The Jungle House

Beneath the remains of a ruined house in the middle of the forest there is a silend underground house with the loud, sweet sound of bats as well as the sound of a water fall. The house, now in ruins, is that of the Cambodian Democratic leader, Ta Mok, Brother No. 1.

Hidden in the middle of the forest, with an ever green view is a tow of houses of Pol Pot Regime leaders such as: Eang Sary. Keiv Samporn, Sin Sein, Ta Mok, and Noun Chea and it is located at Cheung Phnom village. Tropang Prey commune, Along Veng District, Odormean Chey province.

We travel just 20km from Anlong Veng town to climb the mountain towards the Cambodia-Thai border and then we follow a path with a mine-warning sign which reads: " Please follow the villagers' path to avoid danger from mines."

At down, with fog all around in the woods, we can hardly see each other and there are some inspectors in the center of the path to protect visitors'sfety and to guide visitors to the zone. These inspectors are veterans of the Khmer Rouge and are very familiar with this place.

A dark, curly-haired man with blue T-shirt and ragged sharts. Mr. Gnagn, an ex-soldier of Pol Pot's leadin army who had served since he was 12 and used to a close person to Ta Mok said, "The tourists always visit here, Most of them want to visit Ta Mok's house at Kbal Tonsung and want to see the dark underground chamber and swimming place."

He stated that in the past, Ta Mok's underground house was a meeting hall for high leaders and was also a safe place for money. Above, was a relaxing place for Pol Pot in the evenings. In the Ta Mok era, this house was his own and it was very beautiful and luxurious with two rooms beneath. "Nowadays, the house is in ruins as the villagers, devastated the property after the Pol Pot's regime collapsed. When we turn right, we see a very huge basin with an undrground exit from Pol Pot's house. This veteran added, at the right is the swimming place of Ta Mok and his Chinese friends who occasionally visited him. Nearby there is a cottage which we can enter from Pol Pot's underground rooms by traveling about 100m and then we can go straight by the water fall path which was an escape route.

Dang Rek Mountain is a boundary junction between Cambodia and Thailand. At that time, Pol Pot's solders could freely enter and exit Thailand. Mr. Gnogn further added that inside Ta Mok's house there were planted some mango trees. The mango trees with a hole were the piace where he kept his wealth. "I did not know what was inside those holes; I just saw only two empty cases."added Mr. Gnogn.

We see a large field and there are a lot of stables and our guide told us that Ta Mok had hundreds of cattle which he gave away to families. To those who did not get cows he offered 5.000 Bhatt [ Thai currency] to run a business.

Mr. Gnagn added that even in the daytime here there are a lot of mosquitoes so the tourists have
to protect themselves from these insects which can cause dengue fever or malaria; they have to be careful about mines as well." Even I buried some of those mines; I forgot where I placed them. Now this is a tourism place where nearly 100% of all mines have been cleared by the Hello Trust Organization.

Only the damaged remains of this house where, the leader died on 15 April, 1998, still stand.

The head of the Tourism Ministry of Anlong Veng. Mr. Seang Sok Eang said, there are 15 places of the leaders of Democratic Cambodia which will be renovated into an historical tourism site for both foreign and local tourists to visit, more over, we want to show the younger generation what Pol Pot did in here in the past.

He added, we will protect this original area. like Ta Mok's House. which will be reconstructed in the original style. It is the last killing field of the Khmer Rouge regime and we also want to keep it so the younger generations of their parents and relatives.

Mr. Sok Ean said there were many significant places here such as the mine producing factory, on the Kbal Tonsoung Mountain, on the Pi Roy Mountain, Ta Mok's equipments, the clothes at Cheung Phnom village, Sre Kumroo [ The sample rice field]. the funeral place of Pol Pot. Ta Mok's grave, Teuk Chhum [ the junction of water]. the central household, [the house which was built on as stream], Sor Sor Yak house [ the giant pillar house]. Ta Mok's hospital, and Ta Mok School.
He added that the reason why the Pol Pot leaders built the houses on the Kbal Phnom Tonsoung was because they could easily and safety escape when the government's armies fought these place.

The property at Kbal Tonsoung strtched for 40 hectares, he added and that's why tourists want to visit at Anlong Veng because it is so unusual compared with other places and they want to seee how the Khmer Rouge's leaders live They are particularly surprised by seeing the big houses of Khmer Rouge leaders and how they lived nearby each other and in good style to protect themselves when they were at risk.

Mrs. Soka, a visitor from Phnom Penh said, "I am rally surprised. When I see Ta Mok's house as well as Pol Pot's. because they could find a safe place with a very good view; even the Kbal Tonsoung water fall. Where else to compares with that.

From Cambodia The Life Magazine