Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Pol Pot's brother thanks U.N. Date: Sat, 21 Nov 92 17:35:41 EST Message-ID: \SE A;WORLD \SS (WS) \HD Pol Pot's brother thanks U.N. \BY Hugo Gurdon \CR LONDON TELEGRAPH \DT KOMPONG THOM, Cambodia KOMPONG THOM, Cambodia - One of the more unlikely democrats in a nation that can remember only dictators is Saloth Seng, whose brother, Saloth Sar, is better known as the Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot. Sitting in his wooden house on the tiny plot where one of the century's bloodiest tyrants was born, Mr. Seng, 66, said: "I have not yet registered to vote, but I am prepared to do so. I am grateful for the presence of the United Nations." The poor Cambodian peasant is shy and irresolute, fleeing into a paddy field at the sight of approaching visitors who might be government officials. His broad forehead and hard, button eyes give him away as a real brother of the dictator, whose title was Brother No. 1. Smiling ironically at his recollection of the boy who became overlord of the killing fields, he said young Saloth Sar, as he was then called, was a 'quiet, hard-working boy who never did anything wrong. If he ever comes to meet me, then I would consider him still my brother." Pol Pot cannot be accused of nepotism. Having changed his name and swept to power in 1975, he made no contact with his family during the four-year nightmare he imposed on Cambodia's 8 million people. Saloth Seng, like nearly every other Cambodian, was forced by his brother's government to work in the fields with little to eat. He did not even realize who Pol Pot was until 1978. "I saw his picture in an eating place, and then I knew," said Mr. Seng. "When everyone knew he was my brother, everybody liked me," perhaps because they felt it would be wise. Despite having no part in Pol Pot's murderous politics, Mr. Seng feels shame and the need to atone. "I have done a lot of good things for my brother's actions. I built a school," he said. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM