Ta Mok's Prosthetic Leg To Be Put on Display
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
For years the legend has grown. Some said it was made of gold. Others claimed there was a fortune in diamonds hidden inside. The rumors gained such momentum that they eventually reached all the way to the top of the Khmer Rouge power structure.
"They said Ta Mok's leg was made of gold," former Khmer Rouge Brother Number Two Nuon Chea said over the weekend, scrutinizing a newspaper photo of the deceased commander's corpse—sans prosthetic leg. 'This was just a rumor," he said adding that all speculation about Ta Mok's gold was rumor, too.
Or was it? Soon, the curious will be able to examine the artifact themselves.
Ta Mok's niece Ven Ra says the family is building a glass case to preserve the feared commander's artificial limb in Oddar Meanchey province's Anlong Veng district. They will also display his walking stick. The display case will contain a donation box, and all funds collected will be used to build infrastructure, schools and hospitals in Anlong Veng.
"We want his friends, family and tourists to see the leg," Ven Ra said. It is a desire that almost did not come to fruition.
After Ta Mok's death last month, his lawyer Benson Samay took the leg from the hospital. Benson Samay said his interest in the prosthetic limb had nothing to do with the rumors. He claims he intended to make a public statement with the leg next to him. But he declined to share that statement.
"I don't have the leg, so I don't make the statement," he said.
He said the leg has already been broken and fixed three times by people hoping to extract diamonds or gold. Even though Benson Samay willingly handed over the leg when asked for it by Ta Mok's family, he complained Tuesday that he was never paid for his work on Ta Mok's behalf.
"I have sacrificed myself for nothing," he said.
Ven Ra says Ta Mok received the leg and the walking stick as a gift from a Thai friend eight years ago. She said the leg is worth $225, but denied the rumors about the gold.
"People wanted to obtain the leg because they think there is gold and diamonds inside, but it is not true," Ven Ra said. "Ta Mok advised his children not to be corrupted by government money, that is why he was poor when he died."
(Additional reporting by Thet Sambath)
"They said Ta Mok's leg was made of gold," former Khmer Rouge Brother Number Two Nuon Chea said over the weekend, scrutinizing a newspaper photo of the deceased commander's corpse—sans prosthetic leg. 'This was just a rumor," he said adding that all speculation about Ta Mok's gold was rumor, too.
Or was it? Soon, the curious will be able to examine the artifact themselves.
Ta Mok's niece Ven Ra says the family is building a glass case to preserve the feared commander's artificial limb in Oddar Meanchey province's Anlong Veng district. They will also display his walking stick. The display case will contain a donation box, and all funds collected will be used to build infrastructure, schools and hospitals in Anlong Veng.
"We want his friends, family and tourists to see the leg," Ven Ra said. It is a desire that almost did not come to fruition.
After Ta Mok's death last month, his lawyer Benson Samay took the leg from the hospital. Benson Samay said his interest in the prosthetic limb had nothing to do with the rumors. He claims he intended to make a public statement with the leg next to him. But he declined to share that statement.
"I don't have the leg, so I don't make the statement," he said.
He said the leg has already been broken and fixed three times by people hoping to extract diamonds or gold. Even though Benson Samay willingly handed over the leg when asked for it by Ta Mok's family, he complained Tuesday that he was never paid for his work on Ta Mok's behalf.
"I have sacrificed myself for nothing," he said.
Ven Ra says Ta Mok received the leg and the walking stick as a gift from a Thai friend eight years ago. She said the leg is worth $225, but denied the rumors about the gold.
"People wanted to obtain the leg because they think there is gold and diamonds inside, but it is not true," Ven Ra said. "Ta Mok advised his children not to be corrupted by government money, that is why he was poor when he died."
(Additional reporting by Thet Sambath)
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