Member-only story

Stay Alive, My Son: The Harrowing True Story of Pin Yathay's Survival Under the Khmer Rouge

David Mitchell

·13.4k Followers· Follow

Published in Stay Alive My Son Pin Yathay

5 min read · 2 weeks before

561 View Claps

83 Respond

Save

Listen

Stay Alive, My Son

by Pin Yathay

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2534 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	272 pages

Pin Yathay was born in Cambodia in 1942. He was a young man when the Khmer Rouge, a communist revolutionary movement, came to power in 1975. The Khmer Rouge quickly began to implement a radical program of social engineering, which included the forced evacuation of cities and the collectivization of agriculture. Yathay was one of the millions of Cambodians who were forced to leave their homes and work in the countryside.

Yathay's experiences under the Khmer Rouge were harrowing. He was subjected to forced labor, starvation, and torture. He saw his family and friends murdered. He was eventually imprisoned in a labor camp, where he was tortured and nearly starved to death.

Despite the horrors he endured, Yathay never gave up hope. He clung to the belief that he would one day be reunited with his family. In 1979, the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia and overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime. Yathay was finally able to escape from the labor camp and return to his village.

In 1980, Yathay immigrated to the United States. He has since become a successful businessman and author. He has written two books about his experiences under the Khmer Rouge, including Stay Alive, My Son. Yathay's story is a powerful reminder of the horrors of genocide and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

The Khmer Rouge Genocide

The Khmer Rouge genocide was a systematic campaign of mass murder carried out by the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. The regime's goal was to create a communist utopia by eliminating all traces of Cambodian society. This included the killing of intellectuals, professionals, and anyone else who was deemed to be a threat to the revolution.

The Khmer Rouge murdered an estimated 2 million Cambodians, nearly a quarter of the population. The victims were killed in a variety of ways, including execution, starvation, and torture. The Khmer Rouge also destroyed Cambodia's infrastructure, economy, and culture.

The Khmer Rouge genocide was one of the most horrific crimes of the 20th century. It is a reminder of the dangers of totalitarian regimes and the importance of human rights.

Pin Yathay's Legacy

Pin Yathay is a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide. He has dedicated his life to telling the story of his experiences and to promoting peace and reconciliation in Cambodia. Yathay is a role model for survivors of genocide and a reminder of the importance of hope in the face of adversity.

Yathay's story is a powerful reminder of the horrors of the Khmer Rouge genocide and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. It is a story that should be told and retold for generations to come.

Stay Alive, My Son

by Pin Yathay

4.7 out of 5