By Dr Ly Sok-Kheang Director of Anlong Veng Peace Center
Prah Mat stated in his confession dated August 20, 1977 that he was instructed to escape the Khmer Rouge (KR) regime and then to make a final decision on the escape along with other friends for the sake of survival. The escape was aimed at heading for Thailand, but it was an unsuccessful attempt.
Three of them were stopped and captured by the KR forces after more than ten days of an escape in the forest, while another friend went missing mysteriously. Mat’s confession was made as follow:
Mat’s birthplace was Kab Phluk village, Phleung Chheh Rorteah commune, Dangkor district, Kandal Province. His father’s name was Prah Nun (deceased) and his mother’s Thai Suon. Both produced baskets to make a living. Mat had six siblings (5 brothers and 1 sister). Before his marriage in 1968, Mat was living with his parents. Mat raised his family through various careers, be it an earth-carrying laborer, a house builder, a Chinese-like tomb constructor, and a four-wheel-bicycle-towed rider (or Reu-Mak in Khmer language). In October 1973, Kan, the commune chief, convinced Mat to serve as a militiaman to spy on the liberation army of the Khmer Rouge and also the people.
On April 17, 1975 Angkar evacuated Mat and his family to Theay village, Wat Ang commune, Touk Meas district, Region 35. Mat admitted that he did not make any dent in the Party’s guidelines between 1975 and 1977. Angkar also assigned Mat to work in two communes, Chuoch and Samrong—of the district for one month.
Upon returning to the village, Mat took some time to visit Ta Ny, whose house was just 8 meters away from his. Ta Ny asked Mat if he had caught up with any new developments. Mat responded: “No.” Ta Ny told Mat that during his time at the two communes, Angkar sent four persons for re-education and further said: “Anyone who were being sent for re-education never returned.” Ta Ny advised that there be a chance of survival if Mat was to escape. The conversation between the two was interrupted as people were walking in front of Ta Ny’s house.
At 7 p.m of the next day, the two continued the talk. Ta Ny said anyone who used to work for the former enemy’s side would be subsequently sent for reeducation. Ta Ny asked about Mat’s decision. At first, Mat was so reluctant given that the KR forces were everywhere. Ta Ny kept reminding Mat of being executed if he did not escape. Ta Ny further told Mat that: “You should believe in me. I am not lying. Before the escape, you should take a scarf from my wife as I informed her already.” By then, Mat agreed, and Ta Ny said Vuth and Sin would join the escape. The two abruptly ended their conversation again as they realized that the cooperative chief was just approaching them.
In the next morning, Mat worked as normal and indeed met with Vuth and Sin, whom Ta Ny also advised. Sin told Mat that Kem would join too. Mat also received confirmation from Vuth who set time and place to meet and escape: At 8 pm and an old sugar hall of Kantim village.
As planned, the four met and Kem even guaranteed that he would NOT let anyone in the group starve to death. However, all of us had to reach Thailand through the paths of Phnom La-ang and Tany. Having spent one day and one night, the four reached Kreang Leav mountain and suddenly heard a calf. Thanks to the tiredness and hunger, they tried to look for food and agreed in principle to walk toward the calf. Surprisingly, they found an ox cart man along with a child and two dogs. As the dogs kept barking unrelentlessly, each had no choice but to rush for a hide-out. As the ox cart man had left, Mat said Kem disappeared mysteriously. Despite Kem’s disappearance, Mat said three of them committed to continue their journey in order to reach Thailand.
Mat also confessed that he and his friends carried on with the journey for another ten days. They then encountered the KR forces who were safeguarding National Road No.4. The KR forces asked them and also brought them to their base. The three were provided with some food and then detained on August 20, 1977.
Mat’s confession also mentioned names and personal traits of two people: (1) Ta Ny, who was 60 years old and served as a member of Theay village cooperative’s economic sector, had 1.60-meter height with a fairly yellow skin, big head and eyes, golden upper teeth, a wound in the right leg, and two wives (one deceased) along with 7 children; and (2) Kem, who was 39 years old and served as a member of Theay village cooperative, had 1.65-meter height, dark skin, big body and head, normal eyes, mustard, a golden teeth in the jaw, and a wife along with 5 children. (DC-Cam Archive J00262)
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