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Phnom
Penh (Ah!)
EXTRA - THE KHMER ROUGE REVISITED
BY FILM
D. J. Ken - National Radio Text Service
Two films related to the impact of the Khmer Rouge atrocities were screened this past week that are worth a look. The US Embassy sponsored a presentation at the Chenla Theater July 19th that featured a film New Year Baby by Socheata Poeuv who was born in Cambodia but migrated to the United States. At the Bophana Audio/Visual Center the Pol Pot Mystery by Bouloi was screened - - Top 3 Phnom Penh stories
Phnom Penh, Cambodia Thursday July 22, 2010 NEW YEAR BABY Two films related to the impact of the Khmer Rouge atrocities were screened this past week that are worth a look. The US Embassy sponsored a presentation at the Chenla Theater July 19th that featured a film New Year Baby by Socheata Poeuv who was born in Cambodia but migrated to the United States with her parents when she was achild. The family returned to Cambodia years later to visit family and friends to hear and witness how their relative's lives were affected from the Khmer Rouge atrocities. The screening was in the Khmer language. An English language version will be screened at 8 PM Sunday July 25th at the Flick in Phnom Penh. The irony is this presentation was part of five by the US Embassy in celebration of 60 years of US-Cambodia diplomatic relations. That would date back to 1960. Since that time the US supported the Khmer Rouge, Lon Nol and carpet bombed Cambodia. The carpet bombing was pointed out by an attendee at a US Embassy presentation at Cambodia University several years ago when the guest was former US Ambassador to Laos Charles B. Salmon. When questioned about the bombing he replied that the US made mistakes. The bottom line is those admitted mistakes won't bring back the lives of many Cambodian families' murdered relatives. If it's good relations you're looking for if you do it with the USA... watch your back... FOR MORE INFO GO TO: www.khmerlegacies.org & www.NewYearBaby.net THE KHMER ROUGE REVISITED BY FILM At the Bophana Audio/Visual Center the Pol Pot Mystery by Bouloi was screened in its Khmer version. It cleared a lot of mystery regarding the death by hart attack of the former Khmer Rouge leader. It has been rumored that he never died. Despite government requests to inspect the body, it was cremated a few days later at Anlong Veng in the Khmer Rouge zone, raising strong suspicions that he committed suicide or was poisoned. This film puts that rumor to rest as it features journalist Nate Thayer who is credited with an interview with Pot. Thayer's first attempt to interview Pot was refused since Pot was to be tried by the Khmer Rouge. Pot told Thayer that he wouldn't talk to him until the trial was over. When he did it was brief. The film shows parts of their meeting as well a Pot's corpse prior to being cremated. Pot was placed on the mattress where he passed away and taken to an area and placed on top of a pile of tires and wood which was then set on fire. Throughout the Khmer language film there are interviews with former Khmer Rouge leaders and Cambodian King Sihanouk as well as video footage of the events during the genocide period. Other films screening at the Bophana Center this month include: July 22 - 6:30 PM - Cambodian Error July 24 - 4 PM - The Khmer Rouge: Power And Terror July 31 - 4 PM - Bitter Khmer Rouge TOP 3 PHNOM PENH STORIES A shocker occurred this month as it appears research is being done. Perhaps college students are taking Oliver Stones suggestion to study your history. We're proud to say having reported on activities in Cambodia for over a decade that most certainly qualifies as history. When you look at the pictures in the columns of then and realize what is missing now the history is clear as in many things are history and no longer exist. For starters tow of the top three were published in 2004. Former US Ambassador to Laos Charles Salmon speaking at the University of Cambodia regarding US foreign policy took the number one slot. The irony being is the theme of this column is about wars and the results of the Khmer Rouge atrocities. Salmon was asked about the US carpet bombing which evoked an uncomfortable reply. Ho Wah Genting took the number two spot. Ironically this company was sold to Khmer owners who have butchered the quality of service. They are now an abortion when before they were a well run and honest company. Filmmaker Oliver Stone took the third position when he talked to students at the University of Cambodia. His message was clear... STUDY YOUR HISTORY.
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