Why I am a Journalist: Continued…
From a Daughter in Exile From her Own History
Dear Mr. Thayer,
I truly enjoy your many articles and writing that you have posted on your website. Growing up in the States and being around the Khmer community, I constantly remember old folks and even my grandfather blaming the genocide of the Khmer people on foreigners and the Vietnamese.
I recall my grandfather saying that everyone in the Khmer Rouge was Yuon because Khmers don’t kill Khmers. I didn’t understand his logic, but after reading your posting of KR personalities-Hu Nim, the section where Ta Mok said everyone he killed was a Youn, was an a-ha moment. His logic was the same as my grandfather, who was an officer in the Lon Nol army.
To grandpa, anybody that subscribed to ideas and thinking that was foreign and not-khmer centric was a blasphemous Khmer. He saw the Khmer Rouge as non-Khmer because they wanted to do away with old Cambodia society. Communism for him was introduced to Cambodia through the Vietnamese, therefore being a Communist was a being Yuon.
Ta Mok’s logic seemed that way with his reasoning of Khmer body, but Yuon heads. Also that meeting that you attended with the senior ranking Khmer Rouges, Ta Mok, Nuon Chea, and Khieu Samphan was the first I’ve read where the DK secrets about the apparatus were revealed.
Excellent, excellent work Mr. Thayer! I’m glad I’ve found your blog. I’ve tried to read your work whenever I could get my hands on it.
When I was in college in the late 90’s, I read your work in the Far Eastern Economic Review. I have always been interested in Southeast Asian and Khmer History ever since I was a kid. The Democratic Kampuchea era has always been an enigma to me and the closest to my family’s personal experience. Please continue with your wonderful work and expertise. I will continue to read your work.
Sincerely,
Tola Plong
