From Revolution to Burying the Dead: Keo Sam Art's Khmer Rouge Journey

In an interview granted to the Documentation Center of Cambodia team, 65-year-old Keo Sam Art recounts her journey, from her entry into the revolution against the Lon Nol regime to being tasked with treating the wounded and burying the dead.

Photo above: A group of nurses prepare traditional medicines during the Democratic Kampuchea regime (1975-1979). DC-Cam Archives

“On March 18, 1970, during the coup d’état that overthrew Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the residents of Chiphuch commune fled into the Maki forest. At that time, about ten of my brothers and sisters and I joined the revolution to serve the nation and the people. Even though I was a woman, I joined the movement. It was my uncle Chap, who lived in Veang village in Chiphuch commune, Mesang district, who told me about the revolution and encouraged me to join it.

He also told me that all the villagers my age had already joined the revolution. I first joined the resistance in Chiphuch commune in the village’s female unit. The female guerrilla units were responsible for transporting the sick or wounded who had fought against the Vietnamese army during the Svay Rieng battle to the hospital for treatment.

In addition, every evening, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., we were given lessons on the revolution by the Angkar. I still remember the group leader who proclaimed to us:

‘We must work together to build a revolution to liberate the country and the people from the Lon Nol regime.’

In February 1972, I went to work at P-101 Eastern Zone 203, a regional hospital intended to treat soldiers wounded on the battlefield. The location of P-101 was in Trapeang Sre commune, Mesang district, Prey Veng province. The Angkar wanted to recruit competent and responsible people there. After evaluating my skills and sense of responsibility, the Angkar sent me to work under a hospital chief to learn basic surgery and care techniques.

On the first day, the P-101 hospital chief taught my team how to give injections on banana trees. My team and I were able to treat patients as early as the day after our training.

In 1973, I went for six months of medical training in the Suong region, Kampong Cham province. I remember the day a plane dropped a bomb on the place where I was studying. Fortunately, the bombing killed no doctors and only caused light injuries. I ran and hid in a pit to escape the gunfire. After the bombing, the Angkar sent the medical personnel back to study in their respective departments. I returned to study at P-101.

Later, I ended up marrying a surgeon through a marriage arranged by the Angkar, and I went back to live in Veang village. The guests at my wedding were cadres from two zones, Ta Sai and Ta Sa. There were no monks present, and only a few ‘priests’ came to perform the ceremony.

In 1974, I continued studying medicine for another six months in the same region.

‘I remember that the first step in learning medicine was to learn “politics first, then medical skills.”’

After completing my studies, I returned to work at P-101 to treat Khmer Rouge soldiers fighting Vietnamese soldiers during the Svay Rieng battle. The battle claimed about 70 soldiers per day. Some died on the battlefield while others passed away after being transported to the hospital.

After April 17, 1975, the head of the medical unit, Tal, told us that the Angkar would no longer allow us to stay in remote areas because we had defeated the Lon Nol regime. All doctors were sent to divisions 92 and 147 in Peam Ro district, Neak Loeung region. During this time, doctors and patients were sent to Neak Loeung.

Keo Sam Art, 65 years old, joined the revolution, then studied medicine, treated the wounded, and buried the dead. Pheng Pong-Rasy/Documentation Center of Cambodia

In 1977, the Angkar sent troops from the Southwest Zone to take control of the East Zone. Several chiefs holding the positions of Chief B and Chief C were killed by the party one by one. My medical unit was sent to treat patients at the Preah Ang Duong High School medical base in Prey Veng city. There, I saw the Khmer Rouge detain and kill many Eastern Zone military personnel. The soldiers who were thrown into detention never had enough food.

75 people died every night. My task was to treat the prisoners and bury the bodies in the eastern part of the temple, at Saing Samey pagoda. There was already a pit dug at that pagoda.

Later, my mother persuaded me to remarry a Khmer Rouge from the former Mesang district council. I had six children, but only three are still alive, and my husband has passed away. My children are now married and live with their families. As for me, I live alone.”

The author, Phea Raksmey, is a researcher at the Documentation Center of Cambodia. truthraksmey.p@dccam.org

With kind permission