Former war survivor Loung Ung speaking to 500 attendees at the MercyCare Oration held at the Hyatt Regency Perth on Thursday, 27 September. Photo: MercyCare.
By Amanda Murthy
“As a former refugee, I am simply grateful.
“For truly it is in places like MercyCare, supported by people like you with a family believe that every person matters, and deserves to be treated with dignity. That we are able to change our world, and change the hearts and minds for the better. A safer world in which every life matters. That, was my parents’ dream when they brought me into this world.”
Those were the opening remarks of MercyCare’s 2018 Orator Loung Ung who spoke to some 500 attendees at the MercyCare Oration held at the Hyatt Regency Perth on 27 September, about her experience living as a war child in Cambodia.
Through this ordeal, Loung lost many of her family members, escaped to America, and lived as a refugee. Her role now as an activist – champions the rights of many across the globe.
Loung is the author of the bestselling memoir, First They Killed My Father, which has also been made into a movie directed by Angelina Jolie.
At the age of 5, she was made an orphan when the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia killed her parents, two sisters and 20 other relatives. Loung was kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge and forced to train as a child soldier.
She explained, “We dug trenches, we grew food to support a war we didn’t vote in, we didn’t want, we didn’t know much about”.
“But we couldn’t speak up, we couldn’t raise our voice, we couldn’t scream in protest. To do so would not only mean danger to us but to our loved ones.”
MercyCare Board Member Maureen Colgan speaks with St Mary’s Cathedral Dean Fr Sean Fernandez (centre), and Fr Conor Steadman at the MercyCare Oration in Perth. Photo: MercyCare.
Loung would later manage to flee Cambodia, eventually carving out a new life for herself in the United States of America.
“I am so grateful that when I couldn’t stand, others stood for me. When I could not speak, others raise their voices, and when I only wanted to hurt, others taught me friendship, how to love, how to care and how to have compassion,” Loung said.
“The work of MercyCare showed me that goodness exists in our world – it exists in us, even in this girl who was once shattered and full of hate.”
She said she felt it was important to tell her story to foster greater understanding of refugees all over the world.
“I want people to understand that as refugees, we are people whose circumstances may have pushed us down at this moment in our lives, but this is not who we are,” she said.
“Being a refugee is a circumstance of life and not a state of being or a state of mind.
“Refugees are people like everyone else. People possessing intelligence, pride, dignity, integrity, talents, skills, perseverance, work ethics, beauty, courage, culture, history, family, love, and dreams,” Loung added.
“These are the attributes we take to our new world, and these, along with the gifts of support and compassion from our new neighbours, will enable us to heal from our traumas and rebuild our lives, contribute to our communities, and give back to our new nation.”
Some 500 attendees gathered for the MercyCare Oration. Activist and author Loung Ung spoke about her experiences as a war child, and how she came out stronger. Photo: MercyCare.
Each year, the MercyCare Oration presents a speaker with a fascinating story that promotes community understanding of issues synonymous with MercyCare’s values.
“Loung’s personal story resonates with our work of breaking cycles of disadvantages with refugees, new migrants and those seeking asylum,” MercyCare Interim Chief Executive David Holden said.
“She is a wonderful example of the contribution refugees can make to their new community if they are given the chance.
“Loung is a strong and eloquent voice for refugees and is the embodiment of many of MercyCare’s philosophies like inclusiveness, kindness and compassion.”
Mr Holden added that many of the refugee groups have been made vulnerable by the fact that they had to flee their own home countries, and made their way most often through incredible hardship to ensure the shores.
“Arriving safely doesn’t mean the journey is over – it means living in limbo, while being told if you can stay here, finding a job in the job market where are always going to be the last one picked, somehow supporting your children, and connecting to an unknown community all in language that is not your own.
“Loung’s life began in extreme trauma in Cambodia, and led her to become a refugee, a survivor, and now a campaigner and advocate,” he concluded.