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A TRIBUTE
to Loved Ones Lost to the Khmer Rouge
Kerry Hamill with Gail
My brother, Kerry Hamill, was a beautiful, strong, courageous and much loved man. He was the eldest of five children growing up by the sea in New Zealand. We had a blessed childhood, full of friends, fun, adventure and family. It was a childhood that fostered Kerry’s love of the sea and sailing but this love would ultimately bring about his premature death. During his version of New Zealand’s youth traditional OE (overseas experience), in August 1978 Kerry unknowingly sailed into Cambodian waters and was seized by the Khmer Rouge navy, taken to Toul Sleng prison (S21) where he was tortured and murdered.
Kerry, you and our brother John are with me always. I mourn for the loss of your life, the lost experiences of joy and love that the future held for you; the uncle that my children were never to meet and the future family of your own that was taken from you.
My search for your boat ‘Foxy Lady’ and your final resting place, where ever that may be and in whatever form that may take, continues so that one day I may bring you home to ‘Rest in Peace’.
- Rob Hamill: Olympian; civil party in the Extraordinary Chambers (ECCC) www.brothernumberone.co.nz
In loving memory of KAO Im, a former teacher and Lon Nol's military commander, "disappeared" from Wat Champa (outskirt of Phnom Penh) in April 1975, a few days after Phnom Penh fell. His wife, Eat, was killed 3 years later at Boeung Rai prison (mid-1978). They are survived by their five children (Theary Seng and her brothers Mardi, Sina, Lundi and Daravuth.) Date of photo unknown.
In loving memory of Eap SENG (far left) who was brutally killed hugging her newly-wed husband along with the rest of their village, Eat SENG (middle) who was brutally killed along with the rest of the prison population of Boeung Rai (save her children) - sisters to An, Eng, Ani, Ry (far right), Renee and aunt and mother to Mardi, Sina, Lundi, Theary and Daravuth. Photo at the Wat Koh home, probably taken in 1974.
In loving memory of UY Pierom as remembered by Artist/poet Chath pier Sath; pointing to his drawing of his brother UY Pierom who died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, along with Pierom's wife and all his in-laws. Both of Chath's parents also died when he was very young, one before 1975, the other immediately after the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia. "I don't really remember my brother that much. He was the oldest. I was too young to remember, but I do remember the night the Khmer Rouge came, we were all together as a family, my brother Pierom, his wife, children and in-laws. However, during the evacuation, we got separated. It was only after the Khmer Rouge that my mother knew of his fate and the fate of his family. He was a Lon Nol soldier fighting against the Vietcong on the American side. He was with my father when my father was shot and killed in battle. This is all I can remember." - Chath pier Sath
The first one is of my sister Geak Ung, Mother Chourng Ung, and sister Keav Ung. (We lost Geak when she was 4 years-old; and Keav when she was fourteen during the KR). The second of is of my father Seng Ung. In remembrance of my family and the Khmer people; for theirs are not only the voices of war, but testimonies of love, family, beauty, humor, strength, and courage. ~ Loung Ung (author, activist).
Click here for MORE TRIBUTES . . .
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We want to put a FACE and a NAME to the cold
figure of 1.7 M.
WE NEED YOUR HELP !
If you would like to honor your loved ones lost during the Khmer Rouge regime (April 1975 to Jan. 1979) via this webpage or that of Association of Khmer Rouge Victims (AKRVC) or both, please provide the following info:
- Photo(s) or drawing(s) of loved ones lost
- Names (official, nicknames etc.) and as much biographical information (date of birth, place of birth, when/where "disappeared" or killed or passed away and under what circumstances)
- Your personal message of remembrance of loved one(s)
- Your name and relationship to the loved ones.
Half to one-full webpage will be dedicated to your loved ones in a Survivors' Remembrance of their Loved Ones slideshow.
Write either in Khmer or English; both websites will have Khmer webpages to accommodate this journey of collective remembrance.
Please indicate where you would like this remembrance be posted (this webpage, at www.akrvc.org, or both).
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Mia Farrow, Theary Seng handing lotus flowers to military police who returned the gesture with violence, after failing repeated to negotiate to lay them at the gate of Tuol Sleng, 20 Jan. 2008.
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