The
oral history of O-Trav village is known for two reasons. First, in English, ‘O’
means ‘stream’ and ‘trav’ means ‘taro.’ Combined, O-Trav is the stream where
taro plants grow. This village is known for fertile land where people can grow
crops profitably. The village name has passed down from one generation to
another. Evidence shows that this village has a rich history and is rather old.
The village was established in the 19th century. The first settlers were the
Chvea (Jvea – Javanese) ethnic group, who migrated from Kampot province in
order to spread Islam and Qur’anic teachings to the area. Later, the Cham
people populated the village through marriage and trade. Currently, the
majority group (Chvea or Jvea) is called “Khmer Islam.” Their main occupation
is fishing and farming. People from the village are known for migrating to find
work and education, especially to Malaysia. Village children study at the
O-Chrov Islamic school, located about eight kilometers from the village. A few
who are able to pass a test go on to study in Malaysia.
The
village has a special history. In 1963, villagers took the initiative to build
a mosque. It is now one of the oldest mosques in Cambodia, having survived the
Khmer Rouge (KR) campaign of destruction and modernity. During fighting between
Lon Nol forces and KR soldiers in 1973, the mosque suffered partial damage.
After the evacuation of the villagers in 1975, it was profaned, just like most mosques
in Cambodia. The mosque was used for storage and later became a KR hospital. As
collectivization was the main element of KR policy, a communal dining hall was
built next to the mosque. Evacuees from Kampong Chhnang province (not the
native villagers) dined in the facility during the KR era.
The
suppression of religion and way of life caused both the Chvea and the Khmer
living in the area to rebel in 1976. The rebel leaders were from Tuol To-teung
commune but mobilized forces from several villages, including O-Trav. There
were about 40 rebels, divided into two groups. Most of the rebels formed the
first group, hiding themselves in the mountains along National Road 4, opposite
the mosque. Some of them were former KR spies and cadres. At first they wanted
to send their families to Viet Nam. When they could not, they decided to leave
the women at home. They hid rice and weapons in the mountains, where they
fought against the KR. Sometimes they came down to bomb the KR in Chong Ksach
and other villages nearby. In retaliation, the KR searched for the wives and
relatives of the rebels and killed them.
The
second group of rebels was led by Sokry’s father, who lives in Banteay Prey
village next to O-Trav. That group took a boat to Thailand, hoping to then
travel to Malaysia to seek military and financial support from the governments
of Thailand and Malaysia. Before reaching Thailand, their boat was destroyed in
a storm and two people died; the remaining people continued the journey. This second
group never returned, however, because they were unable to obtain support.
Consequently, while some men hiding in the mountains survived, women and
children died because the KR sought to kill the wives and relatives of rebels.
After
the KR regime in 1979, the villagers returned home to find that the mosque and
village had been partially destroyed. They began to reconstruct their community
and in the process, the community’s and their own identity. The KR regime left
serious wounds, especially for widows whose husbands were killed by the KR,
some for being former Lon Nol soldiers. Their stories and other villagers’ stories
have become part of village history.
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