Journal Entries
These journal entries are created to represent the public opinion as the the civil war in Cambodia ends. They are by a young girl, and follow through the movement of the population into the work camps in the countryside. The entries allow one to see the way Cambodians were victimized by their new government.
April 12, 1975
Dear Diary,
Today the civil war has finally ended! My mother said that finally the country will be at peace under a government. Everyone in the village was ecstatic as the new soldiers marched into the city, but they didn't look nearly as excited as we were. No one really knows what life will be like under this new government, mother just hopes that they will treat everyone well. In my opinion, they all look sort of scary. They gave everyone mean looks as the marched, and none of them seemed to be very nice. I guess I don't know much about government. I'm just happy that the war that killed my brother is finally over.
Sincerely,
Mealea Nimol
April 21, 1965
Dear Diary,
We are being forced to march out of the town. The Americans are planning a bombing on the city so we all had to evacuate. They didn't let us bring any of our belongings, and none of the soldiers were very nice about it. Everyone was yelling and some people were even killed. I'm not sure why but it must have been because they were acting badly. No one really knows where we are going. The first day of travel was not that bad, but the soldiers are still being really mean, and we haven't met any of the new leaders, all they say is “Angkar.” Hopefully the place they take us will be good.
Sincerely,
Mealea Nimol
May 10, 1965
Dear Diary,
We have gotten to the camp just a few days ago. It is very scary here. I am alone with my sister, they separated our family, and said this is how we will be living for the rest of our lives. Soldiers have started killing a lot of people. We don't see it, but we watch them take people to the woods and we can hear them scream. I hope my mother hasn't been killed, and every time I hear a scream I pray it isn't hers. The soldiers come in every morning and make us go to work. The work is very hard, and I get very hungry all the time. I hate it here, it's very scary, and I wish we didn't have to live like this.
Sincerely,
Mealea Nimol
April 12, 1975
Dear Diary,
Today the civil war has finally ended! My mother said that finally the country will be at peace under a government. Everyone in the village was ecstatic as the new soldiers marched into the city, but they didn't look nearly as excited as we were. No one really knows what life will be like under this new government, mother just hopes that they will treat everyone well. In my opinion, they all look sort of scary. They gave everyone mean looks as the marched, and none of them seemed to be very nice. I guess I don't know much about government. I'm just happy that the war that killed my brother is finally over.
Sincerely,
Mealea Nimol
April 21, 1965
Dear Diary,
We are being forced to march out of the town. The Americans are planning a bombing on the city so we all had to evacuate. They didn't let us bring any of our belongings, and none of the soldiers were very nice about it. Everyone was yelling and some people were even killed. I'm not sure why but it must have been because they were acting badly. No one really knows where we are going. The first day of travel was not that bad, but the soldiers are still being really mean, and we haven't met any of the new leaders, all they say is “Angkar.” Hopefully the place they take us will be good.
Sincerely,
Mealea Nimol
May 10, 1965
Dear Diary,
We have gotten to the camp just a few days ago. It is very scary here. I am alone with my sister, they separated our family, and said this is how we will be living for the rest of our lives. Soldiers have started killing a lot of people. We don't see it, but we watch them take people to the woods and we can hear them scream. I hope my mother hasn't been killed, and every time I hear a scream I pray it isn't hers. The soldiers come in every morning and make us go to work. The work is very hard, and I get very hungry all the time. I hate it here, it's very scary, and I wish we didn't have to live like this.
Sincerely,
Mealea Nimol
