The empty stupa built ‘in honour’ of Felix Louis Bardez. GT2/ Taing Rinith

Taing Rinit
August 30, 2019

"That is Bardez Stupa, built in commemoration of a French administrator who was killed by the Krang Leav villagers in 1925,”

Accompanied by a militiaman, a cook and a translator, Bardez did not expect that day to be his very last by the hands of the very people he was to collect dues from. His death, however, brought consequences to the entire village.

Nearly 95 years ago, in the exact location of where the stupa now stands, laid the blood-soaked body of Felix Louis Bardez after he was killed by an angry mob of Kraang Leav during his delinquent tax mission. He was beaten almost to his last breath before being stabbed multiple times with daggers. Two Cambodians who accompanied him, an armed security officer, and an interpreter, were also killed, for being “Barang’s dogs”.

In his article about the incident, The Assassination of Resident Bardez (1925): A Premonition of Revolt in Colonial Cambodia, David Chandler an American scholar and Cambodia expert, wrote that Bardez was not supposed to collect tax himself. While most residents at that time were happy to let the system run its course so long as it provided steady revenue, Bardez, the first French administrator to be killed in Cambodia, in the 20 century, was “cut from different cloth” while he was also eager to impress his superior.

According the interview with her relatives in the 60s, Bardez did not released her husband even after Bi paid the 5-piaste tax, but instead demanded that her husband and the other prisoners would be released only when everyone in the village paid their taxes. This condition angered Bi, causing her to criticize Bardez in public. The brave woman was also the first person to hit Bardez, with an iron bar she found near the door of the commune office.

Bi was recognized as a village heroine until her death in the 60s. Sam Yom, the volunteer caretaker of Bardez Stupa said he personally knew Bi, and for his whole life held her as the symbol of the freedom fighter. About 10 years ago, her statue, depicting Bi holding an iron bar in striking pose, was built by the villagers near the Bardez to honour her courage and bravery.

Full https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50638658/s ... st-people/

The village was renamed after the incident if I recall correctly to something like "dog shit village" by the King. The name reverted back only fairly recently. I'll check again, as I can't recall the name of the village, but it's pretty funny.