Almost 40 years ago, the “killing fields” came into
existence. What are the “killing fields”? This was a term coined by
Cambodian journalist Dith Pran whose story was depicted in the 1984 movie by
that name. In introducing the presenter at the May 6, 2012 meeting of the
Pattaya City Expats Club, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg explained
that club member David Garmaise’s hobby is to make video clips from movies
and other video sources to share with others.
Board member Richard Smith
updates PCEC members and guests on some of the clubs activities for the
week.
David explained that unlike his previous more light
hearted themes, what he would share today was entitled “A Journey through
the Killing Fields” and consisted of various clips from the 1984 film. He
said he would intersperse the video clips with some commentary about what
the movie depicts, which is a dramatization of real events that took place
in Cambodia. The Killing Fields are a number of sites in Cambodia where
large numbers of people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime,
during its rule of the country from 1975 to 1979, immediately after the end
of the Cambodian Civil War. David cautioned that a few of the scenes were
disturbing.
The film is based on the experiences of two journalists: Cambodian Dith Pran
played by Haing Ngor and American Sydney Schanberg played by Sam Waterston.
David mentioned that Haing Ngor, who played Pran, was a Cambodian doctor who
was also a victim of the Khmer Rouge and like Pran escaped from Cambodia.
The movie starts in Phnom Penh in May 1973 with Schanberg returning to
Cambodia where he learns from Pran that an American B-52 bombed a town in
Cambodia by mistake. The first video clip presented involves Schanberg’s not
being allowed by a US Army major to go to the area and how he and Pran went
by boat to the area and what their visit revealed.
Pattaya
City Expats were fortunate to have another of fellow member David Garmaises
movie presentations on the 6th of May. This time it was a more serious
topic, titled ‘At Trip Through ‘The Killing Fields’.
The next and subsequent scenes shown by David take place in 1975. The
embassies are being evacuated in anticipation of the arrival of the Khmer
Rouge and Schanberg secures evacuation for Pran, his wife and their four
children. However, Pran insists that he would stay behind to help Schanberg.
His family leaves. Later scenes show what transpired shortly after and how
they wind up at the French Embassy and stay there for several days, awaiting
their chance to evacuate. Informed that the Khmer Rouge have ordered all
Cambodian citizens in the embassy to be handed over and fearing the embassy
will be overrun, the embassy complies. Pran is turned over to the Khmer
Rouge and is forced to live under their totalitarian regime.
After returning to New York City, Schanberg is in the midst of a personal
campaign to locate Pran. He has appealed to many humanitarian organizations
and has kept in close contact with Pran’s family in San Francisco. In
Cambodia, Pran has become a forced laborer under the Khmer Rouge’s “Year
Zero” policy, a return to the agrarian ways of the past. Pran labors in rice
fields and is forced to attend propagandist classes.
A popular PCEC special
interest group is ‘Frugal Freddy’, organised by ‘Hawaii Bob’ Sutterfield,
2nd from left. Frugal Freddy’s theme is finding and dining at Pattaya’s
better quality but inexpensive restaurants. Here a happy group enjoys the
fine Indian food of Baadshah Restaurant, on Third Road.
As intellectuals are made to disappear, Pran feigns
simple-mindedness. Eventually, he tries to escape. Before he is recaptured,
he slips into a muddy cesspool filled with rotting human corpses; in doing
so, he stumbles upon the infamous killing fields where Cambodian citizens
were murdered by the new order. Another scene shows Schanberg receiving a
journalism award for his Cambodia coverage. At the acceptance dinner he
tells the audience that half the recognition for the award belongs to Pran.
David concluded the presentation by showing the scenes where Pran makes his
way to the border after escaping again and sees a Red Cross camp near the
border of Thailand. The scene shifts to Schanberg calling Pran’s family with
the news that Pran is alive and safe. Soon after, Schanberg travels to the
Red Cross camp and is reunited with Pran. Asking Pran to forgive him, Pran
answers, with a smile, “Nothing to forgive, Sydney”, as the two embrace and
John Lennon’s song Imagine is heard in the background.
Journalist Dith Pran is
recaptured following his first escape from the Khmer Rouge. Dith Pran’s part
was played by fellow Cambodian Dr Haing Ngor, who had similarly lived
through and escaped from the Khmer Rouges anti - intellectual reforms.
Richard then updated everyone on upcoming events and
called on Roy Albiston to conduct the always interesting and lively Open
Forum where questioned are asked and answered about expat living in
Thailand; Pattaya in particular. The Pattaya City Expats Club meets every
Sunday at the Amari Orchid’s Tavern by the Sea Restaurant. Read more about
the Club’s activities on their website at www. pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
PSC
are always happy to help the Camillian Social Centre so it was agreed that we
should buy some rice for the children. “Come along today,” said Paul, “and we
could go to the wholesaler and buy what was needed.” But we would need a vehicle
to transport the rice to the centre. What we found could hardly be described as
a limousine but it would suffice.
While
we were having lunch with Father Peter, visitors and staff, which is always a
pleasure, the rice was unloaded which provided the children with a new toy for
climbing and food for the next 6 months. What more could you ask for?
