Among the more fanciful conspiracy theories – the Moon landings were faked; Jews were responsible for 9/11; Princess Di perished at the behest of MI6 and Prince Phillip; and the FBI murdered JFK … and Marilyn Monroe – one that bears a little more hard-headed scrutiny is the alleged re-emergence into civil society of several of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge henchmen.
Many believe that after the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia on Christmas Day 1978, the Pol Pot regime that retreated into the northern jungles with thousands of its own subjugated people embarked on a systematic bloodletting and internal infighting that culled many of the murderous regime’s leaders. Others were caught by the Vietnamese forces. At a show trial held by the Vietnamese, Pol Pot was found guilty of genocide and condemned to death. He later died in self-imposed exile, long after giving up the reigns of power.
But what of his lower-ranked cadres, the thousands of lean, mean, black-clad fighters who had carried out the regime’s dirty work, forcing millions of Cambodians into the straitjacket of an authoritarian agrarian society and were ultimately held responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths in a genocidal frenzy that wiped out a generation? Once war was over, many quietly made their way down from the hills and out of the jungles near the Thai border to restart their lives – as taxi drivers, low-level community officials, teachers and traders.
One – let’s call him Blood Brother 73 – allegedly travelled overland through Vietnam, down through Malaysia and across the straits into Singapore, where he signed up to referee local football matches. Nearing retirement, BB73 officiates now in the lower ranks of the city-state’s amateur game, taking charge, when called upon, of the occasional EFL or ESPZEN game.
And so it was on Saturday, when BB73 arrived 20 minutes late for the BC’s game against unfancied Tembusu. Still dressed in his Khmer Rouge uniform of black shirt and shorts, but having long since buried his trademark red and white checked scarf deep in the forests back home, BB73 made clear from the start of the game he would brook no nonsense; backchat would be dealt with the way he had been taught to deal with it. At the first sign of a BC player politely querying a decision, BB73, eyes bulging, nostrils flaring and lips quivering, shrieked: “Listen whistle. Respect official” – as his mind returned with pride to the darkest days of the regime, when he held sway over more than 100 intelligensia-turned-peasants under a bamboo shelter in the rice fields of remote, northern Cambodia.
As the game progressed, with Tembusu playing some neat football that belied their lowly EFL ranking, the referee raised the temperature with his failings and his rantings. This erratic behaviour served only to confuse, intimidate and stoke a simmering, seething rancour. Yellow cards were flourished at the first sign of dissent – a stark warning of further punishments that could be meted out in BB73’s world – two months of hard labour under a sweltering sun, knee-deep in paddy fields with poisonous insects just one of a number of potential causes of disease and death.
Around 18 minutes, on the adjoining Bukit Timah Field, big JM gathered the ball, lumbered up the right wing and crossed low for SM to skilfully steer the ball between keeper and upright to put the 2nd XI 1-0 ahead versus Questra Vipers in their ESPZEN game. Seconds later, 1st XI striker NG, hoping to capitalise from AL’s absence to close the gap in the 2008 Golden Boot charts, latched on to a through ball, beat the offside line and coolly dispatched a low shot past the keeper.
With Budgie’s pre-match exhortations to kill off the game as early as possible still ringing in BC ears, further chances came, begged, but went. HP rose unopposed to meet a corner, but the ball flicked off his head and over the bar. MB’s pace on the left flank was causing consternation among the visitor’s defence, while SJ, at right midfield, nullified a threat with a muscular performance. Elsewhere, JR and BB were firm in midfield and deft of touch. UN, wide right, pumped over cross after cross, but for little result, though one second-half header from BB merited a goal.
Budgie marshalled his defence – IG, CG, BP, AR and, briefly, PH – with decibel and discipline, and they were rewarded with a second consecutive clean sheet. KR, returning from injury, was a fine recruit to fill the empty keeper’s jersey, and pulled off a couple of smart saves in either half to keep Tembusu chasing.
As the evening gloom gripped Bukit Timah, PH took control of a loose ball in midfield and struck a low right-foot shot inside the post to make sure of the three EFL points for the BC. But BB73 wasn’t done yet, brandishing more cards – yellows for MB for cutting down a marauding winger, IG for having the temerity to stand up and argue for justice, fairness, consistency and a democratic republic of Kampuchea, and a couple of Tembusians for scything down JR in full flight, and a straight red for one of Tembusu’s meaner defenders for an alleged slap in the face for SJ after a brief fracas.
Man of the Match: A difficult one. There were several strong contenders – from stand-in keeper KR, to Budgie, as ever, and JR, also as ever, but my vote this week goes to PH, for a solid display in defence and midfield, a winning goal and for helping translate the Liverpool Echo quiz at Big Bazza’s farewell night.
hehehe
ReplyDelete