Human rights activist Theary Seng has been shaped by hercountry's tragic history. As a child, she collected cow dung among the gravesof the victims of the Khmer Rouge to fertilize the crops. Her parents died atthe hands of the ultra-Maoist group, which ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.
After the fall of the Khmer Rouge, Theary escaped to Thailand and thenthe United States, where she became a lawyer. Now, she is back in Cambodia,working to help her impoverished country.
"So, for me, it's to take my history and the loss of my parents and toshape it, to not let the Khmer Rouge leaders have the better of me - by makingit into something more hopeful," she says.
Theary heads the Center for Social Development, which works to overcomethe dark chapter of the Khmer Rouge. "The Khmer Rouge years have scarred our psychology. There is a lot ofbeauty (now), but it's unfortunately overwhelmed by all these social problemsand ills of our current society."
Theary also speaks out against abuses around the world. At a recentdemonstration in Phnom Penh, she tried to lay a wreath to honor those killed inthe civil war in Sudan's Darfur region. Government officials prevented her fromdoing so.
Theary takes a special interest in the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT.) The tribunalis starting to prosecute the group's leaders for their crimes. Theary serves asan official tribunal representative for the victims.
"I see the opportunity for other voices to join mine, and to enlarge thespace where other voices could be heard in addition to mine," she says.
Joseph Mussomeli is the U.S. ambassador to Cambodia.
"The thing about Theary Seng is that she is unique inCambodia. She is able to bridge thechasm between America's view of things and Cambodia's understanding of theworld. Whether it's the KRT process or justice in general, or corruptionissues, or land issues, Theary adds a certain dimension that is very unique andvery special," he says.
The activist, author and attorney uses every opportunity to promotehuman rights in Cambodia. She hosts a TV show seeking out the country's nextgeneration of youth leaders.
"Really, my work here is not to do anything big, but to be acommon citizen back in my homeland, where I've suffered a lot. And, now, I'mtaking that suffering, and shaping it into hope." She says she is trying towork with people "who have not had the time and space to heal that I've had."
Theary Seng has come a long way from her days as a child laborer underthe Khmer Rouge. Today, she plays an important role in helping bring tojustice those responsible for thehorrors of that time.