Long Beach
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/1463
2024-03-29T15:42:13ZKeo, Chetra (audio interview #5 of 5)
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/224555
Keo, Chetra (audio interview #5 of 5)
Keo, Chetra; Pierce, Mark, interviewer
<>INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION<> - This is the last of five interviews with conducted over a three month period with Chetra Keo, a friend of the interviewer. In contrast to the previous interviews, this one is shorter. As before, the interview was conducted in Keo's room, late at night.
1/20/1990
<>SUBJECT BIO<> - Chetra Keo was a lycee student at the time of the Khmer Rouge takeover and had been planning on going to France to continue his studies. Keo was born in Phnom Penh to a middle class family. His father was a jeweler by trade but volunteered to teach reading and writing in adult education classes. Like many Cambodians, Keo and his family were very optimistic that the Khmer Rouge would bring peace. His father was rather well informed and kept abreast of political developments. Initially, he was somewhat supportive of the Khmer Rouge as a result of his respect for and friendship with Hou Youn (known later as one of the "Three Ghosts" of the Khmer Rouge leadership), with whom he worked in a provincial election. <p>Keo's family was evacuated, like all the others in Phnom Penh, and joined the long line of refugees, pushing their automobile, which was laden with supplies and some belongings. They were headed to his father's birthplace in the countryside. Initially, the family stayed with relatives, but after his father and brother were taken away and killed, the family was sent to Takao Village, where a kindly Khmer Rouge woman took care of them. <p>Eventually, they were given a piece of land to work and provided a bamboo hut. <p>Note: There are few details about Keo's experiences during the Khmer Rouge years, nor his eventual escape and experiences in the US.
<>TOPICS <>- Takao Village; Khmer Rouge woman supports family; and, family separation;
2023-01-05T00:00:00ZKeo, Chetra (audio interview #4 of 5)
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/224547
Keo, Chetra (audio interview #4 of 5)
Keo, Chetra; Pierce, Mark, interviewer
<>INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION<> - This is the fourth of five interviews conducted over a three month period with Chetra Keo, a friend of the interviewer. As before, the interview was conducted in Keo's room, late at night. It should be noted that the segments in this interview tend to be rather long.
12/9/1989
<>SUBJECT BIO<> - Chetra Keo was a lycee student at the time of the Khmer Rouge takeover and had been planning on going to France to continue his studies. Keo was born in Phnom Penh to a middle class family. His father was a jeweler by trade but volunteered to teach reading and writing in adult education classes. Like many Cambodians, Keo and his family were very optimistic that the Khmer Rouge would bring peace. His father was rather well informed and kept abreast of political developments. Initially, he was somewhat supportive of the Khmer Rouge as a result of his respect for and friendship with Hou Youn (known later as one of the "Three Ghosts" of the Khmer Rouge leadership), with whom he worked in a provincial election. <p>Keo's family was evacuated, like all the others in Phnom Penh, and joined the long line of refugees, pushing their automobile, which was laden with supplies and some belongings. They were headed to his father's birthplace in the countryside. Initially, the family stayed with relatives, but after his father and brother were taken away and killed, the family was sent to Takao Village, where a kindly Khmer Rouge woman took care of them. <p>Eventually, they were given a piece of land to work and provided a bamboo hut. <p>Note: There are few details about Keo's experiences during the Khmer Rouge years, nor his eventual escape and experiences in the US.
<>TOPICS<> - evacuation of city, 4/17/75; head to Prey Vang province; three month trek; large refugee stream; "old" and "new people" at camp; no source of news; KR reassurances re food; and, some joined KR thinking would bring equality;demonstrations; financial crisis; bartering for food; food supply; evaluation, Khmer Rouge demographics; CIA complicity; Prey Veng destination; "old" and "new" villagers; disappearances and death of father and brother;disappearances; Khmer Rouge village leadership; father's continuing optimism; village leadership; and "selection" and disappearance of father and brother;
2023-01-05T00:00:00ZKeo, Chetra (audio interview #3 of 5)
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/224546
Keo, Chetra (audio interview #3 of 5)
Keo, Chetra; Pierce, Mark, interviewer
<>INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION<> - This is the third of five interviews conducted over a three month period with Chetra Keo, a friend of the interviewer. As before, the interview was conducted in Keo's room, late at night. It should be noted that the segments in this interview tend to be rather long.
11/3/1989
<>SUBJECT BIO<> - Chetra Keo was a lycee student at the time of the Khmer Rouge takeover and had been planning on going to France to continue his studies. Keo was born in Phnom Penh to a middle class family. His father was a jeweler by trade but volunteered to teach reading and writing in adult education classes. Like many Cambodians, Keo and his family were very optimistic that the Khmer Rouge would bring peace. His father was rather well informed and kept abreast of political developments. Initially, he was somewhat supportive of the Khmer Rouge as a result of his respect for and friendship with Hou Youn (known later as one of the "Three Ghosts" of the Khmer Rouge leadership), with whom he worked in a provincial election. <p>Keo's family was evacuated, like all the others in Phnom Penh, and joined the long line of refugees, pushing their automobile, which was laden with supplies and some belongings. They were headed to his father's birthplace in the countryside. Initially, the family stayed with relatives, but after his father and brother were taken away and killed, the family was sent to Takao Village, where a kindly Khmer Rouge woman took care of them. <p>Eventually, they were given a piece of land to work and provided a bamboo hut. <p>Note: There are few details about Keo's experiences during the Khmer Rouge years, nor his eventual escape and experiences in the US.
<>TOPICS<> - KR attack on Phnom Penh; father's state of mind; contact with Hou Youn and Hu Nim lost; sisters help support family; fear of KR; sources of information; evacuation of US troops; family's reluctance to leave;helicopter evacuations by US; bleak prospects for future; KR propaganda; people lose faith in Lon Nol; initial welcoming of KR; no free press; hiding identities; 2nd "new order" cruel; preparation for evacuation;
2023-01-05T00:00:00ZKeo, Chetra (audio interview #2 of 5)
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/224543
Keo, Chetra (audio interview #2 of 5)
Keo, Chetra; Pierce, Mark, interviewer
<>INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION<> - This is the second of five interviews conducted over a three month period with Chetra Keo, a friend of the interviewer. The interview was conducted in Keo's room, late at night. Despite both interviewer and narrator being tired, once the interview got going, both sprung to life. The purpose of this interviews was to clarify and elicit more details on some of the topics discussed in the first interview. The interviewer noted that his questions lacked the clarity of those asked in the first interview; that at times he didn't know how to phrase a particular question. Unfortunately, he notes that he didn't time the ending of each tape well, cutting off the narrator in the middle of a sentence. It should be noted that the segments in this interview tend to be rather long.
9/1/1989
<>SUBJECT BIO<> - Chetra Keo was a lycee student at the time of the Khmer Rouge takeover and had been planning on going to France to continue his studies. Keo was born in Phnom Penh to a middle class family. His father was a jeweler by trade but volunteered to teach reading and writing in adult education classes. Like many Cambodians, Keo and his family were very optimistic that the Khmer Rouge would bring peace. His father was rather well informed and kept abreast of political developments. Initially, he was somewhat supportive of the Khmer Rouge as a result of his respect for and friendship with Hou Youn (known later as one of the "Three Ghosts" of the Khmer Rouge leadership), with whom he worked in a provincial election. <p>Keo's family was evacuated, like all the others in Phnom Penh, and joined the long line of refugees, pushing their automobile, which was laden with supplies and some belongings. They were headed to his father's birthplace in the countryside. Initially, the family stayed with relatives, but after his father and brother were taken away and killed, the family was sent to Takao Village, where a kindly Khmer Rouge woman took care of them. <p>Eventually, they were given a piece of land to work and provided a bamboo hut. <p>Note: There are few details about Keo's experiences during the Khmer Rouge years, nor his eventual escape and experiences in the US.
<>TOPICS<> - family background; emphasis on education; family business; relationship with Hou Youn; communication; family life; and typical day in Keo's home life;Hou Youn; family environment; sisters help support family; family commitment to education; move to Phnom Penh; attends; Tuol Svey Prey school; curriculum; demonstrations; civil war; conditions in countryside;
2023-01-05T00:00:00Z