My Journey by Phannarith ‘Ricky’ Ing

Ricky was a young boy in Phnom Penh and a student at high school when life took a sudden turn.  This school is now known as the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum.  Ricky tells us about his experience when the Pol Pot Government changed the world around him, of the re-education and surviving the rural work camps.  This will be the first time Ricky will tell his story outside the circle of his family and close friends.

How the story was discovered.  Ricky has always come across as a person who sees the bright side of life, is active, sociable and appears to be universally respected.  A discussion about covid took place one evening over a campfire and whisky.  I wondered out loud how families and children were affected by the pandemic…and whether it is appropriate to compare it with other significant events in living memory and close to home.

Out of the gate, Ricky said he wasn’t too rattled by Covid, then started sharing his story.  When finished, tears were wiped and after everyone got composed, I suggested that for the sake of a greater understanding of humanity, that his story, insights and lessons learned should be shared more widely.  I’m very grateful that he’s agreed to do this.

Thanks also to Prof Adrian Vickers who kindly agreed to provide background and context on Cambodia and political developments leading up to and including Pol Pot.

Videos from the night