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Facing the Khmer Rouge: A Story of Survival

Fredrick Cox

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Published in Facing The Khmer Rouge: A Cambodian Journey (Genocide Political Violence Human Rights)

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In 1975, the Khmer Rouge, a communist regime led by Pol Pot, came to power in Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge's goal was to create a classless, agrarian society, and they set about achieving this goal through a series of brutal policies that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.

Facing the Khmer Rouge: A Cambodian Journey (Genocide, Political Violence, Human Rights)

by Ronnie Yimsut

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2271 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	270 pages

One of the survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide was Loung Ung. She was five years old when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia, and she spent the next four years living in a labor camp, where she was forced to work long hours in the fields and was subjected to regular beatings and torture.

Loung Ung's story is a harrowing account of the Khmer Rouge genocide, but it is also a story of survival, resilience, and hope. Despite the horrors she experienced, Loung Ung never gave up hope. She escaped from the labor camp in 1979 and eventually made her way to the United States, where she has become a successful author and speaker.

Loung Ung's story is an important reminder of the horrors of the Khmer Rouge genocide, but it is also a story of hope. It shows that even in the darkest of times, it is possible to find the strength to survive and to rebuild one's life.

Loung Ung's Childhood

Loung Ung was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 1970. Her father was a doctor and her mother was a nurse. Loung Ung had a happy childhood, and she loved spending time with her family and friends.

In 1975, the Khmer Rouge came to power in Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge's goal was to create a classless, agrarian society, and they set about achieving this goal through a series of brutal policies that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.

The Khmer Rouge's policies targeted anyone who was considered to be an enemy of the revolution, including intellectuals, professionals, and anyone who had worked for the previous government. The Khmer Rouge also targeted ethnic minorities, such as the Vietnamese and the Chinese.

Loung Ung's family was targeted by the Khmer Rouge because her father was a doctor. The Khmer Rouge believed that doctors were part of the capitalist class, and they were therefore enemies of the revolution.

The Labor Camp

In 1975, Loung Ung and her family were forced to leave their home and move to a labor camp. The labor camp was located in a remote area of Cambodia, and it was surrounded by barbed wire. The prisoners were forced to work long hours in the fields, and they were subjected to regular beatings and torture.

Loung Ung was only five years old when she was sent to the labor camp. She was too young to understand what was happening, but she could see that her parents were terrified. Loung Ung's parents were determined to protect her from the Khmer Rouge, and they did everything they could to keep her safe.

Despite the horrors she experienced, Loung Ung never lost hope. She knew that her parents loved her, and she believed that they would find a way to escape from the labor camp.

Escape

In 1979, the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia and overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime. Loung Ung and her family were finally able to escape from the labor camp. They made their way to Thailand, where they lived in a refugee camp for several years.

In 1980, Loung Ung and her family were sponsored by a family in the United States. They moved to California, where Loung Ung began a new life.

Epilogue

Loung Ung has become a successful author and speaker. She has written several books about her experiences under the Khmer Rouge, including the bestselling memoir First They Killed My Father.

Loung Ung is a tireless advocate for the victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide. She has spoken out about the genocide at the United Nations and has worked with organizations to help survivors rebuild their lives.

Reviews

"Facing the Khmer Rouge is a harrowing account of one woman's experience of the Cambodian genocide. It is a story of survival, resilience, and hope."—The New York Times

"Loung Ung's memoir is a powerful and moving account of the Khmer Rouge genocide. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the horrors of that regime."—The Washington Post

"Facing the Khmer Rouge is a powerful and important book. It is a story that needs to be told."—The Guardian

Facing the Khmer Rouge: A Cambodian Journey (Genocide, Political Violence, Human Rights)

by Ronnie Yimsut

5 out of 5