A man who never received formal acting lessons, yet wins an Oscar for his first performance. A man formally trained to heal, yet who has seen more death and destruction than one could possibly imagine. He is not a hero, yet has done heroic deeds. He is Dr. Ngor Haing, the winner of this year's Oscar for his supporting role in "The Killing Fields."

Dr. Ngor says, I have never had acting lessons but four years of living under Communist rule in Cambodia have made me an actor. In Cambodia it was act or die. Dr. Ngor's Oscar represents the first won by an Asian in over 50 years. Tributes have not only come from America but from Europe as well. He also received two of England's highly regarded Golden Globe Awards at this year's ceremony. How does a man rise from the death of Cambodia to become an international celebrity in a matter of a few years?

"The Killing Fields" showed only a small fraction of the terror that I witnessed in Cambodia, simply states Dr. Ngor. For those who have seen the movie that is an almost inconceivable thought. The piles of bodies first rotting then bleaching in the hot Cambodian sun, the specter of robot children killing on command and the games of death played with real people as pawns play over and over in the mind like a stuck video--made more real because we know this film wasn't a Hollywood creation. Only man can create such terror on such a scale.

As a doctor in Phnom Penh Dr. Ngor saw his share of pain and suffering. But if the '70-'75 Cambodian civil war was anguish for the Cambodian people, then the period after the Communist Khmer Rouge takeover was a living hell. Dr. Ngor's family went into hiding shortly after the takeover, because after government officials and military personnel, anybody with an education was, literally, a target of the Khmer Rouge killers. In the first year of Communist rule 1.2 million Cambodians were killed. Before the killing was to stop Dr. Ngor's entire family would also be included in the statistics.

It was clear that being found meant death, so Dr. Ngor had to hide and deny any association with his own past. Eventually he was captured but he successfully kept his education and past a secret. Dr. Ngor's first award as an actor was a trip to a concentration camp. There the Khmer Rouge employed starvation and forced labor as instruments of suppression to control the people. People were forced into eating tree bark, leaves and anything else they could find to stay alive. It was a brutal life, but it was, at least, life. The desire for freedom never died in the Cambodian people and escapes were attempted even in the face of certain death, if caught. After one such attempt, the Khmer Rouge placed plastic bags over the heads of Dr. Ngor and 14 others until they were about to faint, then quickly took the bags away, and as the victims struggled for a breath of life-saving-air a rifle butt would smash into the side of their head. This continued until only 5 of the 15 were left alive. . . . but just barely.

The Vietnamese attack in 1979 provided the opportunity to escape that Dr. Ngor and the others were waiting for. In the confusion that followed, Dr. Ngor with about 200 others made plans to escape to Thailand. They organized into 5 groups and set off in different directions at different times to a predetermined spot near the Thai border. Of the original 200 only 130 people made it to the rendezvous. The route to the border was littered with corpses and deserted villages. Because of the minefields it was necessary to trace the steps of fallen countrymen to reach safety. The long trek to freedom left only 18 people alive as they crossed into Thai territory.

Once in Thailand Dr. Ngor wrote a letter to the former Cambodian ambassador in Thailand for assistance. The letter eventually found its way to the American Embassy and Dr. Ngor was on a plane to America in September of 1980. In America, Dr. Ngor continued to help refugees at the Chinatown Service Center in Los Angeles, where a chance meeting between Dr. Ngor and the casting director for "The Killing Fields" led to a screen test and eventually the role of Dith Pran in the film.

During the shooting of the film Dr. Ngor, still with vivid pictures in his mind about his ordeal, often expressed his displeasure to the producer and director that the film wasn't explicit enough in showing the true terror of what went on. Although many of his suggestions were incorporated into the film, many were not because the producer felt it would be too brutal, too real to be accepted as the truth. For Dr. Ngor the success of the film is it gives the world a glimpse of Cambodia's suffering. Perhaps, through efforts like these, the unthinkable horror of the Khmer Rouge can be shown in true light.

After arriving in Taiwan, Dr. Ngor felt he shared a common identity with the Chinese who had fled the mainland Communists. People who have known the anguish and terror of communism will never forget, says he. Everytime he speaks about or is asked a question about his experiences, his soul is tortured once again. But if it helps others to understand then it's worth it.

As for the future, Dr. Ngor plans to take the California Medical Exams so that he can resume his practice and further assist refugees. And if a suitable part in another movie was offered to him he'd be "interested." From a man who feels lucky to have seen his 35th birthday, we can appreciate the freedom that envelopes us-- everyday of our lives.

(Kirby Chien)

[Picture Caption]

Dr. Ngor Haing, winner of this year's Oscar for best supporting actor, after arriving in Taiwan. His smile hides the fact that he spent four years of torture in Cambodia.

1. Dr. Ngor Haing explaining his escape to Thailand during a television special. 2. The premiere in Taipei of "The Killing Fields" brought out thousands of fans hoping for a glimpse of the star.

1. Dr. Ngor Haing explaining his escape to Thailand during a television special.

2. The premiere in Taipei of "The Killing Fields" brought out thousands of fans hoping for a glimpse of the star.