Pol Pot War Analysis
For centuries, wars continue to occur throughout the world, there are multiple wars that we all forget. The Cambodian Civil War: Pol Pot was one of the major war and the only a small number survived the War. Those survived are now close to retirement as the Cambodian Civil War: Pol Pot War ended in 1979.
Not many people know about the war as few survived and only some people are willing to talk about the Pol Pot War because it brings back “terrible” memories.
Chou Onn, 58 is one of the lucky handfuls who survived and are able to talk about it, to let the younger generation know how hard it was for them to live during those times.
Although some people survived living through the Pol Pot War, a large number of people died within a couple years after as the result of little medical support, …show more content…
malnutrition, and overworking in their past years.
The family is the most important thing to a large number of the people. Chou is the middle child from a family of six with two older brothers and two younger sisters.
Growing up with siblings we would have fun and enjoy our childhood life but “there was absolutely no time at all for the family. Every day it was all about work. Work started early as four in the morning and sometimes till eleven at night.” Chou stated.
Anyone who could work had to work. For those who couldn’t were sent to different areas to be looked after. Children under seven years old would have been looked after a woman aged around sixty.
Everyone was separated elderlies, males, females, and children all went in different direction. They were segregated.
Living in New Zealand for about seven years, Chou has spotted that the current generations are “lucky” to be living now with different variety and plentiful supply of food, a better health care and community.
Food for Chou was limited, the only food they were given was plain “flavourless” rice porridge. Rationing played a tremendous part in the society, they were given only two meal times a day, this was not enough for them to have to energy to work 18 hours.
There was so little food some people would go to the extreme by considering to eat each other, “eating humans”.
Chou had heard a gruesome story of “an orphan boy seven years old at the time, knew a family friend who had offered him potato that she stole.” But this was a lie she wanted to trick him.
She was so hungry and desperate for food, she wanted to eat him. “Since he was younger he had more energy than her although, they both had little to nothing to eat so he managed to escape with a small cut to his throat. And to this day, he is still alive.”
The followers of the Communists Party of Kampuchea known as The Khmer Rouge overruled the government.
The Khmer Rouge did nothing to benefit the country, only bringing the country down into a ditch as their punishments were diabolical.
If you ever had done anything wrong you would be brutally punished. Khmer rouge would not punish you by immediate gunshot or hang. “Hands tied behind your back and with a large stick-like piece of wood, they would hit from behind at the base of the neck.” This was done far away from urban areas. Once hit, you were thrown into a ditch. The Khmer Rouge would take your clothes and leave you behind. “They did not care if you were dead or still alive”.
Another way of punishment was done in front of the
community.
Chou recalled remembering that her father had seen with his own eyes. “A female teenager, 16 was tied to a post and the Khmer Rouge had gutted her organs out. This was done to make her suffer.” This was the result of her father stealing food for his family. Khmer Rouge wanted the community to know what the consequences would be and that this was a lesson to all.
During those years, Chou said, “there are houses but no-one is there, there are roads but no cars, no bikes, nobody... dark and dead SILENT.”
Although this was the last war Cambodia had, there are still wars all over the world. People living in countries that had wars in the past, or are still in war are suffering, this is not an easy time.
“We all need to be grateful that New Zealand is not at war, we have a place to call home, friends and family surrounding us”.
Not many people know about the war as few survived and only some people are willing to talk about the Pol Pot War because it brings back “terrible” memories.
Chou Onn, 58 is one of the lucky handfuls who survived and are able to talk about it, to let the younger generation know how hard it was for them to live during those times.
Although some people survived living through the Pol Pot War, a large number of people died within a couple years after as the result of little medical support, …show more content…
malnutrition, and overworking in their past years.
The family is the most important thing to a large number of the people. Chou is the middle child from a family of six with two older brothers and two younger sisters.
Growing up with siblings we would have fun and enjoy our childhood life but “there was absolutely no time at all for the family. Every day it was all about work. Work started early as four in the morning and sometimes till eleven at night.” Chou stated.
Anyone who could work had to work. For those who couldn’t were sent to different areas to be looked after. Children under seven years old would have been looked after a woman aged around sixty.
Everyone was separated elderlies, males, females, and children all went in different direction. They were segregated.
Living in New Zealand for about seven years, Chou has spotted that the current generations are “lucky” to be living now with different variety and plentiful supply of food, a better health care and community.
Food for Chou was limited, the only food they were given was plain “flavourless” rice porridge. Rationing played a tremendous part in the society, they were given only two meal times a day, this was not enough for them to have to energy to work 18 hours.
There was so little food some people would go to the extreme by considering to eat each other, “eating humans”.
Chou had heard a gruesome story of “an orphan boy seven years old at the time, knew a family friend who had offered him potato that she stole.” But this was a lie she wanted to trick him.
She was so hungry and desperate for food, she wanted to eat him. “Since he was younger he had more energy than her although, they both had little to nothing to eat so he managed to escape with a small cut to his throat. And to this day, he is still alive.”
The followers of the Communists Party of Kampuchea known as The Khmer Rouge overruled the government.
The Khmer Rouge did nothing to benefit the country, only bringing the country down into a ditch as their punishments were diabolical.
If you ever had done anything wrong you would be brutally punished. Khmer rouge would not punish you by immediate gunshot or hang. “Hands tied behind your back and with a large stick-like piece of wood, they would hit from behind at the base of the neck.” This was done far away from urban areas. Once hit, you were thrown into a ditch. The Khmer Rouge would take your clothes and leave you behind. “They did not care if you were dead or still alive”.
Another way of punishment was done in front of the
community.
Chou recalled remembering that her father had seen with his own eyes. “A female teenager, 16 was tied to a post and the Khmer Rouge had gutted her organs out. This was done to make her suffer.” This was the result of her father stealing food for his family. Khmer Rouge wanted the community to know what the consequences would be and that this was a lesson to all.
During those years, Chou said, “there are houses but no-one is there, there are roads but no cars, no bikes, nobody... dark and dead SILENT.”
Although this was the last war Cambodia had, there are still wars all over the world. People living in countries that had wars in the past, or are still in war are suffering, this is not an easy time.
“We all need to be grateful that New Zealand is not at war, we have a place to call home, friends and family surrounding us”.