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Charlene Ambrose | all galleries >> Galleries >> along_the_mekong_ > Bou Meng, A Survivor
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22-Feb-2017

Bou Meng, A Survivor

Cambodia

Bou Meng and his wife were thrown into the S21 Prison in 1975 without explanation.
He was 34 years old. He was tortured as were all the prisoners before being sent to the Killing Fields to be executed.
He survived because he was an artist and they had him paint portraits of Pol Pot.
His wife was murdered at the Killing Fields and his children starved to death at the Khmer Rouge "Child Center."
Today he is in his 80s but still meets with visitors to the Tuol Sleng Genocide center (formerly S21 Prison). Here he is holding up a book about him that was written by Huy Vannak. He gladly signs copies of the book for we the visitors.

Canon Powershot G12
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Graeme23-Apr-2020 09:54
So sad for this man to have lost his children and wife from this terrible prison. He looks like a humble chap its nice that he signs his books for people. I can imagine the book being an emotional difficult to read.V
George McCarten25-Aug-2017 23:45
That is a horrid place. I recall seeing several of Bou Meng's paintings on display there, but not the artist himself.
barbarajoy08-Aug-2017 03:38
What a truly moving story, Charlene. It is a beautiful portrait of a man who can still smile! Thank you for sharing. V
Ted Teodoro09-Jun-2017 01:26
Great portrait
raymondg21-May-2017 23:54
A very powerful story! V
Bob B.05-May-2017 13:50
And we all wonder how such things can happen.
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