Clockwise from top left: Nineteen-year-old Kim Sithanary being interviewed for Thames TV's "This Week"; Andy Brouwer with 74-year-old Sithanary on August 7 in Phnom Penh; A close-up of Sithanary.
In August 1970, a video featuring Kim Sithanary, a 19-year-old Cambodian student, captivated an international audience.
Now, at 74 years old, her message continues to resonate, urging Cambodian children to prioritise education for the nation's growth.
The video, filmed for Thames TV’s “This Week”, hosted by Llew Gardner, recently went viral, showcasing her courage during a period of intense turmoil in Cambodia.
The footage shows Sithanary and her classmates practising commando tactics, a vivid depiction of their readiness to defend their country.
Speaking in fluent English, she declared her preparedness to confront the Viet Cong, a testament to her unwavering resolve.
“When I saw this video, I was excited because Cambodian people support my nationalism. I am also happy that some of my peers, who were training to be commandos in their high schools during that time, are being reminded of the past,” Sithanary told The Post.
"I want to emphasise that the most important thing is our nation, our Cambodian people, so that we cannot be erased from the world map," she said.
The former Boeung Trabek High School student said that there were parts removed from the interview which referenced Vietnam's aggression against Cambodia over thousands of years, while Cambodia sought only peace.
She was shocked to see a video of the interview when parts of it were broadcast on social media 52 years after its original filming.
Reflecting on the experience, Sithanary expressed regret that much of her commentary was edited out.
"I'm not happy that most of my words have been removed," she said.
Her statements about Vietnam's aggression and Cambodia's pursuit of peace were notably omitted, leaving only her portrayal as a Lon Nol soldier.
Sithanary's proficiency in English was honed during a four-year stay in the US with her diplomat uncle, starting at the age of nine.
This early exposure to American culture and education, coupled with her studies at the Khmer English school in Phnom Penh, set the stage for her eloquent interview.
In early 1972, Sithanary decided to leave her homeland for the US for two reasons: there were no English-speaking universities in Cambodia, only French, and she wasn't very good at that language.
Additionally, her uncle, who worked as an intelligence agent, warned that North Vietnam was unhappy with her interview.
Not wanting to get involved in politics, Sithanary stated, "Actually, I do not know how the video interview was broadcast or how it was cut. My parents decided to send me to the US because my oldest sister had received a scholarship to study there in the 1960s."
Although she did not experience the Pol Pot regime firsthand, the former young commando said that many of her relatives had suffered under Khmer Rouge rule.
Sithanary, who is now visiting her homeland for more than three weeks, said that refugees had a hard time fleeing the Pol Pot regime but were especially welcomed by the US government with free food, shelter and other services.
"Some people asked why people who went to the US in the past were poorer than refugees. Actually, they had to live on their own without any support from the US government," she told The Post.
Carrying a student visa, Cambodian self-supported students were not allowed to work in the US.
While studying international history, the 21-year-old student worked in a luxury clothing store to pay for tuition and living expenses.
The $200 a month she received from her parents in Cambodia was not enough to pay for accommodation.
She said she was not interested in the topic but had to study international politics, even Roman history. Therefore, she spent time self-studying until 2 or 3am after working her day job.
"We, about 20 students, had to pay for everything," she told The Post. “We bought eggs and chicken necks to make soup and shared with each other.”
Not only Cambodians, but students from other countries, including France and Britain, also had to work illegally.
Over the years, Sithanary's career has been as varied as it is impressive. From working in retail and hospitality to serving as an interpreter and translator, she has worn many hats.
Notably, she owned and operated Khmer and Thai-Khmer restaurants and floral shops, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit.
“Today, she channels her creativity into jewellery design, a craft she shares with the world through her online store,” said Andy Brouwer, an independent researcher who met her in Phnom Penh on August 7.
In 2003, Sithanary returned to Cambodia for the first time since her departure, a journey that evoked many memories and emotions.
"I am happy because, firstly, the war is long over, and secondly, I see the country developing prosperously, even though the progress is not very fast," she said.
“The leadership strives to make progress. I cannot complain, I can only praise the leaders for the country's development."
She advised Cambodian children not to be overly happy or over-indulge, especially alcohol and cigarettes, which affect both health and mental wellbeing.
Sithanary said that Cambodian children need to study hard, as only education can help them and the nation grow, not alcohol and tobacco.
"Children over the age of 20 were born as a result of the efforts of their parents and grandparents who survived the Pol Pot regime, with death looming over them constantly," she said.
“We are now happy but unaware of this. I met some children who do not believe there was a Pol Pot regime,” she added.
Sithanary noted that well-educated youth bring good fortune to their families and contribute to the nation's prosperity, preventing it from being looked down upon by neighbouring countries.
