PHNOM PENH: Despite Thai artillery shells landing in her neighbouring village, 69-year-old Van Noeun stubbornly refused to abandon her home, even as many other villagers fled, leaving the village nearly empty during the fighting last December.
She did not leave because she felt she could seek safety alone while “abandoning” her four sons, who were fighting against Thai soldiers on the front lines in Oddar Meanchey province. Additionally, she believed the Thai soldiers would probably not fire upon her location.
