Prince Sirik Matak sent a letter to the American ambassador informing him that they were not going to evacuate. It read:
"Dear Excellency and Friend,
I thank you sincerely for your letter and for your offer to transport me towards freedom. I cannot, alas, leave in such a cowardly fashion. As for you, and in particular for your great country, I never believed for a moment that you would have the sentiment of abandoning a country which has chosen liberty. You have refused us your protection and we can do nothing about it. You leave, and it is my wish that you and your country will find happiness under the sky. But mark it well, that if I shall die here on the spot, and in the country that I love, it is too bad because we are all born and must die one day. I have only committed this mistake of believing in you, the Americans. Please accept, Excellency, my dear friend, my faithful and friendly sentiments.
Sirik Matak."
Five days later their livers were carried through the streets on sticks.
Spalding Gray, Swimming to Cambodia.