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April 15, 2008

R.I.'s senators honor Cambodia's Dith Pran

Rhode Island's senators today introduced a resolution in honor of Dith Pran, who in the 1970s worked with New York Times reporter Sydney H. Schanberg to cover the war that spilled into Cambodia and who then spent years under Pol Pot's ensuing brutal Khmer Rouge regime before escaping.

Dith, who came to live in the United States and became a voice for never forgetting the tragedy in Cambodia, died of cancer on March 30. He had become a photojournalist for The New York Times in this country.

Schanberg won the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting for the Cambodia coverage. Schanberg's 1980 New York Times Magazine article, "The Death and Life of Dith Pran" was the basis for "The Killing Fields," the 1984 Academy Award-winning film.

In a news release, Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed note that Rhode Island's Cambodian community is celebrating the Cambodian New Year as the resolution is introduced.

"Dith Pran was a witness to, and a fierce critic of, the greatest atrocities men have inflicted upon their fellow men,” Whitehouse said in the statement. “His willingness to share his story brought light to dark places, and hope to millions.”

Reed stated: “Dith Pran devoted his life to exposing the horrors he experienced during the Cambodian genocide,” and added, "He gave a voice to the 2 million men, women, and children who were killed by the Khmer Rouge. By sharing their stories and his own experiences, Mr. Dith’s work as an advocate for human rights will continue to have an impact for generations to come.”

Extra: Read about Rhode Island Cambodians recalling Dith Pran following his death.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 5:46 PM | Permalink

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