John Faherty
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 5, 2006 12:00 AM
The former prime minister of Cambodia died this week.
And in all the places in the world that could have occurred, it happened in Chandler.
People come here all the time. They come from Nebraska or California. They come from Mexico and even Cambodia. Each person comes with a history that makes them unique. Most of those histories occur on a very small stage.
But not always.
In Tam was born in the Kampong-Cham Province of Cambodia in 1916. He came from a prominent family and eventually served as prime minister in 1973.
Now, when you call his granddaughter, Tamarom In, you hear instead of the phone ringing, Kenny Chesney singing Big Star.
The early 1970s were a time of violence and civil war in Cambodia.
The government was hanging by a thread as the Khmer Rouge tried to gain control of the country.
The United States was fighting a war in Vietnam, and bombing parts of Cambodia. The Chinese were supporting the Khmer Rouge and the North Vietnamese.
It was during that time when In Tam was prime minister.
"My grandfather loved his country. He was a very traditional person. But he loved his country more than anything," said Tamarom In.
Eventually, the Khmer Rouge gained control of Cambodia. The party and Pol Pot began a period of widespread murder and mayhem. According to some estimates, 1.5 million people died.
"When he was prime minister, it was a very difficult time," said Minister Counselor Meng Eang Nay, of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, D.C.
In was branded a traitor and exiled from his country. He and his family ended up at a refugee camp in Thailand. Then they went to France.
In 1976, the In family landed in the United States and were sponsored by a family in Logan, Utah.
In 1983, In Tam's son In Suosdei got a job at Intel and the whole family moved to Chandler.
Tamarom In, who has "Westernized" her name by putting the last name last, went to high school in the Valley and now sells real estate.
You see, her experience is just like yours, except her grandfather was prime minister.
"We grew up with it, it was everyday life," Tamarom said. "How many people even know where Cambodia is? People ask me all the time what nationality I am. And when I say Cambodian, they say: 'Where's that?' "
And in all the places in the world that could have occurred, it happened in Chandler.
People come here all the time. They come from Nebraska or California. They come from Mexico and even Cambodia. Each person comes with a history that makes them unique. Most of those histories occur on a very small stage.
But not always.
In Tam was born in the Kampong-Cham Province of Cambodia in 1916. He came from a prominent family and eventually served as prime minister in 1973.
Now, when you call his granddaughter, Tamarom In, you hear instead of the phone ringing, Kenny Chesney singing Big Star.
She was a big star at Banana Joe's bar where
She sang karaoke every night
She said if you work hard to get where you are
It feels good in the hot spot light She was a big star
She sang karaoke every night
She said if you work hard to get where you are
It feels good in the hot spot light She was a big star
Only in America.
The early 1970s were a time of violence and civil war in Cambodia.
The government was hanging by a thread as the Khmer Rouge tried to gain control of the country.
The United States was fighting a war in Vietnam, and bombing parts of Cambodia. The Chinese were supporting the Khmer Rouge and the North Vietnamese.
It was during that time when In Tam was prime minister.
"My grandfather loved his country. He was a very traditional person. But he loved his country more than anything," said Tamarom In.
Eventually, the Khmer Rouge gained control of Cambodia. The party and Pol Pot began a period of widespread murder and mayhem. According to some estimates, 1.5 million people died.
"When he was prime minister, it was a very difficult time," said Minister Counselor Meng Eang Nay, of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, D.C.
In was branded a traitor and exiled from his country. He and his family ended up at a refugee camp in Thailand. Then they went to France.
In 1976, the In family landed in the United States and were sponsored by a family in Logan, Utah.
In 1983, In Tam's son In Suosdei got a job at Intel and the whole family moved to Chandler.
Tamarom In, who has "Westernized" her name by putting the last name last, went to high school in the Valley and now sells real estate.
You see, her experience is just like yours, except her grandfather was prime minister.
"We grew up with it, it was everyday life," Tamarom said. "How many people even know where Cambodia is? People ask me all the time what nationality I am. And when I say Cambodian, they say: 'Where's that?' "
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