Organized in the "Association of Democratic Women", the "Association of Mothers of Fighters" and the "Association of Patriotic Women", Cambodian women took an active part in the liberation war. They steeled themselves in battle. They have gradually freed themselves from backward ideologies and customs. Their political clarity is growing with each passing day. Their revolutionary attitude, especially their confidence in their own strength, is becoming stronger and stronger. They are constantly expanding their skills and playing an increasingly important role in the struggle. Shoulder to shoulder with the men, they fulfill revolutionary tasks as teachers, nurses, midwives, leaders of production groups, fighters, political cadres...

The following story is told by a fighter.

After our unit and the other constantly fighting units in the eastern region had destroyed the system of fortified positions in Vihear Suor, they were given a new task. They were to clear the banks of the Mekong at Prek Tameak on the island of Arei Ksat and Tmar Kor opposite Phnom Penh of the enemy.

We were thrilled that we were able to penetrate the riverbank at the height of the dry season. Before us stretched the green infinity of rice plants - they are moved as the flood water falls - and other crops: corn, beans, cucumbers, watermelons, potatoes, pumpkin, sugar cane, vegetables.

We were delighted by the beautiful landscape and admired the great determination shown by the population to intensify agricultural production. We walked a long way in the oppressive heat. We were thirsty and hungry, and when we saw this huge amount of cucumbers growing on the ground right in front of us, the juicy sugar cane, these round potato tubers, we would have gladly taken a bite. But in our opinion, these were the fruits of hard work by the people. And we members of the national army have to behave properly. It would be wrong to touch these goods, it is our job to protect them.

At around 10 a.m. we reached the banks of the Mekong, the Khleang Moeung plain between Prek Kongvan and Prek Krabao, south of Prek Tameak. From a distance, we could see the outline of two people resting in the shade of a large tree. We approached this tree with the aim of stopping there for a moment. We saw a woman of about 40 years and a girl of 7-8 years, probably a mother with her child.

The woman stood up and said to us in a friendly tone: "My children, you look very tired and sweat is covering your face. A heat!"

We thanked her politely for her warm words and also took a seat at the foot of the tree to rest a little. She inquired about our last great victory at Vihear Suor and was not sparing with praise for the brilliant heroic deeds of the people's fighters. We told her what we had seen on the way and expressed our respect for the determination of the people of Prek Tameak to push ahead with production. While the conversation was in full swing, the girl came to us, saw that our canteens were empty and asked her mother for permission to fetch water to refill them. And we couldn't stop her from realizing her kind intention. She took our canteens with obvious joy, slung them over her shoulder and ran off straight towards the village. A short time later, she returned with the rattling canteens full of water.

In the meantime, the mother served us watery products to refresh us: cucumbers, sugar cane. We refused them, but she insisted heartily: "My children, you make many sacrifices and have no income. Every time I meet you fighters, I happily give you some cucumbers and some sugarcane as refreshment. Why do you refuse? I have two boys your age, they are already in our people's army. Whenever I see you, I am as happy as if I were seeing my own children. Surely you won't refuse these tokens of my sincere affection?"

Shortly afterwards, she invited us to lunch at her house. She asked so warmly that we did not dare to refuse.

She lives in Phum Khuong, a village where only Islamic Khmer people live. Her house is far out, 500 meters from the river. It is a small house made of wood and bamboo, covered with straw. The village is not very big, but there are vegetable and grain fields and wells everywhere.

She insisted on cooking the rice herself, but we wouldn't let her and quickly did it ourselves. She had no choice but to give in. But she would not allow us to cook our own rice. She gave us freshly harvested rice, which tasted excellent, along with vegetables and other dishes, including "prahoc". She even suggested that we mend our torn clothes.

We prepared to say goodbye. To our great astonishment, we saw a number of Islamic Khmer compatriots coming to get news from us and offer us delicacies: Coconut, oranges, cucumbers, sugar cane... And young girls gave us back our already darned and mended clothes. As we were about to set off, touched by the sincere, almost familial affection of the "mother of the fighters" and the villagers towards us, they put cucumbers, beans and oranges into our already bursting rucksacks and repeated their invitation to stop every time our unit was due to pass through the village again.

1976

The Mothers of Fighters