Khieu Kanharith: a life of resilience recounted in the new book ‘Survivre!’

A new book entitled ‘Survive!’ offers an insight into the life of Khieu Kanharith, a prominent Cambodian politician and former Minister of Information, while retracing the turbulent history of Cambodia at the end of the 20th century.

Written by Pierre Gillette and Leang Delux, this 150-page account delves into Kanharith's personal and political journey, against a backdrop of profound upheaval in the country.

A youth shaped by Cambodia's tumultuous history

Khieu Kanharith's story begins in Phnom Penh, where he was born in 1951. His early years were spent studying at the Royal University of Law and Economics, but this was abruptly interrupted by the Khmer Rouge regime in 1975. The book chronicles his survival strategies during this period and reflects not only Mr Kanharith's resilience, but also the broader struggles that Cambodians faced during decades of conflict and reconstruction.

The Cambodian People's Party and political evolution

As a key member of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), Kanharith played an important role in the construction of modern Cambodia. ‘Survive!’ highlights his contributions to the reconstruction of the nation, from his beginnings at the newspaper Kampuchea in the 1980s to his tenure as Minister of Information from 2004 to 2023. The story also highlights the internal challenges within the CPP and the external pressures at pivotal moments, including the defeat of Khmer Rouge strongholds and Cambodia's return to relative peace in 1998.

A collaborative effort to preserve history

This bilingual project, written in French with a translation into Khmer to come, was made possible thanks to a partnership between ThmeyThmey Digital Media and Sipar, an NGO dedicated to promoting literacy in Cambodia.

Through ‘Survive!’, the story of Khieu Kanharith's life becomes a window through which readers can explore the complex history of Cambodia, a tale of endurance, transformation and hope.

This book is available at a price of 40,000 riels.

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