Below are two maps of the Khmer resistance camps at the Thai-Khmer border bewteen 1979 and 1990.
During one of my visit to Cambodia, I met Saroeun, a friend from Ampil camp, who was a logistician soldier. He brought foods for the Khmer soldiers stationned at the nothern border of Cambodia, from Poipet to Anlong Veng. I told him that I am interested in visiting the old camps especially Rithy Sen (Ban Sagnae on the map) and Nong Chan. Surprisingly he told me that these two camps are occupied by the Thai military and are now part of Thailand. It is strange to me as I used to know that these two camps are on the Khmer territory and remember that just behind the camps, it was the border where Thai soldiers stationned behind the dyke-barrier.
I would also be interested in re-doing the same trip between Rithy Sen and Ampil as in 1984. During that year on April 17, the camps were under fierce fire of the Vietnamese army and schools were closed. Under the bombs and bullets, we moved to Site 1 camp, north of Ampil Camp, at the feets of Dangrek Mountain. As everything was closed, we got bore to stay in that crowded Site 1 camp. With some friends, we decided to go to visit relatives in Rithy Sen camp (I think it was in July or August 1984). To go to Rithy Sen (illegally of course), we had to cross:
- Ampil Camp where there were only soldiers on high alert
- Two or theree dangerous Khmer Rouge Camps
- Mine fields between each camp where Vietnamese soldiers can show up any time and gunned us down.
In spite of the dangers and the interdiction from the teachers/administration to do such trip to Rithy Sen, we decided to go anyway. On the way Site 1 - Rithy Sen, I was with Hok, Vansak, Vuthy and some others which I didn't remember clearly. A soldier brought us to the edge of Ampil Camp and showed us the direction to follow. He just told us to be careful of the mines and the Vietnamese soldiers (if there were Vietnamese soldiers presence, Khmer rouges soilders will fire and we will end up in a sandwich between the bullets and mines). The soldier wished us good luck (Sok Sabay Tham Plov).
We arrived at the no-man's land zone where there are only mines and a small path to follow to arrive at a Khmer Rouge camp (which I forget the name). Going out of that small path, our death would be guaranteed. Arriving at the Khmer Rouge camp, we were frighten to see them again but they looked kind toward us. They just asked us where we go. We followed our way in the forests near the border with fear in the stomach. From time to time, when we were too tired of the long walk, we got a break. We admired the old abondonned Khmer Angkorian temples. I remember Vansak said that in the near future Thailand will take over all these temples along the border... We continued our walk, crossing from time to time Khmer Rouge Soldiers on patrol. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived in a Khmer Rouge base called Phnom Chatt. We saw some Khmer Rouge soldiers cooking near the check-point (we would like they inviisted us to join them eating :-) -- I don't remember whether we ate sometihng during that day walking). They asked us where we go and then allowed us to follow our trip, across their camp. After that camp, I knew that Rithy Sen was not so far. We arrived in Rithy Sen camp late in the evening. I was happy to see the family after more than two years.
To be continue... On the way back from Rithy Sen to Ampil where we were almost sure that at least one of us was going to walk on mines....
I would also be interested in re-doing the same trip between Rithy Sen and Ampil as in 1984. During that year on April 17, the camps were under fierce fire of the Vietnamese army and schools were closed. Under the bombs and bullets, we moved to Site 1 camp, north of Ampil Camp, at the feets of Dangrek Mountain. As everything was closed, we got bore to stay in that crowded Site 1 camp. With some friends, we decided to go to visit relatives in Rithy Sen camp (I think it was in July or August 1984). To go to Rithy Sen (illegally of course), we had to cross:
- Ampil Camp where there were only soldiers on high alert
- Two or theree dangerous Khmer Rouge Camps
- Mine fields between each camp where Vietnamese soldiers can show up any time and gunned us down.
In spite of the dangers and the interdiction from the teachers/administration to do such trip to Rithy Sen, we decided to go anyway. On the way Site 1 - Rithy Sen, I was with Hok, Vansak, Vuthy and some others which I didn't remember clearly. A soldier brought us to the edge of Ampil Camp and showed us the direction to follow. He just told us to be careful of the mines and the Vietnamese soldiers (if there were Vietnamese soldiers presence, Khmer rouges soilders will fire and we will end up in a sandwich between the bullets and mines). The soldier wished us good luck (Sok Sabay Tham Plov).
We arrived at the no-man's land zone where there are only mines and a small path to follow to arrive at a Khmer Rouge camp (which I forget the name). Going out of that small path, our death would be guaranteed. Arriving at the Khmer Rouge camp, we were frighten to see them again but they looked kind toward us. They just asked us where we go. We followed our way in the forests near the border with fear in the stomach. From time to time, when we were too tired of the long walk, we got a break. We admired the old abondonned Khmer Angkorian temples. I remember Vansak said that in the near future Thailand will take over all these temples along the border... We continued our walk, crossing from time to time Khmer Rouge Soldiers on patrol. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived in a Khmer Rouge base called Phnom Chatt. We saw some Khmer Rouge soldiers cooking near the check-point (we would like they inviisted us to join them eating :-) -- I don't remember whether we ate sometihng during that day walking). They asked us where we go and then allowed us to follow our trip, across their camp. After that camp, I knew that Rithy Sen was not so far. We arrived in Rithy Sen camp late in the evening. I was happy to see the family after more than two years.
To be continue... On the way back from Rithy Sen to Ampil where we were almost sure that at least one of us was going to walk on mines....
