The Khmer Rouge, literally translated as Red Khmer, is the common term used for the Communist Party of Kampuchea. From the late 1960s Cambodia became characterized by periods of instability and conflict following the war between Vietnam and the United States. A coup took place in 1970, with the forces of Lon Nol, which were backed by the United States, against the head of the government, the former King Norodom Sihanouk. This started a civil war between the Lon Nol forces and those backing King Sihanouk, including the Khmer Rouge. On 17 April 1975 the Khmer Rouge arrived in Phnom Penh city and declared the end of the civil war. They also renamed the country, the State of Democratic Kampuchea. People gathered in the streets cheering and welcoming the soldiers, however, the situation immediately became violent as the residents of Phnom Penh were forced out of the city and moved to the countryside.

Pol Pot, “Brother No.1” of the Khmer Rouge, wanted to build an agrarian-based, classless society based on communist ideology, saying that Democratic Kampuchea would begin again at Year Zero. A centrally controlled government led by a close circle of party members took over all decision-making powers. All institutions, including, religious, financial, educational, and the family unit, were abolished and private ownership, independent livelihoods, and unapproved sexual relations were outlawed. The population was put to work farming and building infrastructure to support the goals of the Khmer Rouge. This period was characterized by wholesale deprivation of food and basic necessities, the most basic of civil and human rights, rest and medical treatment, and family and human relationships.

From the arrival of the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh and throughout their rule anyone identified as being wealthy, educated, or connected to capitalism or previous regimes were systematically killed. Members of ethnic and religious minority groups were also subjected to the harshest persecution. Most of the population had to endure forced transfer and labor, arbitrary detention, as well as many cases of forced marriage. The violence was delivered on a massive scale, and included brutal beatings, mutilation, torture, sexual violence and widespread executions. Much of the population lived in fear of death and in a constant state of suffering. At the same time this was happening, the Khmer Rouge was waging a war against neighboring Vietnam and many young people were drafted into their ranks as child soldiers, servants and spies. In this terrible period in Cambodia’s history, it is estimated that around 1.7 million people died from starvation, torture, execution and forced labor before the Vietnamese army marched into Phnom Penh on 7 January 1979 and put an end to the nightmare.

Interviewee’s Background

Mrs. Sok Theam is 60 years old. She was born in Kandal Province and currently lives in Kratie Province, Cambodia. She has only one daughter and two grandsons. At present, she does housework, raises poultry, and takes care of her grandchildren. Mrs. Sok THEAM survived the Khmer Rouge regime. At that time, she was only 9 years old.

Below is the interview with Mrs. Sok Theam.

Ms. Sok THEAM (the woman on the left)

Interview

Q: Can you remember much about your everyday life before the conflict?

Yes. Before the conflict, I lived together in a family with 5 members: one father and four children. I am the third child.

Q: What was your home like then, your house and local area?

Well, it was a wooden house. My father was the head of the family, and worked as a farmer growing rice and tending crops, while we, the children, helped when we were free from our studies.

Q: Do you remember a particular friend or friends from that time?

I had about 15 friends at school, and many cousins who lived in nearby houses.

Q: As a child at that time, how much did you understand about what was happening around you?

At first, I thought everyone was being sent to work, but I didn’t understand why or who was giving the orders and no one could explain it.

Q: How does the adult around you explain what was going on?

Later, I saw someone who I had never known recording people’s names according to their families, grouping them as “capitalists” or “local residents.” If anyone made a mistake, their whole family would be arrested, investigated, and killed. I overheard people secretly saying that my father had been accused of destroying the rice seedlings. In reality, it was caused by the fish that had been released into the field to breed, but I didn’t know what was really happening. That was why they had not yet called my father to be executed.

Q: How did the conflict affect your family members?

During that time, none of my immediate relatives had been killed. However, I could no longer live together with my father and my three other siblings. I had no right to meet any of my family members. One day, I received news that my father was seriously ill. I was worried and wanted to see him to know about his condition, so I secretly went to meet him without letting anyone know. But I did not get to see him, because he had already been transferred to another unit. Before leaving, my father had left a message with his friend from the old unit, saying: “If any of my children come looking for me, and at that time I am no longer alive, please give one set of my clothes to my children.” When I heard these words, I lost all hope of ever seeing my father again. I was terrified and deeply worried. I didn’t even know how many members of my family I had already lost, because there was no news at all about my three other siblings.

Q: Was there one adult in particular who helped you most?

At that time, no one could help anyone else. Everyone had to do the work they were assigned. Because I was still young, I didn’t feel tired easily. Plowing the rice fields, building dikes, cutting grass, and twisting ropes were tasks that actually made me feel happy.

Q: Did your relationships with friends or brothers and sisters change during the period?

One day, in April, before the Khmer New Year, there was a gathering for everyone to listen to the new work assignments. All the work teams had to assemble together. It was at that moment that I saw the face of my second older sister, who was working as a vegetable picker in the women’s unit. My sister’s skin had become very dark and she looked extremely thin so much so that she was almost unrecognizable. I could not ask how my sister was doing, chat with her, or share any news, because I was afraid that others would find out we were sisters.

Q: When did you feel most afraid, and what helped you cope with the fear?

One day, the organization assigned me to pull weeds. While working, I complained, saying that pulling weeds in the rice seedlings was painful to the eyes. After I spoke, the team leader pointed at my face and warned me to stop saying such things. That was the moment I felt the most frightened. I was terrified that they would suddenly come and take me away to be killed.

Q: Was there anything you did to help you feel safer?

To keep myself safe, I had to work hard according to the assignments given to me. I could not be lazy or complain about anything at all. Because as long as I made no mistakes, I felt that I was safe, at least for the time being.

Q: How did the conflict affect your school life?

At that time, I was forced to stop my studies and could not continue learning because the organization had eliminated all schools and pagodas.

Q: Did you still find ways to play or have fun?

There was no time to play at all. During the day, I had to work. At night, the organization assigned me to teach the alphabet and basic literacy which I had learned before the conflict to other children in my group. This was because at that time, there was a slogan that said:

“Those who know more teach those who know less. Those who know less teach those who know nothing.”

Q: Are there any games, songs, or stories you associate with that time?

There were songs created by the organization, but sorry, I do not remember them.

Q: In what ways do you think your experiences at that time shaped you as you grew up? And do you think there are any values or strengths you developed as you grew up that can be connected to that period?

My childhood had no opportunity for proper schooling, no time to play or entertain, and I also received no warmth from my family. I was forced to live independently on my own, taking care of myself whether I was sick or healthy, whether the weather was hot or cold. I became a strong and resilient person, someone who knew how to survive by myself, hardworking, never lazy, and honest. These qualities became deeply ingrained habits in my mind from that time until now.

Q: Are there memories from that time that still remind you very strongly?

I was still young, I didn’t think too much and didn’t really feel tired. I still remember that my greatest enjoyment at that time was competing with other work teams to build dikes, without feeling exhausted at all.

Q: How do you feel when people talk about that conflict today?

Time has passed, I am now feeling somewhat numb about it and am no longer as shocked or emotionally affected as before.

Reflections

Mrs. Sok Theam’s experience is a deeply personal and heartbreaking glimpse into the brutality of life under the Khmer Rouge regime. Her story is not just about survival, but about the systematic destruction of family bonds, trust, and human dignity. What stands out most is how fear became a constant companion — not only the fear of death, but the fear of simply being seen as connected to one’s own family.

At the same time, her story shows quiet resilience. Though no adult could openly help her, her youth gave her some physical strength to endure the hard labor. Tasks like plowing fields and twisting ropes even brought her small moments of happiness — perhaps because they allowed her mind some temporary escape from the terror around her.

Mrs. Sok Theam’s testimony reminds us of the immense human cost of the Khmer Rouge period. Families were torn apart, children were forced to grow up too fast, and ordinary people lived in constant terror. Her words carry both pain and strength. Reading them, I feel grateful for the peace we have today, but also responsible to remember these stories so that such darkness is never repeated.

Her courage in sharing this painful memory deserves deep respect. It is through voices like hers that we truly understand the value of family, freedom, and humanity.

References

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2026, September 4). Khmer Rouge. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Khmer-Rouge

Gender-Based Violence under the Khmer Rouge. (n.d.). Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge regime. https://gbvkr.org/background/cambodia-and-the-khmer-rouge-regime/

HISTORY.com Editors. (2025, May 28). Khmer Rouge. History. https://www.history.com/articles/the-khmer-rouge

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. (n.d.). Origins of the Khmer Rouge. https://www.ushmm.org/genocide-prevention/countries/cambodia/origins-of-the-khmer-rouge

Researcher

Hello everyone! My name is Sen Sonita. I am 29 years old. I work as a teacher of English at Cheasim Chamreounroth High school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. With 10 years of experience in teaching English to Elementary students, I am truly passionate about helping my students build confidence in speaking and using English in their daily lives. I strongly believe that English is a powerful key that opens many doors to new opportunities and different cultures. In my free time, I enjoy embroidering on fabric, traveling, admiring unique architecture and building designs and trying new delicious foods. I also love reading books and listening to music. I am excited to connect with new friends and share knowledge through this platform!  Thank you very much for inviting me to be a part of this research.