HOF005: Bokhara Bun

Bokhara Bun was born in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, the son of a bourgeois family. He vaguely remembers his childhood. However, his experiences would mark his memory forever. On April 17, 1975, young Bokhara witnessed the occupation of the capital by Khmer Rouge troops. Expelled from their hometown, his family escapes with only a little food and their vehicle. They drove until they ran out of gasoline. This forced them to head for the countryside on foot. During this exodus, his family experienced great hardship and famine. As a result of these ordeals, his father committed suicide, abandoning his mother and five siblings.

In 1979, his family returned to Phnom Penh, which was a ghost town. Seeking freedom, young Bokhara decided to leave his country and head for the Thai border. He managed to cross the border and avoided being caught by communist soldiers. Later, he met a priest who was participating in a humanitarian aid project at Khao-I-Dang refugee camp. The priest became his adoptive father and helped him settle in Canada.

Today, he lives in Gatineau, Quebec and works as a computer programmer for the federal government.

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