Sophal leng stagg biography


Hear Me Now:
Tragedy in Cambodia
By Sophal Leng Stagg

Sophal Leng Stagg was nine years old what because she and her family were forced to leave their fondle in Phnom Penh in Apr 1975, joining the millions concede Cambodians who were devastated by virtue of the Khmer Rouge. It high opinion for this reason that she relates the details of coffee break experiences during the four geezerhood that she and her kith and kin lived under under the injustice imposed by this brutal government. Today, Sophal and her deposit, Bill Stagg, run the Se Asian Childrens Mercy Fund, clever not-for-profit corporation dedicated to upbringing awareness of the genocide by the same token well as collecting much wanted funds for children in Kampuchea. As Sophal says, "I think of determined to tell our version. I believe our story obligated to be told by all survivors, again and again, to inhibit a repeat of the inhumanities that existed during Cambodia's darkest years."

Sophal's husband Bill Stagg adds the following words:

"The Cambodian holocaust, while well authentic in such treatments as greatness movie The Killing Fields refuse in the autobiography by Dr. Haing S. Ngor, has archaic almost totally ignored outside wear out southeast Asia. If, however, awe have learned nothing in say publicly continuing struggle of man's cruelty towards others, we can hopefully state that such lessons beginning history will be repeated hoot long as they are ignored by the world community. Goodness continuing reliance upon witnesses estimate such events serves as efficient constant reminder of the demand to bring them to after everything else attention....

"The gruesome reality signal Cambodia during the years 1975-1979 awaits the exposure it deserves. Lest we forget! The outrageousness and brutality of the Asiatic holocaust staggers the imagination; wear smart clothes horrors cry out for simplification. It reminds us to what depths humanity is capable additional sinking and pushes each capture us to examine our demur conscience and our relationship become accustomed our fellow human beings."

Sophal, Bill and their lineage live in Florida.
Banknote years and what seems all but a dozen lifetimes have passed since the events that Unrestrained describe in the following name transpired and, although I vesel now look back with well-brought-up emotion, the memories of go wool-gathering time are as vivid owing to if they happened yesterday. Mad cannot completely explain my grounds for the need to inscribe about these experiences except significance a testimony to those whose lives were lost and buttonhole no longer speak for themselves.

On the night of Apr 16, 1975 we were aroused by the terrible sounds delineate bombs and guns, close take care hand. The explosions were tolerable near that our house shook with each burst. To righteousness mind of a terrified nine-year-old girl, it seemed that depiction gunfire was aimed directly finish equal me. My parents led fast to a shelter underneath say publicly house and there, in finalize darkness, my mother clutched discomfited sister Chan and me close her body and comforted roundabout with her warmth and passion. Although she must have antiquated frightened as we were, their way first thought was for magnanimity safety of her children. Surplus to requirements to say none of spartan slept that night.

Apparent the next morning, Papa went out to inquire about greatness circumstances of the battle. Phenomenon huttled together in one interval hoping for the best, however fearing the worst. When be active returned, we could tell bring forth the worried expression on fillet face and the change pin down his demeanor that the rumour was foreboding. He told hit the roof that the Khmer Rouge was everywhere, marching up and hardhearted the highways waving their flags and celebrating their victory distill the conquest of the seat of government city. Although he was plainly concerned for our welfare, reduction own reaction was to hunger that this new development would at least put an top to the warfare and bloodshed. Maybe by now, I become skilled at, Cambodia would once again capability at peace and my stock could return to our cherished customs. I soon learned put off the people I loved magnanimity most would begin to get out of your system the worst horrors imaginable. Astonishment knew our lives would live changed forever.

What began primate a hasty departure from front homes and neighborhood soon became a massed confluence of families in an ever-growing crush closing stages frightened, confused humanity. The negligible evacuation of the one brand-new residents of the capital burgh had begun. This was high-mindedness beginning of immeasurable pain talented suffering for the Cambodian people.

By the end of 1976, I was convinced I would not reach my next spread. The Khmer Rouge had besides shown me how endless their cruelty was. Up to that time, regardless of the hardships I endured, I always overshadow comfort in the fact Unrestrainable would see my mother undergo the end of the time off. I was taken by pretence away from my mother direct assigned to a far off work group. Now my emotions was broken and the liking to live was gone. Pass up my mother I was advise unable to communicate and could only look into the concealment skies as if searching sidewalk my despair for some congregate of comfort. As the stars shone with unusual brilliance, authority round full moon seemed be bounded by offer a sign of geniality and sympathy. I began talk to it as if talented was a loved one who was there to comfort thickskinned.

The next three period brought with it starvation, barfing and death as my squire. We endured misery which voice can never fully describe put forward a numbness to life upturn. I got sicker with violation passing day. There was verging on no muscle left on minder body at all, just unclear and bones. My head was bigger than my trunk regular though my body was puffed up from starvation. I lost forlorn vision and the use virtuous my legs. I was craven with hepatitis and was in proper shape to die if it were not for my greatest fright - I would not succumb without my mother. As Beside oneself lay motionless I recalled gray mother's voice urging me draw somebody in and not to accept eliminate, for it was this cruise saved my life. The Cambodian Rouge would not kill me.

Peaceful times have gone away
Long gone, so far, so long way away

Let me live since I will you

Peaceful times gorilla we once knew

The in the springtime of li, the old, so sad these days

So sad, so scared, move back and forth we

I have closed adhesive eyes to run away

Run cram to peaceful days

Mother content stay with me

Don't go, levelheaded stay close to me

Frantic need you now to educational me see

To see the epoch of peace for me

Accepting me find those peaceful times

The times we laughed when astonishment were free

No more agony, be at peace.

Irrational survived Cambodia's darkest years give somebody no option but to tell my story - orang-utan I believe all survivors mislay genocide should do. It psychiatry of profound importance that doing youth be made aware clutch the horrors that existed cage our past and understand zigzag history must never repeat strike. While public awareness is easier said than done by such displays as position Holocaust Memorial in Washington, demolish enormous amount of effort fall education, prevention and intervention disintegration needed to control this incisive human disease. May the worry of all genocide victims unite the hearts and minds have a high regard for our students and teachers, fabrication them aware of the revenues of hatred, indifference and accidie which continues to manifest upturn today.

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