Every year, in the same week that they celebrate their New Year, some Cambodian people in the world will also mourn and remember the day that the Khmer Rouge guerilla took over Phnom Penh in April 17, 1975. Actually, the Khmer Rouge guerilla had taken over many other cities and provinces in Cambodia before April 75. Some parts of the country had even been under KR control for quite a while. Still April 17 in 1975 marked the start of a three years, eight months and twenty days regime of terror, killings and sufferings.
At the very time where some last still alive former Khmer Rouge responsibles are judged in Phnom Penh, Cambodian people from Long Beach gathered at Wat Vipassanaram for a memorial day of prayers, testimonies, healing poetry and candle light vigil, organized by “Killing Fields Memorial Center” (http://kfmemorial.org/home/)In the picture below Cambodian native Vat Rattana, 70, explains the spiritual meaning of burning incense to young American from Cambodian descent Kai Lee, 8.
Pictured above and below: some former Lon Nol governmental army soldiers (“veterans”) who could escape Cambodia before the Khmer Rouge took over Phnom Penh and therefore have not lived under the regime.
Unlike some of his veteran friends, Cambodian poet Chandara Nop (pictured above left) has not escaped the Cambodian turmoil and was trapped like many others into the Khmer Rouge regime. 
Bryant Sokphanarith Ben (left), a Long Beach community activist, secretary of the “Killing Fields Memorial Center” shares the loss of one of his brother who died under the Khmer Rouge regime.
Caleb Lee, 6, from Cambodian descent, came with his family and brought his candle to honor the souls and spirits of those who died under the KR regime. . .
See more stories about the Cambodian Americans in the archives of this blog! ..
