPUCHEA

Aftey theiv velocation fo the countryside, the new

people have to adapt end improvise to survive The
hardships and dictates imposed by Angker.

Small Saucepen,
for cooking
at home
| bay of soap
per family, Short hair, @s required
oa bat by Angker
Krame:
Khmey Sc@rf
Spoo 2
rere symbol of
Khmey
identity Bamboo containers ,
lice en oh used to c@rvy
& weter
comb eA

Too! for
digging
dikes

Pocket altered
To carry extra
food

Bl@ck outfit, as
requived by Ankg@r—
Hat made of one per person.
palm (eaves

os Bave feet or
he Lightey flip-flops
3

All other belongings ave confiscated and stoved in

Cooperative warehouses. Everything belongs to Angkar...
 It
q
i AU

A-Ten, stay here.

Il go see what's
h@ppening.
 My Son iS dying!
Te
| need help!
He’s very hot.
He needs fo be |
cooled off...

We'll massage him to

Pa! It’s chan!
bring down the fever. ,
He’s unconscious!

190
 There, he seems To
be coming To...

Don’t cvy, Lina, he'll be fine. met, do you know

His tempereture has gone down. Where! Kongenanie?

At Met Khim and

Lina’s house.

met Cha, you Said That Angkér wants To @sk you

Don’t worry,
you know lv Yang.* Is some questions. C’mon),
we’l( let them
thet tvuer get on the bike!
know.
can | go tell my
well, uh..not family Fivst?
personally. Everybody
knows who he is...

*y Yang. minister of Finance under the old regime 191

 Nii

2
5
Heve we @re,
at last!
 And | was hop- Cheer up. maybe Guys, look! \
iNg we weve we'll be able to Heve come
going to the gO once we're reinforce-
village... done here...

_ You’ re vight! S50

Hey, Khim is that veally wes him
in the group! yesterday.

mAs
i

a LE ace Zao
&EN Vay

the =
= Yr

Moni and Vithy are

Theve, too...
They look @5 worn
out aS we are.
 WI)
Yi

This rice gruel

is nothing but

) heavy thet perients get double ; J 7 rd

rations in the infivmery... We should
: pretend we’re y stupid, Khim!
My they‘d kill us
A if they found J
 va
New people! Though The
earth may be hard
as Stone...

ME.
and the sun
mey burn,
é

we must maintain domestic

7~~ And we must
peace and unity To assure
incveese production
our independence.
according to the just }
and enlightened policies
oF Angker!

lf The economy
grows, Society will
 We must defe@t our
external enemies!

But there @re

enemies within
as well.

Look at this man! In trying to flee,

he hetrayed The principles
of Angker!

Remember, Angker hes The eyes of

IM arning you:
Om away 2from a pineapple! It sees everything!
stay
 DO you know
That guy?

Think he might —=/ look at his

be @ chhlop? ae AK clothes...

| doubt he’s a He
new person, it The meeting is
i ovey! Get to
your Camps!
 Lily
fg/.
CLG

S
met Khim
Heve, I'll grao the spot next
fvom Roneam
+o the group leader...
village, vight? _

AN

met, Some
Let’s see if
cigarettes?
1 c@n win
him ovey.

If you went
Them, they’re
 HM) iWw
iN Not much of @ talker.

Sa
SAF
le:

| was a vendor | Sold

coconuts in Phnom Penh

Whet the hell was

SS
met » oid Joining the others
| Thinking... d uring breaks. Angk@r hes eyes
everywhere
Chapler {

NSS
EOS
CA
Zi

TO KEEP YOU 15 NO GAIN.

TO KILL YOU 15 NO LOSS.
 A 0AY IN THE LIFE OF THE NEW PEOPLE... Khmer vadio
broadcast ing
revolutionary
Songs

nay begins <S)

the chhlop
Spy on
families in
Their huts.
All those ~ * midda
Lights who stand co nS
out in its way (;
will be j
Seles cvushed/
eviticiSm
session

Lp =
se ay ( P.
- 2. ii
= dinner
~~ veek
‘ Rice gruel
 Wake up ' wovk is
waiting! Attention,

ing» wut it’s still

dark out

as
f

SW =~
M\
y

fh
-

\ae = i w o? es
= ae v v\ ry) rs)= vy Ne ° aSSy)
2 (4d)Ne ro) t= = D Fe) s ee 9) > v =“ xm WwWte ) a
MONI iS vight 3) he must
be @ chhlop.

203
 =
&
The break?
| can’t keep
going. Wr
xt

OS)

YL
The hole has to be Good, met
1/ Whew! Luckily he only
one cubic meter
es
Continue. |
measuved the
gin size Pe
ae top

_
 Reth, they gave me
Their famous traditional
medicine yesterday. The pills thet
look like rabbit F

1 don’t know, but

I’ve been shitting
like Crazy...

Shush. The
“revolutionary
doctovs” @re
 met, is That non’t worvy , Angk@r
medication 1 ws will take care
ov Coca ;

uh, hold on! | think

i'd rather have the
tyaditional medicine.

Whet’s this?
Those @ren’t i N
The usual raobit Y) aelae ora
dvoppings. ( y, elax, or else
ie a : \ WZ ne
‘Ky (give you an
SeSaec)
a g injection!
On your
at stomach

2 / “Take eal
of “ off your )

“Traditional technique of applying burning roots on the skin

| Great, my ration of
cigarettes. They’l|
come in handy...

He wes wet ching

my uncle @nd now
he’s leaving...

Khim! Come
eat with us.

1 don’t trust him.

|) bevtey warn
uncle Vithya.
ee
ZA ee ZA

207
 You Shouldn’t sit fo- VA ™ We're doing
B gether. Angker might y % nothing wrong, on
Think you're i : S) _ the contrary.
plotting Aig | we —_—— —- Se
against . 3 a AY
1 Them
~ = Reger

We're all And hy working

working § Together, we get
herd fov | more done!
Angkar!

Angkar is letting us
find ouy own food for
a change. Better make
The most of it...

2 CNS ith rea N® WAN 4

can | have some? (
(con qn
 we
Have you seen —
All vight, break’s Khim? | hope Seems he’s got ‘
over’ Back To he’s not angry stomach cvamps.
work! Let’s go... with me... He asked To go
To the infirmary

Lie down, this

spot is free
By Whet’s bothering Vt
| you, Met?

wWe’l| a <2 | only get @ half-portion

cere o WF of vice?

move food)
at last. |
can’t wit.

Qc,
 The sick have no appetite.
There’s no point wasting
food on them!

=
me But I’m stavving!
Y
~ 5
\ I’m exhausted!

met, Can | Cool off in the lake? Looks like

Im feeling much better coming heve w@s
a bad idea

y
Go, but
meke it
quick

\ ¥.

Nd

Vo NY

Pe Ageeey, Let’s
cén Find
see if |
anything,
maybe snails, or
even Crabs.

210
 Look how Thin | am!
| herdly vecognize
myself.

C’mon, get moving. \ | need to find

There’s no time \4 something to eat.
To waste.

Wheat a treet
This/l\ ve...
All vight,
now be
discreet...

Mee

one —

YP =

LIL OMY,
 The Success of our
revolution depends on
work @nd Sacrifice!

if theve’s a . We’re herve to confide in

| pvoblem, don’t . each other and advance
i be afyvaid fo Say The revolution.
so! we'll make : Z
a note of it

| A

1 ask Angker To forgive

He got angry about the small me. | Couldn’+ help it)
servings and Took it out on the Iwas very hungry.
cook. A good revolutionary .
needs self-control.

213
 | pyomiSe To Show
my Comrades
more veSpect

Comrades! Are you Saying Angke@r

doesn’t give you enough To eat?
= = No! No! But we could
always eat morve!!

Comrades!
Some Of You
claim To be and the energy to
sick but Still look fov Crabs instead
find the time. of contyibuting To
Angker’s gyeat work!
 Angkar has no use for Wh Shit, | was \ Most respected comrades
those who fake illness. : reported... fam | confess..| went to look
ul for cvahs

| gathered crabs,
=& oe | but ae sek my
| apologize
j strength back.
To Angker.
1 asked for
permission
To bathe
in the lake
because |
wes feeling
better.

Zn Ee
1 ZzZS so | Could keep working Vite ‘ss
hard for Angker. g Za — g Cee
meke
note @bout
me too?

215
 Angkér forgives you this You’ Il be fine.
Time. But con’t Jet
it happen again!

SS
xX

\. Wo
WW
SS

Comrades, we must continue to

struggle against the internal enemy!
many of you still cling to the past,
for example by using foreign words

We must erase every Respected Comrades, Some

tyvace of western words don’t exist in the
doctrine Khmey language

What
should we
do?

216
Aftey all, we oe
have to be 2 ae —— You yourself sometimes
4 oe ; = uSe French Terms.
able to
communicate. & ee

Whet do you meen? maybe, but I’ve

| don’t even Speak heavd you sey
French! “messing,” for
mechine...

Gi
Wo Se
0 \ TE )
cs ae

yt
Is he Stupid?
That’s dangerous

(i : me
And “karsett”
for gazetfe. :

Those @re both

French words.
 Are you Suve he’s in
Thet’s what
bunkhouse no. 37
he Said.

met Ros, your misSion iS over. You Reth! I'll be seeing my

c@n return to your village. But Angker family et last!
wants To Speak with you first

How dave You Sey

That Angker uses Take This Shovel and
Coca cola fo bury thet traitor!
Tveat the sick?!
BETTER 4 LESS POPULATED CAMBODIA
THAN A COUNTRY OF INCOMPETENTS.
 HOW TO LOOK LIKE A
HIODEN ENEMY OF ANGKAR

Let me see
/
met! what Bie? i. You look like you your hands
did you do eee: were @ manager Liar! You It’s true!
before? vendor. al) your life... don’t even 1 swear!

\ have calluses!

pars
Hesitate when asked @bout Appear elegant
The past ov distinguished DiSplay ignorance
about rura) work
5 ee,
Comrede, Coconut 7
_———
a
weter isn’t safe Ni
‘ You pray + f° Back To work!
for infusions... eileen ooh i /
/ Angk@r h@s no use
Buddha feed you?! | for Those who fake |
y ilness! /
Are YOu quest ion-
ing Angkar’s medica] a ,
cere, Comrade? : ee cine coo
/
weak to
(My Buddha |
continue... /
statue... / ‘ Sa

Crit icize Angkar’s

methods ha

on re a Khmey Rouge 9 —— 22
compassion \ cedve (Better to arvest
oy feelings Ten innocent people
except ee Than to let one
of Angker. eee pis
 = Z

ae
Kompong Thom, June 1976

Aftey months of building,

we Can et Jast inaugurate
Angker’s gve@t project.

Very
impyessive!

Thanks fo this canal, we will be

able to increase our rice yields.

221
 You meen beck to
my mobile brigade?

Your leg has

healed. You can
go home now, Met.

Your mobile it left two

You'll leave with
brigade? days ego. Your
misSion here met Ak. He lives
neay your village.

BSA
BERS
&

Heve’s a tvavel permit in case

you come @cvoss checkpoints
along The wey
| want to be
Is There a sure they really
problem? stamped our
permit.

222
 At last! | Just hope there’s
We're Finally no trouble.
going home.

im worvied avout
uncle Vithya, Vuthy,
and Vannek
fy
ib

The yorhea have

been keeping them under
surveillance since we
left the worksife.
 ‘ vanny, you're Not much Mh | / | But you co
use in the fields... 5 have 2 talent

Try iT on.
| hope the
neck is big

When you have @ moment,

could you give me
a message?

224
 Angkér if marrying me
Yes, Met Neery, off Fomorvow.
but only today. y PTT = nT
aes
fb

Oh...And do you know

who your husbend
will pe?

No, Dut my Pa seus

Angkér will make The
right choice...

His footprints ave ee@sy A-Chan! Enough!

enough to follow. | Knew he'd y You're Coming beck
try To find his pérents... with me right now!
 . aa>, i
SR
xy

| have Sad
news , Khim.

How have you

been?

Grandma Som died

Pa wes ovdered to I'm very worried
a few days after
report to Angkar. about him. what
you left and...
The Khmey Rouge cadres if he doesn’t
Sey he’ll be back Soon come back?

Don’t say
That.

226
You Stay with the baby.
VWI talk fo them...
Is Vannek
here?

i
i

Yes, he is. His Family Sorry to bother you,

lives with me. why do old man, but Angker
you want fo know? wents To See Vannek.

Surely Angké@r c@n wait. Vannek’s son is Very

sick — he needs to tend to
him First.

Ihr
 Soon after he @rvived,
So Angkér
The yothee knocked
summoned your
ON ou door...
husband, too?

Wheat about you, Whet? Vithya and

Lina? Have They wuthy weve Feken y Yes, that’s

come for Khim?

away?! what theiy
wives S@id.

On our way back to the vil- Good Loyd! Khim! They ‘re
lage, the yothea seperated coming foy you, too!
Three men fyom the others. Please, no!

228
 met Khim!
Angker needs

Whet now?
Is he going
+o kill me?
TovTure me?
Put me in

We know you’re
a doctor. Help
her, | beg you...
 She’s courageous. She mer §=6But She got Sick, So | wanted
helped liberate The Ween her To Come beck to the village
capital, like a true rt
revolutionary.

Your daughter | need Tifomycine And you'll have to

has meleria to tveat her feed hey vice gruel.
and typhoid

Be sure to
cvush the | She’s only 16 years
rice. It has FR old, doctor. | hope
To be liquid she gets better.

230
 Roneam, lane 177 lp al”
ye 2 The havdest thing
Se eee
a
cues
ag
Wi Y is to walk without This is how you
meking @ny noise. A hold it.

Oh! Fruits and

a few vegetables.

ve nevey been To
Phnom Penh. | heer
it’s a beautiful
city. Is That
tyue, Vanny?

different from
The country-
side, but | like it
bettey heve. There’s
so much To (earn... |

*Koh khehal” or “rubbing the wind”: a traditional healing Technique that 231
consists of rubbing the skin with an oiled coin
 Uh-oh, She’s
neg who'll Say I’m doing
Weving me OVeY...
everything wrong.

You’re Vanny’s
daughter, Thet’s no way
To carry a
basket! Here,
lef me Show
you a trick

Take a kvama and make

it into a cushion. Don’t lose it | So, is that
It’s very handy bettey?
 usually She Complains @oout everything
| do, but today she was very kind

1 ran into thet old

women, Jee@y Heng.

Met Seng hes me, and he leaves ) Do you Think

changed too, ever me @lone. the villagevs have
since | treated accepted us?
his daughter.

Or ig it a Trick To
fest ou loyalty

233
 | have good
news for you!

A man wes let out of prison, and he

bvought this letter fyvom your uncle Vithya. k, it’s his h ting!
peor ue > nevcwnians
He S@ys he’s fine @nd in good
health, @nd Angker will be
releasing him soon

mie
Ss

We can’t give up ;
hope. Maybe Kong- i The prisoner, es | don’t know, he
cha and Vuthy are : Who was he? ss wouldy’t say.
with him, too

DO you
know where
he lives?
 Actually, this
According to her, a)° ° x Ww me v = Vv
iS Song’s hut!
it Should be over lives neay Song
To the vight.

Who Knows
maybe he’s
The prisoner...

Song? whet
h@ppened?
 Khim, |
have @
secvet to
Fell you.
The militia
ayvrested
me.

he Speak? Maybe
he wants me
To follow him.

At The prison in Sanden, they

Thought
telling Fook me To See Vithya. Thet’s
| was a
them they | when | understood,
lieutenant
colone] were WrOng
but They
under
the old : wri g — wouldn't
regime.

Yes..he denounced Someone, but the

militia got the name wrong, end 4 They left me fo vot in a cell for
They arvested me instead... \\ Two weeks before letting me go
Whet | Saw was terrible, Khim.
The conditions
in the prison
were Very
bed...
We were only
allowed To
dvink once @
day , out in
the fields.

The Khmer Rouge would give At night, they chained us up like @nimals
US @ wet krame@ to quench There was No wey fo escape. We slept
our thiyst! on the gyound, crammed together.

Some relieved them- The Stench wes bead Yj Thet’s where

selves vight there. enough, but et night = 1 s@w Kongcha.
you'd heay the cries of
people being tortured.

237
The poor conditions weve foo 'm sorvy To be telling
much fov him. He died there. you all This, but you
had to know.

How will | Oh no /

break the The militia have

news to avyrested Kay /

eo:
 chapler 44

CUTTING A WEED IS NOT ENOUGH—

IT MUST BE PULLED UP BY THE ROOTS.
 KHIM’S TIPS AND TRICKS

Starting 2 fire can be difficult. usually a

lighter will do, but if you don’t have one on
hand, you can try getting fire from a neighbor...

\Cooking station |

sp\ Piece of
Coe
iy a bicycle
metal tube mudguard

Wooden _ Bamboo
cvate

®
How to cook Fish

Wrep fish place on

in clay. coals.
Rounding out
meals
& Wild Morning & w - Manioc _ Rice field evabs
WA spinach glory Ow peel ¢
< melon vind ae
KI DPDHF ~ discarded by the Frog
old people aon
@ (| __ Freshweter clams By Crickets NY iS
RS Je, hitards Edible Poisonous—
ow PR do not eat

ee Ae not sure
+ it wovks, but
mranagemen
everybody
d iene
Leeches @re Common BrUShineetn oso ai
in vice paddies. use @
with coal
cigarette To vemove
after every
Them...
meal,
 He told me he was in The
avmy undev the old regime!
~~ - . ~ 2a you went —
, he was @
colonel!
So what did you do
| made my living @s
before, if you weren't
a street magician...
@ Soldier?

See this stone?

 stone! It
dis@ppeared/

He’s lying! | Sweavy he wes WN

a colonel under the old
regime! He even Suggested
| eSc@pe with him! QA

All you’ve
done is lie
To us!

You’re Tel) it to The crocodiles!

making @ maybe they ‘Il believe you!
mistake! |
sweer it’s

No! wait!
 ma, Khim and | have ie Pa has passed away.
some had news

He died of fever. He wasn’t

Fortuved like The others

244
 Khim, Time
To get up.
We have to

\
Tell Them Don’t you Think
I'm sick... " B you s Bead
uni @ 5 your uc
/
ERIM
Ty PP
|

\ it

7,
a |

Lina, please,
Just do it

The cook
To bring
him some
 chen, walk a bit. What have
ma is tived. you done to

Aren't you Sorry

you cut it?

Angker is
looking for
women To
force into
merv liege.
| shaved my
head to avoid
being chosen.

) came to
have To worry
get chan
about lice
I'm The one
anymore.
Taking cave know he’s in
of the kids good hands.
Today
my
i
Dh
M
eae

Angk@r summoned him to 2 different

Yes, and
village, @nd now the Khmer Rouge
| Vithya’s wife
went us To Join him.
and daughter ,

Kids, $ay good-bye To Vanny. We need to

peck up. The militi@ will come get us Soon.
 Vanny, the villagers like Vithya and Vuthy
you. There’s something died in prison @
we have fo tell you... few weeks 2g0.

Looking toy \
somebody,
Moni?

1 She left a few minutes

ago. Hey mother wes ‘met, where i VW be right back! }
summoned by Angker. If ave you going?!)
you're (ncky, you might v) ) \far ae a

still catch her

 | knew it. Ouy
husbands @re
seen them in
a morth...

Vuthy @nd
Vithya’s
families.

Why isn’t Vanny’s family

Get in, quick!
coming with us?
f vithya and Vuthy
ave weit ing

Oh no!
1 don’t

Hey husbend died in

pvison. There’s no yeeson
+o take her along...

249
 Y Tell Moni we
pont worry S@id good e WA
Wi _with iG/

about us, Chenda!

| Thought you'd
left with Them!

People s@y That those who ‘ MONI, I’m worried

leave don’t come back... about them

250
Thailand Who’re you Sir, people are fleeing Cambodia by
looking for? the thousands. There aren’t enough
refugee camps To receive Them all.
Siev Khim and

| don’t
have him on
See whet 77
aS
ou cen do, =
colonel.
=

Some ave There @re 50,000 in This Camp alone. If

turned back you have time To lose, you can aways
at the border tvy going Through The photos.
for lack of

Look for The ipo

names “Siev” or Folptiaue4
: know your c@mp
inside out...

251
 1 don’t tvust that i 1 gave him
..Be sure to send word if
guy. He'll forget enough to
you heay anything.
about us the help him
moment we're remember.

/ Boss, why @re

you So determined ob BOE Pas
To Find This DAY
Z— .
Pe SSE
A |

h\
i A
SAAB

SOK
 e)
ey
&
y)
YY
ISHai
WA.
SS
LOX
aaa
1972
Khim and Lina’s wedding
Phnom Penh, 1974

Lina and her sisters in theiv ae Khi

family home— Phiniom Penh, 1970
Yo A

Aiea)! @
“y ie,
Wedding ceremony
in Lina’s family _ Khim’s
home, 1974 Z father

Va G
Khim’s
mother
 Khim and Lina’s wedding in
the family home, 1974
Group photo
Khim’s wedding ,
1974

Vanny |

ma Som, in
traditional mother
attire

&> Traditional dance at Khim

and Lina’s wedding, 1974

Khim

Sei is a popular
. Cambodian game.
Players kick The
“sei” — wade
of feathers
attached fo
disks— to keep
it in The air as
long a5 possible.
: te cat «o
en
~a eee SYS,
 7 /
} - : ‘ | 7 —_
j a . : yok, oe ;
a o1 as - i 7 a]
 ak
ay [ [r rec |= aa
aN
A NEW BEGINNING
eit

Taity
Ny
THE PURGE
 THE KHMER ROUGE MACHINE

The Khmer Rouge machine began to Jam. Angkar continued fo eliminate the
regime’s Opponents. After the new people, They moved onto those close to
power. The purges started. Since the events, 191 political prisons have been
identified. The most infamous were Thma Kup (m-13) and Tuol Sleng (S-2i).
A
erry eer

ORTENT 4,
, SS.

Tuo! Sleng!

Angkar will be your Expect no mercy

Judge and Jury here! from me for
traitors!
 — — =
Baris = -

Roneam, Apvil 1972 ee

ze — ae eat

A
A

supplies in ovder
To Keep going

: 4 : gy ai -

Gi ; =
I} 4 ri
ea

Good Thing The seasons and crops ave there fo

help keep tvack of time, or I’d be totally lost

This iS ow third
harvest... If must
be around Maych
ov Apvil...
 =

tw ae
| wondey whet sure look
theyre Saying? worried...
things. Ill go tell
the cadres.

Y's
AEs:
J the Situation is |
Sem getting more
complicated. f
Angkar Thinks |
There ave §
tvaitors in our |
gyoup. I’m |
going To
leave the |
village with |
my Family. i
Thank You |
for Treating
|my daughter.
 Theat‘s
Pa’s shivt. |

SNE \\ \MW we Wa y B iif 7 4 Wher , don't like

Mh

It’s my Shirt) isn’t it? | Ren ous

it look familiay?
Does you, because this shirt
belonged to a capitalist

i
h I’ve never
 Important @nnouncement!
Listen up! Listen!

Opposition forces
ave entering Crvr...
SS ee
7 Poe a
S
Nis
Sau
q
hs

aray

| Thought public
meetings like These
were banned
by Angkér.

Have you heavd? Opposition forces

Joins us! We're
ave liberating the country!
going To organize
The Angker a big welcome
regime is for Them!
 Go aheed, sit! Nobody can Is he telling
force you To work anymore! — the truth?
We're Finally free! |

Keep an eye on him, reat, Didn't you

I but | have work to do!
Il be right back... heay whet

| have to go met! Let your rice burn!

cook for the 4 We need to mobilize end
COOP
EYaTI E- spread the word!
} /

Tvouble...|
\. better go...

S
 met! Leaving
The lipevatovs ave almost
already?
here! You don’t have to
obey Angker anymore!
Look and you'll see!

WIN: Se
Theyre Coming ”
ae soon we'll
be free!

All | See is a
Also, if it’s True, And why is he @lone?
weter buffalo... why isn’t he @rmed? | He doesn’t even have
bodyguards!

oo", NS
« XN

Fe=")
Z/ AN} ‘

AS L
LYN

Thet buffalo is = << / Sorry, | have

my way out... | Stay with f to get thet
J\ us! Come / water buffalo
before if eats up
\ all our cvops! ©
; a — _ A a : A e ca ae Sa

|ite ~ ee el oS WN ;
Rg
okey, nice ZS Fi Uses AW
ieee AZ a= Sp eee

and quiet, ES 5 ise

big guy...
You're
: ) 5 Wy)
coming 3 ) AW — zara if tN a
with me... / li aa eS
 pice Ta Nath’s meetings are forbidden!
Theat dog iS poisoning us with his lies!
A chhlop
Saw you at Ta
Nath’s meeting!

~~
7

) wes
passing by,
that’s all...
In northern Cambodi

Enough To form
a resistance
We need ZB movement!
To gather
|

Or Angkér wil(

kill us all...
272
chapler 16

EB,
CS

LIBERATION
 BEHIND THE BANNER OF ANGKAR:
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST
PARTY OF KAMPUCHEA

-Prime minister of Democrat ic Kampuchea

-nied at age 69, reportedly of heart failure,
while under house arrest by his former
military chief, Ta Mok; Suspicions remain
about the actual cause of his death
-Real name Saloth Sar

her No. 2

Giey)
Ne
[Oe of the national \
Assembly of Democratic
-Foreign minister
-Summoned expatriate Cambodians
Kampuchea to return and help rebuild the
Deputy Secretary of country; many were executed
The CPK -He died at age 87, before a
-Played a key role in inter- verdict could be reached in his trial -
nal party purges -Real name: Kim Trang
-Senfenced fo life in prison
Nuon Chea (1926-)
in 2014, at age 89
ice name: Long an

fappentid Secretary of
State of Democratic -leader of the national army
Kampuchea in 1976
-Pol Pot’smost loyal helper
-Ordered numerous party purges
minimized own responsibility -nied at age 80
and claimed ignorance of -Real name: ung Choeun
the events
-~Sentenced to life for
crimes against humanit
in 2014, and found guilty
of genocide in 2018
ev
Khien Samphan (1931-)

i Wife of - Director of
Centre S-21 —Director of torture and
Brother No. % -minister of Social
extermination center S-21
Affairs
-Personally conducted
-Found unfit for tria }
due to dementia interrogations
-Died in August 2015, -Signed the execution orders
at age 8 of some 16,000 victims
-Sentenced fo life for murder
and crimes against humanity
eae ee
in 2012, at age 69
leng Thirith (1932-201 5)
Duch (1942-) -Real name: Kang Kek lew
 You think
The Khmer Rouge
chiefs @re gone?

Not all but..¥

1 s@w another |
big gvoup leave
the village This
morning.

Think @oout The head cook chose

Why were you
Htieene ou to veplace her,
put in-chérge
and then She left...
of the kitchen?
 does that incredible! | don’t know
Ta Nath Ap. mean Angker what to believe...
wes right... has been over-
Thrown?

others @re
still here,
and you
can’t Fell
who’s with the
Khmev Rouge
anymore. we
need to be
cé@reful... |

Go beck to your huts.

We're waiting to get work
oyders from Angker.
fi
Gili
Trust me! The
Khmer Rouge
cadres left
more than a
week ago!
The coe@st

incredible, huh?
idea. How can : \ The Khmer Rouge
This bee ge chiefs confiscated Bie
So much stutt! fae

277
Whet is
my cawere!
going on our Things back.
} never Thought
It’s over!
Te
I, \d see it again!
en)‘i ) j
fips Uh
A
|
BN

You’ve taken
Now thet the Khmer Rouge
something as
ave gone, we're entitled To
our belongings, @ren’t we?

we
Don’t worry, I'm not stupid..these #}
ave Just @ few of Pa’s Things...
They belong fo us!

This is \q
nothing’
Look at
him...
 "Vd have
+eken much

lam, yes. Is Wi You don’t know me, but

something | your husband once geve me
his watch for some vice.

Comey I)

dvive you

Even you Took things?

thought you were Sick.

Ta

Sy Sy7/
 Theu’re cay
wheels. we’)|
Summon the put Them
villagevs! on last...

| They ‘ve... = }
ae
returned? q “
. = ’ VEN g
( in. front of The
\.cooperat ive hall? #
Tomovrow | want
everything hack
The wey it was.
understood?

1 didn’+ take They don’t even

very much.. know who took
Sire
We're not givin
anything Backs
 The Chinese took
your bike.
Vy

Hey, You!
Come out! Calm down.
I'm The one
They want... 4

Surround 4 owe lf he tries

the house! [Rae See To get away,
shoot him!
Stay with the kids, they won't hurt you. We're Vm going To hide in the woods.
old-Timers in this village. The chiefs know
who we ave...
( come beck for you. Don’t
worvy—Ill be fine

ave you going

ANN

\\wi
 We’ll deal with
The rest of
Them later.

They’re going to kill I’m here,

uS all, Khim! I’m Lina!
 Did you
{heavy the Shots
last night?

The y c@n
id of everybo dy... Ag

1 didn’t think they ‘

\ 3=
h2)
@o

Ww
x
v\
S
s
o
y

285
 7 Stop whining, you YF that’s enough!
dig Faster! bitte: praxc!? C’mere!
Let’s go!!

Put him in \
the hole,
quick!!!

Get the kids away ; \

fyom here! MY That Chinese
: traitor!

Please...
don’t hurt
the kids.

Bring them
There, now the
ovey herve! ; 4
won't bother us
anymore.
INVADERS FROM THE EAST
 THE VIETNAMESE INVASION

In 1972, escalating border clashes led to a breakdown in diplomatic

relations between Democratic Kampuchee @nd Vietnam. Al@rmed ny
Khmey Rouge advances into Strategic vegions, the Vietnamese decided
to intervene. Conditions within Cambodia were dive: vepeaeted purges
h@d ravaged the Eastern Zone, hardening the opposition of Some 10,000
Khmer Rouge Soldieys to Angkear’s dyaconien policies. when Vietnam’s
120,000 troops invaded in December, they were able To occupy
Cambodia without any difficulty.

THAILAND Y LAOS

Wp Ho chi Minh city

€:
@y

ws 2 SS SN

“=e
vietnamese offensive
| ; -

Ay
4, Khmey Rouge withdrawal

Re Flight of the Khmevy population

 \

Roneem, Apvil 1972 §

Chan! You can’t play over There!

it’s Foo dangerous!
i
 The opposition forces
More and more * can’t be fay. I’m going
Khmey Rouge Fo go Join them.
ave fleeing Who’s coming?
The south...

According to The rumors , really cave. I’m

They're former Khmey Rouge sick of it all. | just want
who’ve joined forces with The To leave!
vietnamese To take back
control of the Country...

what if
They think
you're Q
tvaitor?

Impossible.
Theyre heve
To libevate

290
 And you, Khim? whet}
do you think?

| There’s Too much Corn fusion Zug j i OY, iti renould

between the Khmey Rouge end F VIM OR wait a an
opposition forces. ue. NH

You could end up

c@ught in the middle.

How @bout we £
digging This trench?

maybe |
should’ve kept ‘©
my mouth Shut.
They’ve already
meade up Their
MW okay, back
To work...
/ Hurry. We're
too exposed out

They don’t ook

very friendly.

The opposi-
tion forces?
 Vm You’re better Than | am!
stavting § VY aN _
To get the | Thought
hang of &f you left!
This.

No. | decided to
| heavd They were
follow your advice.
ambushed by The
Khmey Rouge, “ot
far fyom herve.

You were
right.

293
 The Khmey Rouge
Shots
were: ex- chiefs have left
E = changed | for good.

There’s not
a single one

| The Shots came fvom over There. Don’t be vidiculous!

1 w@s on duty yesterday evening. The Vietnamese soldiers @re
The Khmev Rouge asked me To doecnce even merciless! They rape our women
hold my position. and Shoot anything
know how
That VeS...
to hold Se
a rifle.

Il See
if | can
get close.

| have @ havd time believing it.

! Aftey the hell we’ve been through,
You'll get It can’t get any worse...
ow sel¥
killed! Come
beck, Met!

bp — pe
Se Ly 5
PRA ALTA OFT \ it’s all propagande
To Scare us...
let’s see from
close up...

Not the brutes the Khmer f The Angker regime

Rouge Say they ave. IS Finally Finished!
1 need to go tell
the family!
ae
= O

and Roneam have all

been libevated by The
opposition forces...
 aa ~~
Zi VA{ Khim! Lina! we're VA The (o@d wes
SC waiting for you! Foo much for
Some people have fA, That wheel... yx
Vd like to, already left! EZ
but Khim Y
Tie Are you Z isn’t ready.
Zz
coming?

€
aN ayes mei |

Go ahead without us. | want

lf | Can vepair The cart,
to be able to take along
g Supplies. we'll catch up with you
In The meantime, you
cé@n get a head start.

But the Khmey

A Rouge might Come
 / pa! come see! §
Yes, ut |
There’s big |
need Some
Trucks driving |
Tools.
into the
village!
—_

Where @re
They from,

We're bringing supplies ] Phomh Penh?

to the libevated Zones. } Could you take
We’ve Come from HZ us there?

You'll have to ask

the dvivers.

297
 We're
Excuse me) Z Frying
ave you The = t, get to
dviveys of these the capital.

Hey, hold
Ha! | haven’T seen you in
on!
ages! Since university!

You made Good to See you

it through again! Is that
alive! your Son?

| never imagined the vegime could be

so brutal..We were velocated to the
Whet a barbaric
village of Roneem. My wife
regime! | Saw my
lost hey father...
entire Family
die...
 They want fo rebuild. You
nespite all that mistor Tune, we were
might even be able to go back
ition
lucky, we survived. And now the trans fo the Job you had before
government iS vecruit ing... the way.

Pa, look!
An upside-down

Lina, we're f
finally going
home. f

This Truck doesn’t

It happens all the Time... even have brakes!
WO
Either The load was too
heavy ov the rakes
failed...

vont worvy!
ve got this.
 Get veady, Khim!
We're almost

== es “SN
Stop oO Sy

amt 2+
GAN
go LH
2?x»
wo 9 (qe)

rar)Ww = Ss 12) cx o WD ro) rar)=

300
 Damn! Where’s That big
stone he told me @bout?

<4
OlOR Gre CAS py

Hold on tight! We're in

for a bump!
 ey ae
iy Oe Z

Get your hands |

Wait! I’m working for
up! Don’t | The new government!

Iv’s because of the truck they

gave me. It has no brakes.
LIFE RESUMES
 A POPULATION IN MOURNING

In 2007, 19,733 Commune] graves were inventoried in Cambodia.

Some 150 new graves ave found every year.

y
<a |
pee
oopi
Yili4

iT
|
Wines

You’d be 2 valuable
addition to our team.
We’re Short on
qualified staff
To vun this
hospital.
 | 1 don’t know
nn \} what to sey. I’m
: We. | =: <4 p
very interested
;
WN iN your offer.
\
WJ) Jgy :

Foy Now, | need to

find mu Family...
ovey @nd 4 4
ley me
know @s
SOON @s

oh..one move Thins. ) oe een They arrived a few

\

Cs) Se yout their address.

306
 » /
| have two pieces of\
C’mon, Chen! fi .4 a | good news: one, I’ve |
Pa’s done. = & | f \ found work, @nd two... /
———— amin

J .we’ve found your family! | was

Told theyre ar
this address! ae

¥ \ SO YY
LQ ‘

ee iipl

It all seems of — But why was the hospital so

incvedible... quick to offer you @ job?

=H || WC
ae
Be IK)
Nye
|G
yp \ KY
él AX
 many doctoys were assassinated
during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Not yet. | need To See my Family

first. | don’t even Know if they’re
still alive. I’d like them
To meet Chan...

Fy i the directions
tare right, your family
AN should be right here.
am
 My deavs, how
were you @ble to 'm So glad to
find us? See You al) alive
and well!

The governor?
He’s a He’s Kongche’s
distant cousin.

The governor
gave us your
address.

Darling...Aren’t you
Thet explains it! Thanks . going to eat
To him, we all have Jobs Gi g ; with us?
and a roof over Our
 Where are
you going? J

Sleep, Lina
| need Some air)
that’s all.

2
=
=
otHi
El

310
 1 see tyucks like That
we by the hundreds, all
headed for the
7 The vegime exploited capital.
its people for So long,
all that’s left are
living CovpSes

Whenever | “Where are

look into the They going?
eyes of Those
pooy people, |
get 2a shiver

id like to get back to | |! cen Teke you, but Patience, my fyiend. The
my home village, too... only in Three days. | worst iS behind us Now.
need to supply other
provinces First.

311
 We're going to visit
Pa’s family.

Heve, Khim,
before |
forget...|
got travel
pesses for
The three
Of You.

Samrong...| can’t...
as

pleas
You can barter
7 Keep it5.
Khim. It ‘)l
help me
live in the |
present. ff

312
 % . _— se r — ars
e LZ
Battambang Hospite Soe <3 ma’am, there’s *
p oan 7 someone who'd Jike
To See you.

NJ = ~ ~

1 didn’t know | me neither. Last

your Cousin wes Time | Saw her, She
wes still in School.

goodness!
i'm so happy!

Ss
Come, We cen
talk in my
office. Ill Send
someone To
let your
family Know.

A women in the
neighborhood Said
ee i'd find you here!
=I
 yal cule i Yes. we're
hip a shovt-staffed, So
I'm running The place
on my own. Why don’t
you Come Join mer
| need the help!

/ You Seem To
be doing well.

I'm managing. In
Times of way, there
ave never Too many
h doctors.

| lost my entire family. M

husband was relocated, and | ma’am, SOmeone
haven't heavd from him Since. Just @rvived in
And my three childven.
They... sniff.

ae |
Sa

Zy i] LIV RX
TILE, iN i Za NN
 lf you need anything,
let me know!

; : pani seems To he earning

1 don’t remember the last 7 ( good money 2s
time | ete chek kty.* fae iN a nurse.

Wit ae

~ She’s 2 business
women First, and
4 nurse second.

Khim... There’s a couldn’t bring

something you myself to tell
eed to know. you on the way)
y hee
eee one's but the family is
Every here... iN mourning.

*chek Kty: Khmer dessert

 Who are these They’re
let the your aunts and we Khim,
grown-ups talk. III bene myie
sony
cyying people? b intvoduce you fo your : 4
cousins.

Probably
his Son.

Hey, kids’ Over here!

This if Ch@n
Oy Ee
uncle Thim.
Hi, Chen!
Let’s go,
Vm Pit.
your Cousins <\
can’t weit
To meet

We buried your father as best we a 1 S@w Grendpe. He was hanging from @ tree...
could. we'll have to Find his body — My me tried to untie him...
oscil
z7
when the country is calmer. \ — ae

Don’t worry,
mother. we buried
Phim in @ Sate place.
 Khim! You’ve There are So
decided to work many people...
here @ftey all? i'd like
To give it

nea
_ :
Foy @ fivst
consulte- have any es aa Heye, take one
tion, this medication? something morning and night,
one’s your Cough’ oy you'll never get
easy... better... J

There’s nothing wrong with

getting paid! Patients always
bving something: food, @ few
grams of gold. Don’t be Shy...
 So) how
wes your day
survival,
with Dani?
Khim...
wrong? Don’t
went to Talk
about it?
You treat, \
They pay.
Thet’s all.

nani makes the | understand, but try

petients pay not To Judge her.
her. Theyre Very
pooy...| have (
a hard time
with thet

The years
of Suffering
changed us all.

The Khmer Rouge took everything — Probably not, Ma. A governor

our land, our loved ones, offered me @ Job. | accepted
our dignity...

Bene LSP

Ses
SRN
>

We don’t know
what the future
holds for us heve
We're even Thinking of See You
leaving the country K S again?
SSE SKe
SKOSS
| Would you come with us? fis Ss
A MYSTERIOUS PACKAGE
 ie Bi
STATE OF THE POPULATION
UNDER THE REGIME OF
DEMOCRATIC KAMPUCHEA
1945-1979

Ci victims of
execution, torture,
( Expatriate refugees
forced labor, illness, ae
and famine. An esti-
mated 1.7 to 2 million
people died under
[arses among Khmey Rouge
The Pol Pot vegime.
_ Khmev Rouge
 ]
a = = 52) = isVv RG = ~ o Th> N AAare
 hy ay

1 wonder whet
Lina put into my
syah* today?

*Srah: lunchbox / *Kho: beef stew

A pai of shoes, | Ah, @nd...2 spool
a t-shivt. of thyead?

is like that’s

No lettey...
No return address...
 Thailand. Thet’s
all | know...

y A spool of
Thread? what
an odd gifT....
 ow col-
eagues?

A
v
But the package
@s clearly addressed

ive dreamed
me o0...\’m
of this for so
qZ4 sometimes
long— living
scaved that’s
without the
all This is—
constant fear
of death.
 } peel

beck this

326
my deay Khim, I’ve been looking for | finally found your mother. She’s in 2
you among The refugees in Thailand. camp with your brothers and sisters.
They’re Sate and well, but they fold
me @bout your father’s death.

You @nd your in-laws @re the only

ones missing. Khim, you have to leave Wav has vetuyned, this Time between
the country... The situation is still the Khmer Rouge @nd the Vietnamese.
very unstable. 1 1 can help you cross the Th@i border.

ave waiting for

But fivst | have
: We can’t let an opportunity
you in Mongkol i To take care of
ike this pass bu.
Bovey. P 4 a few things et
the hospital.

with Lina
and chen.
i catch
up with

327
Have The stat " in three
all been paid? Heve’s your y, days, It
tvavel pass. i oa eater
everything f\ away from
iS in ovder, New Year!
See you in
Three days,

To leave the c@pital,

you'll need papers and
something To pay y | have
our way. <<" f/a travel| §
3 rie pass and ¥

Where’re
you going”
You can Sit in
The vont? 2
a

To Mongkol
Bovey,
 Wake up)
we’re there!

=
aeCT
ae

«:
BV

brothers,Athol
and Sanko.
 i=

~
ox

fe)
ar)
Vv
ao
little vough

” Great! we
4
ve
whole
got the
w!
family no

a Ah
FY
SSSSsS
SSS
SS

eee
S

There be a few
\

ZZ LEZ s along
checkpoint

The wey. eve 4

s
what we I do...
 The guards turn back all refugees
trying to get into Thailand.

But they tolerate

cvoSs-bordev trade...

One bit of advice:

So we can blend in
avoid eye contact
The smugglers...

Khim and
Lina got

Be quiet...We’l|
come back for
Them later!

331
xBaht. unit of Thai currency
 ye cfmy)
q)
hel keep us
aapf
)
here fov “<a

know, ut itv
doesn’t look
good...

/ >.
| Oh, isn’

LEZ
Khim! |
Sovyar! don’t believe it!
What ave you

doing here?!

332
We're trying fo get to The camp neer
the Thai border, but thet young soldier
wont let us thvough...

Whet? You gave him

twenty bahts to let us go? \ It explain, @nd
1 offered him a hundred... : MN get you past
: pan The checkpoint. Are
you hungry?

Let’s eat
something
 Only tvatfickers and smugglers ave allowed He’s right.
To pass. To get through as @ Family is You'll have
a bit more Complicated...

Il @ccompany your wife, @nd my friend

| will cavry your son. You'll be on your own four checkpoints from here to
with your bike. ; the Thai border

Don’t worry)
you're in good

rgealgle h|aI
ESA a
Chapler 24)

¥¥

YY

MA PREY
 GUIDE MAP TO THE KHAO | DANG REFUGEE CAMP

Khao | Phnom cher:

nang cemp Camp Con-
trolled by the

W Chec
poin

Camp (Camp 007)

Contvolled by the
Khmer People’s National
Libevation Front (FNLPK)

The Vietnamese occupation scattered the Khmer Rouge @rmy. For many
Cambodians who hed suffered under the Pol Pot vegime, the resulting
chaos wes an opportunity to flee the country.

Refugee Camps were set up along the Thai border, awaiting humanitarian
aid and a return to calm. The Camps were often under the control of
avmed groups with very different political objectives.
 |
Poipet bordey crossing, 1979

Stop right

From theve, you

may be able To cross
into Thailand...
i

Just stay

keep going...
We'll meet
 Heve’s The
camp, et last!

= ( = A]

SS a SESE

Sei
cia
ra

| need to find Lina’s family.

N They must be here by now,
 Look at all es How @m | ever going
These people... to Find Them?!

Some Smugglers ave Just thieves. They An entire family was murdered
make big promises, then They take the other day) fov nothing but
you into the woods @nd vob you... a few gvams of gold.

True, It’s
fervible.

Did you Know Them? But | heard it wes an

old Jady, @ mother,
and her child...
 Get Some rest. Those Stories @re
always havd to hear, erent They?

Come, Sit

| Just @rvived. | lost my

family @long the way.

They were Stopp

4 averpes Don’t give up hope
Bewene cirperce And don’t listen to
To meet here at " =
; The rumors! Or else
The camp. | don’t :
you'll (ose your mind
ever Know if.
as well.
 If you're thet worried, go see
the old lady, ma Prey. She’ll vead
your cards fo you.

} She’s famous
= here.

This if Crazy...
A fortune Is That Ma
Yes. wait
here, Mea)*
Prey’s hut?

¥mee. uncle (honorific)

 Are You Suve
i'd like you to
you w@nt to heavy
read my cérds
what they Sey?
for me.

ahead, what’s
your fiyst

| lost my
family Coming
here, | want
To know if
They're Still
alive.
 Your wife
and your Son
ave with your
mother -in-] aw.
They were all
stopped at the
seme place by
The Khmey
Rouge.
A man iS
protecting them.

that’s all,
but Theyre
back on

343
You'll be reunited
in Seven days, on Wait for Them at the main
a Friday atter- | entvance. They’ll arrive on @
noon. Remember horse-dyvawn cart.
The dete...

by
predictions
ave rérely

iM,K?005
Ys1a,wie
5
K Sipe
Lyapla
%
Kh,

lL.) never
said thet!

You’re @ doctor,
right? | haven’T been
feeling well...

Nothing)
Just Some
medica]

== did she know I’m

SS
Ss

Re
Z

CY) ‘=
how

x Cie
Ww
Vs
Re Ona
AS Ne

c= eS)
CY) = =
ee Cpe
AE,
\b
=

ff
ail fifil

J)
There’s forty
of
us herve.
Thousend
eee
 Not veally. 4 few
mercenaries settled here
and formed @ group. They
s@y They're protecting
The camp.

If you ask me, they’re

Just thieves and criminals... What ave They doing?
Putting on 2 parade?

I} a funeral
| for one fe
of theivs...}

They contro! al) deals with the Thais. [Ff

you went to cvoss into Thailand, you'll
have To negotiate with Them.

| suppose I’d have to

deal with their chief. name is
Sadath.

346
 Are you Suve it’s not Savadath?

No.
Sadath.

It’s hard Ros, Can You give him a message

To believe... fyom me? | think | Know him...

HiS gang is @rmed to The teeth. They’ll never

lf you know him)
let me thvough. why not just go
your sel #?
 Hey, | was Joking!
Come back!

Si Ch

i:
 Ges

stan

==
|
2)

aN

—
NS
as

SADATH, THE MERCENARY

 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET TO
THE KHAO | DANG CAMP...

Keep an eye out

for snakes and Spiders

Bewave of
landmines

Bring @ map
Expect fo J
d
cvoss @ river Sher Rng Avoid Thai soldiers

Have cash on hand

for checkpoints
Enlist the help and the smuggler
of @ Smuggler Avoid the
Khmey Rouge

Beware of thieves,
tvatfickeys, @nd mercenaries
 it’s been @ long
time Since @nybody
called me by ther
name...

W...We interned together at

the military hospital, before
the fall of
Phnom Penh.
 Of course! —- < C5Oe
w

Now | yvemember = BS
+ SiO)
oe
ee
/ 3°
you. Khim! DW oO

Vv &
ae Ss
KL IRE SOS

RAK
SSK
SSR SS
BM, SS
OOS
RON
AR RIK
ERE
.: %
o,
LL
SSK

SOS
Is
Sse

“as
XS
os

aes
KE,
A

Tell Them | Sent for you.

SS
They I let you in without 2 problem. Tew
A

, 10 (( wy
/,
o1
iy ne
7,
 oamn!
According to}
The fortune |
fellev, they’re
coming back
Today!
 With Ros’s help, | A fortune Felley
built myself this predicted our
little (ean-fo.

we
‘Yes, but |
didn’t really
believe her.

Reth, Moni, @nd Samay @re Still

=
Wheat about The
others? Are they missing, but the vest made it
all here? without 2 problem.

y Stay
Strong
Nea@k. *
We'll Find
Them.

*Neak: honorific for mother or mother-in-]aw

 Savadath, Since when do you Socielize
a warlord. with Soldiers?

It’s all right, don’t worry. He’s an And you want him to
old acquaintance. He has a lot help us cvoss the border?
of influence here...

We're off to \| Theyre Khim, | haven’+ had

see my brother 2B at Ros’s time to fell you...
and sisters. hut, not
~—\ far fvom
 okey, velax,
There ‘s nothing /
m here
to be afraid of.
v Vv Yy <) oO ~ =
Wwae]a
You Know Their

There, to the right

 So meny people died for To resist the
That goddamn vegime! | purges, we had to
had high hopes, but... Fake up arms...

everything
went to hell
after Apvil 17.

And Now with

We need to
The Vietnamese
Join fovces!
oCcupet ion...

We have two
enemies To
Fight.

And build up
I've had enough of this
a resistance
never-ending way...
movement.

MOL

ee
 Your medical | Sorry, Savadath,
Join us! skill§ would be 9 I’m not interested...
maybe we an asset foy § 1 have a Family ,
c@n make our tvoopsS. I’m not 2 soldier.
something
happen!

We’re trying To get

To Kh@o | Dang

Well...you'l| have To
cvoss The Thai border.
 | have men who
c@n eScort you
To the border,
but after That
youre on
your own.

The Journey doesn’t

end when you get
to Thailand...

You'll need To
cvoss 2 river, then
go thvough woods.
In other words...

without smugglers,
it’s practically We have
impossible. The Thai smuggle s
military patrols the waiting To
zone day and night. help.
 Thet’s no protection against
The risk of tvatficking se
and rape. —- When do you
went to go?

Tomovrow evening. we're

Three families in all.

You’re
sure You
went to
risk it?

We haven't come all

This way to give
I help you.
up how.
Come see me
Therks ,
Berane sae Savadath.
leave.
* 5
A»
Vv Vv

Vv
The next day... Lina, this i$
Savadath,

le
And whet’s
your Name? Minh and two other
men will @ccompeny you.

He’s my best Was thet you following

bodyguard. me last night?
 Thanks for your help, Savadath.

Yes,
eveyyone’s
ready.

}
W Z

No, thank you! If wés good to

spend the day with your family...
 TIA
The Smugglers
kept theiy

C’mon, keep
going! we're
close!
Khim’s family) mee ang) Ho a
follow me! ; \e. Tan’s family,
Sn This way!

We
ANZ Cl
Wait! we’ve
How Could
lost Lina!
that wer!

lm going beck.
Wait here!
Hey! Come see!

You Scared
Khim...We made it! She followed the
me...
other gyoup and
got lost.
 1f you went To Join
Them.

Theyre
al) safe

Ee

/ Chan
would
be @ble would
To Start have @
a new little
life in brother.
France.
As political
And @s a
| refugees
bonus.
i
A .N aw : »

peannin:
 In 1990, Khim and Lina settled in France with theiy two Sons,
chan and Phanet, who was born in @ vetugee Camp in Thailand.

Pa, tell me your story.

There’s a lot | don’t know
about the Khmev Rouge. Wheat for?
1 know it by heart.
The people who lived
Through those terrible
Times don’t want
To velive Them...

But who will remember your

stovy after you're gone?
Lina remains scarred by the events of the Khmer Rouge vegime. France
gave hev @ new life, but the past offen catches up with her. To chase
away her nightmares, She listens to Khmer Songs thet bring back happy
memories of her Teenage yeavs, when she wes 2 f@n of SiN SiSamuth,
“The King” of Khmer pop.

So, Mother, have you read it?

| tried,
but | couldn’+
get past the
third Chapter.
They must be
ayound the time
of Your birth...
Reth lives in Pavis with his wife and children. In 2015, he returned to
Cambodia for the first time, to try To come fo tevms with his
painful pest. If was an emotional visit. In Phnom Penh, he visited his
family home, Now Converted into a restaurant by its new owners.

This was my
parents’ home.
i'd Jike to see
what it looks |
like inside now. /

Sokh@ immigrated To canada. Since 1980, he has lived in

montreal, where he married and has three childven.
Phare went back to university to become @ pharmacist.
She lives in Switzerland with her husband and their daughter.

Thenks »

Chen...Yes ,
The book
avrived!
Of course!
VW let you
know once
ive vead it!

chan often tells his son @hout Cambodia.

Papa, |want fo
go to Cambodia fo
see Your country!
Cambodia still beavs the scars of three decades of war and violence,
fvom the Lon Nol Coup in 1970 through the Khmer Rouge genocide of
975-79 and the Vietnamese occupation thet followed. But the country
h@s opened up since The 1990s, especially to tourism, @nd has experienced
Tremendous economic gvowth

In 2009, @ United Nations-backed tribunal was established to prosecute

Those accused of mass atrocities Though The process wes complex,
costly, and long, Senior Khmer Rouge leaders were at last found guilty
OF Crimes against humanity end Sentenced to life in prison.

Although inequality is increasing @nd Social injustices vemain, Cambodia

remains true to its reputation @s “the land of smiles.”
 a haem ea ee yt a reo)
ee “Ag 2 ee ike
eeeee ae Ceoag ET es
7 .)
eee .
a Bel i
e
as : oe aoe
ae eteLe
ps ea FO
|
a ooCR:S, e
Cae
pi eee
Py. ane eesee e a Y
Bo
>eeytie he ee a et sta.
rcs,
oehes EN
Pie ee

2S
ee beersSf
ae if
at

'
re a-
e
te hi tet“a S
PS et seee i a
e ae
ia eiti s
sbebeeer See oo on. Pe : F a,
s
heen "OTe se ” oo
ate ess OOP
eee>)

oF
a
hea st
aoe

z PASS
i
_
ee
mother
a

a
o——®

aie
CELIA |Srey
AKKARA
Wc [ ARKARA |

Grey indicetes family

members that didn’t survive
the Khmer Rouge regime
 Tian Veasna was born in Cambodia
in 1975, three days after the Khmer
Rouge came to power. He moved to
France with his parents in 1980, where
he graduated from Strasbourg’s Ecole
des Arts Décoratifs in 2001. That year,
he also returned to Cambodia for the
first time, offering drawing classes as
part of a United Nations humanitarian
project. Since then Veasna has worked
in publishing, taught visual art, and
cofounded the workshop and gallery
space Le Bocal, which specializes in illustration and graphic art.
Veasna’s desire to recount what his family lived through in 1975 led
him to return to Cambodia frequently and record the memories of
his family members. Those stories became Year ofthe Rabbit, his
first book. Veasna lives in France.
1ed AU 0RR ae

ATGentra nasfotgt
igsAbad y
Bonk asaIapd
MBB sei leeOowe 5
: [Bu Aes att
MDIADIN
SY RAtorent se)
is Fey. WONT
57 BAtrengesey
YEAR OF THE RABBIT TELLS THE TRUE STORY
OF ONE FAMILY’S DESPERATE STRUGGLE

TO SURVIVE THE MURDEROUS REIGN

OF THE KHMER ROUGE

Cartoonist Tian Veasna was born just three days after the Khmer Rouge takeover
in Cambodia, as his family set forth on the chaotic mass exodus from Phnom Penh.
Year of the Rabbit is a harrowing, deeply personal account of one of the twentieth-
century's greatest tragedies, all told from the perspective of Veasna’s parents and
other close relatives.

“Written and drawn with documentary precision, but also great sensitivity
and tenderness. A triumph.”— Le Figaro

“Year of the Rabbit shows how horror becomes routine. It vibrates with
countless details that illuminate both the dogmatic absurdity of the
executioners and the sparks of hope that can sustain a victim
on the edge ofthe abyss.” Té/érama

“A sense of dread pervades almost every panel.”—The Phnom Penh Post

DRAWN & QUARTERLY

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS /
Nonfiction / Biography & Memoir
$29.95 USD / $34.95 CAD
ISBN 978-1-77046-376-9