RICE UNIVERSITY Tracing the Last Breath: Movements in Anlong Veng &dss?e?73&£i& frjjrarijsfass cassis^ scesse & w o O as by Timothy Dylan Wood A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE Doctor of Philosophy APPROVED, THESIS COMMITTEE: y' 7* Stephen A. Tyler, Herbert S. Autrey Professor Department of Philip R. Wood, Professor Department of French Studies HOUSTON, TEXAS MAY 2009 UMI Number: 3362431 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 3362431 Copyright 2009 by ProQuest LLC All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 ABSTRACT Tracing the Last Breath: Movements in Anlong Veng by Timothy Dylan Wood Anlong Veng was the last stronghold of the Khmer Rouge until the organization's ultimate collapse and defeat in 1999. This dissertation argues that recent moves by the Cambodian government to transform this site into an "historical-tourist area" is overwhelmingly dominated by commercial priorities. However, the tourism project simultaneously effects an historical narrative that inherits but transforms the government's historiographic endeavors that immediately followed Democratic Kampuchea's 1979 ousting. The work moves between personal encounters with the historical, academic presentations of the country's recent past, and government efforts to pursue a museum agenda in the context of "development through tourism" policies. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The study, coursework, and research required to complete this work could not have been conducted without the generous financial support from Rice University, its Department of Anthropology, James T. "Doc" Wagoner Scholarship for Study Abroad, Advanced Study of Khmer Program, Center for Khmer Studies, Catherine Ames Murphy, Susan and Michael Murphy, and Douglas C. Wood. Certainly, much of one's views of a foreign culture are garnered through one's ability to communicate in the native tongue, and I have been quite lucky to have received exceptional help from a variety of gracious instructors. My early informal familiarization with Khmer was provided by the staff at Phnom Penh's Duck Tub (Horng and Neary) as well as by a few generous Cambodian-Americans in the Houston area. I also received some formal schooling from 16k krou Vong Meng and University of Hawaii professor Channy Sak-Humphry during the Advanced Study of Khmer (ASK) program in the Foreign Language Institute at the University of Phnom Penh. While in California, I received guidance from the teachers at the Cambodian Literacy School, organized by the San Jose Cambodian Buddhist Society. Especially among these individuals, paa krou Kas Thon has provided enduring friendship as well as linguistic assistance (in the Saturday morning classes and out). Over the course of four or so years of tutoring sessions with Mme. Kem Bora, I feel tremendous gratitude to this friend, confidant, and pedagogue; her generous and patient instruction (especially in those Pali paleonyms) iv fostered skills and perspectives that assisted my academic endeavors as well as my personal development. Nuon Savin, who initially offered translation assistance, later performed the role of research assistant, and now remains a dear friend, provided significant guidance in the field, without which locating and conversing with informants would have seemed a Sisyphean task. Various individuals at the Ministry of Tourism and the Oddar Meanchey Department of Tourism, Chung Sokkhemarak in particular, allowed my work to proceed and welcomed me while in the field. Appreciation should be expressed to the families and friends in Among Veng District who answered my inquiries. For looking out for my safety and health, I thank in particular the Dom Chhony and Chen Savong families. In similar ways, the family at Seng Sokhom Guesthouse looked after me during many months in the Penh. In the 'Bodge, I was surrounded by colleagues and friends who facilitated my academic work, creative play, and overall sanity. My early familiarity with the land of smiling Khmers was informed though much interaction with Eric Pape, Rich Garella, and Chris Decherd. Of course, MH§« Mick Powell, devil in my ear, provided inspirations in numerous ways. Other enablers should be singled out: Rita Leistner, Jennifer Foley, Dougald O'Reilly, Michael Sullivan, Darren Campbell, Warren Fisher, Daniel Littlewood, and Dylan Bernstein. Musings abroad were also encouraged by George T. Stagg, A. H. Hirsch, William Larue Weller, Elijah Craig, Elmer T. Lee, and some others of this ilk. I am grateful to Stephen R. Heder, David P. Chandler, Leakthina Chau-Pech Oilier, and Tim Winter for looking over my work and sharing some of their insights. V During the course of this research in Cambodia, I was afflicted with a chronic headache condition that was likely tied to various bouts of dengue fever. A number of medical professionals in Cambodia, Thailand, and the United States made significant efforts to piece me back together for which I am especially grateful: Gloria Christie, Alfred Lerner, Robert Yao, numerous specialists at Bumrungrad Hospital, and the folks at Omneuron. Throughout my academic training, I have been blessed with the guidance of some exceptional faculty. The individuals at Rice University who have overseen my intellectual pursuits deserve special recognition: Stephen A. Tyler, George E. Marcus, James Faubion, and Philip R. Wood. While in the Bayou City, I was lucky to enjoy the personal and intellectual companionship of some truly amazing individuals, in particular: Brian Scott Riedel, Lisa Catherine Breglia (and the Rice Cannonballs), and Tish Stringer. As well, Carole Speranza did a lot of behind-the-scenes work to smooth graduate student life. The Flaming Goat must extend a special thank you to the most spirited Team West U Schwinn—Jeff Nielsen, Little Bo Peep, and Double D especially—for fostering fitness and fun through the rural landscape of the Lone Star Republic, circles at Alkek, and the backtrails of Memorial Park: No pride! No shame! A number of close friends pushed me toward completion through various means: Jeffrey and Yolanda Marculescu, Marilyn Chovanec Dawlett, Chad Bronstein, Darren Selement. Much gratitude must be expressed to my family, especially my parents who have supported me through the long path to this degree's completion. Thanks to my sisters for always believing in my passion. Profound gratitude should be extended to Kay vi Murphy who has taken a keen interest and contributed greatly to the various phases of my erudition. I am fortunate to have a close extended family who has been a source of strength and relaxation. Special recognition must be bestowed to my children: Donnella Eumily, whose playful interruptions of infancy provided comic relief through the write- up process, and Lavelle Arun, whose coming reminded me of the urgency of this tome's conclusion. Most significantly, my wife, Penh Sophoin, showed unyielding support and patience through what often seemed like an never-ending research and writing process. Without her patience and kind assistance, this work would never have come to fruition. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hi LIST OF TABLES & IMAGES ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS X PREFACE xii CHAPTER 1: ARRIVING... OVER AND OVER AGAIN 1 akin to arrival ~ early awareness ~ haphazards ~ first visit ~ re-arrival ~ momentum ~ project idea ~ third arrival ~ a blue sign preliminary ~ Ministry - the true ~ mines & funding ~ development through tourism ~ geographies ~ histories ~ the arrival scene CHAPTER 2: INTERPRETING... "AUTO-HOMEO-GENOCIDE"? 29 pre-triumph, pre-history, pre-zero ~ 3 years, 8 months, and 20 days ~ STV ~ variation - zones & sectors ~ the good East ~ pattern & scope ~ security apparatus ~ purges & assertive killings ~ centralized authority ~ antecedents, entrenched values, & culture ~ the toll ~ "genocide" CHAPTER 3: TRACING... THE LAST BREATH 94 DEVELOPMENT NARRATIVES: textiles & souvenirs -offerings -assaults- 94 open skies - regional cooperation - growing arrivals - pro-poor linkages - privatization PARTIAL NARRATIVES IN THE LONG DITCH: circular edicts - the organization - 107 ahistorical texts - the Truth sought - re-arrival & introductions - a local working group/research team - administrative hierarchy & security - MoT/DoT progress report - guides to history - mastering the plan - what/which museum? - a museum by any other author ~ patrons & nipotes - filling (out) the long hole GUIDED NARRATIVES: movements - history on the move - continuing 176 education - healthy functioning sites - shoring up - accuracy - arts - looting - logging - inherited land claims & eminent domain - "politics" - the story (un)told - developing access, bordering markets - demises - hospitable overlook - replica NATIONAL NARRATIVES: history outside the text - cliques a-tryin' - 232 strychnine hillocks & "killing fields" - hated days, victory days - birthday Parties for the good East - win-win: dig a long hole