MY REFLECTION: THE CHAM MUSLIMS

Kry Suy Heang

DC-Cam Outreach Staff



I recently made my first visit to Svay Khleang, a Cham Muslim village in Kampong Cham Province , well-known for its historical background in struggling for freedom against the Khmer Rouge regime. The visit provided me with much new information, both intellectual and spiritual.



Before arriving at Svay Khleang, reading a book written by Osman Ysa published by the Documentation Center of Cambodia (“The Cham Rebellion”) formed an image in my mind regarding the Cham community- in a word, solidarity. To prevent their religion from being destroyed through systematic persecution, the entire Cham community unanimously and audaciously stood up against Khmer Rouge's cruel treatment. Although they seemingly knew that it would result in disaster, they still fearlessly rose up against the Khmer Rouge. Ultimately, only 600 out of 6,200 Chams (1970's population figure) were able to survive the regime’s terror. (Osman Ysa, 2006.)



Our group of approximately 30 people from the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) arrived at the village on 21 October 2009 to spend 6-10 days in the local community. The aim of the program was to engage the local community in the ongoing Khmer Rouge tribunal through community education and potentially civil party status. Immediately upon arriving, I could feel the warmth of the villagers’ friendliness mixed with their simple and traditional lifestyle. What I had thought earlier about the Cham community was gradually becoming obvious after one particular occurrence - a crowd of daring children struggling for Num (cake) during the village forum. From a quick glance at this situation, one must have thought that these children were so vicious that they thought carelessly about their own safety.



However, at the same time, if we look deeper into the situation, these children have been equipped with the same sense of solidarity as their Cham elders. These children might believe that they must act as a whole if they want to get what they desire. Therefore, they'd better try it, despite knowing that sometimes their reward will be nothing. Only with such a small thing they were so cooperative. How about fighting for their own values and freedom? For sure, they would vigorously and courageously fight for it (particularly if we reflect on the case of the rebellion in late 1975).



I believe that a strong bond has been forged among the villagers, made stronger by their common culture and religion. For example, a huge number of enthusiastic villagers attended the forum on 25 October, where community leaders and DC-Cam staff spoke about the Khmer Rouge period, the Cham Rebellion against the Khmer Rouge, and the search for truth and accountability. There was also a screening of two short films: one with interviews of S-21 survivors and a S-21 guard, and one clip of Duch’s apology at the Tribunal. The villagers showed great interest in the film screening. In responding to Duch's apology, one elder male villager stood up and said that "it's not acceptable for he had killed so many people. So, how can an apology compensate for everything we lost, especially our family members' lives?"



From this remark, it can be seen that the fire of anger and the need for justice is still burns in their hearts and may never be put out unless real justice is achieved.



However, many of the Cham women whom I met seemed not to have such strong feelings. Although many of their family members had been killed during DK and they themselves have endured for such a long period of time, they are now content with living their lives and seem prepared to let bygones be bygones. A case in point is Yea Ti, who claimed that nearly 30 of her relatives had been massacred, and contrary to what I expected, she preferred not to fill out the victim’s complaint form.



I was amazed at her decision. After having talked to her, I realized that there were some significant reasons why she didn’t want to participate in the trial. To begin with, seeking justice for her is so long overdue that she has already reconciled herself to this broken society. She has been calmed by gradually allowing religion to control her. She inferred that time is a great healer by giving me an example that if she had known the perpetrator earlier, she would have publicly killed him by her own hand without any hesitation. However, she said, now it's been too long to have such a strong feeling of an eye for an eye. In return, she compared the term revenge as the growing climbing plant (Daem Voa). Then the Voa of vindictiveness will never cease growing if one keeps watering it. Therefore, "why not pull its roots out and throw it away so as to live with peace of mind." Also, she stated that she didn't know the real perpetrators. Particularly, she is now too old to think of revenge but prefers a peaceful life.



I do sympathize with her. Besides what she had mentioned, the rationale behind her position can be easily understood. As a matter of fact, after 1979 the majority of the survivors of Muslim community in Svay Khleang were women and children. As a result, they are more or less likely to still suffering not only on the inside but on the outside as well. Inside one is concerned with the great suffering of losing family members, while outside pressure forces them to re-integrate into the broken society with their empty hands. They are somehow fearful of anything that, through their own perspective, might cause them further harm or trouble.



Regardless of the terrible consequences of the Khmer Rouge regime that has scared the Cham people for life, they still endure the difficulties and live in a society with their own values and dignity intact. While a few choose to forget, a majority of them still continue to search for justice for all they have lost. I really appreciate them for their enthusiasm in searching for the truth - justice, the root of the vindictive Voa. As long as we cannot find its roots, never will we be able to effectively extinguish it completely, and the root continues growing. This wound of great suffering will never be effectively healed if we leave it alone. One day, the wound will come back and hurt us again when we touch it. To remedy it completely, seeking effective medicine - justice - will be the only way to handle such an unforgettable wound.



Some photos by Kith Serey: http://www.dccam.org/Projects/Living_Doc/Photos/2009/Forums/Svay-Khlaing_Kg-Cham_Oct-25_09/index.htm