Social development
Ethnic minorities and indigenous people
Mondulkiri officials probe Bunong logging allegations
Mondulkiri provincial environment officials are working to identify loggers who a Bunong indigenous community accused of clearing nearly 100ha of community forest in Koh Nhek district’s Rayum commune. ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/mondulkiri-officials-probe-bunong-logging-allegations
Communal titling ends in relief for some, anxiety for others
Indigenous communities attempting to register communal lands are often left in bureaucratic limbo and are at risk of losing this land, advocates said this week, even as the government handed more than 4,000 hectares to three communities in May. ...
ភិន រតនា
https://vodenglish.news/communal-titling-ends-in-relief-for-some-anxiety-for-others/
Indigenous families block land grab in Kampong Speu
Indigenous Suoy families say they have blocked a company formerly chaired by the prime minister’s nephew Hun Chea from clearing their farmland in Kampong Speu, and are seeking compensation. ...
Roun Ry
https://vodenglish.news/indigenous-families-block-land-grab-in-kampong-speu/
Mondulkiri indigenous request authorities to stop encroachment of forest land at Phnom Prech wildlife sanctuary
Representatives of indigenous communities in Mondulkiri province request the Ministry of Environment and relevant institutions to investigate and prevent illegal forest land expansion at “Phnom Prech Wildlife Sanctuary” from an unidentified group and punish them according to the law. ...
Guatemala and Cambodia to foster culture and trade cooperation
The Republic of Guatemala is committed to further promote the cooperation on culture and trade with Cambodia. The commitment was made by Carlos Humberto Jiménez Licona, newly-appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to Cambodia, while paying a courtesy call on Cambodian Acting Head of ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501150469/guatemala-and-cambodia-to-foster-culture-and-trade-cooperation/
Brao, Kreung communities receive 4,000 hectares in Ratanakiri
Around 4,000 hectares of state forests have been transferred to collective ownership by indigenous groups in Ratanakiri, according to government decrees. ...
Mech Dara
https://vodenglish.news/brao-kreung-communities-receive-4000-hectares-in-ratanakiri/
NGO urges law amendments to provide for indigenous people
The draft amendment of the Law on Protected Areas and the Forestry Law should provide indigenous communities with traditional right to livelihood and beliefs, protection and management of natural resources, a non-government organisation said at a press conference yesterday. ...
Tith Kongnov
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501147611/ngo-urges-law-amendments-to-provide-for-indigenous-people/
Indigenous Kuoy call for Preah Roka forest crime investigation
The Kuoy indigenous community in Preah Vihear province has called for relevant institutions to investigate the true scale of forest crimes in the Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary after finding 249 cases in August. ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/indigenous-kuoy-call-preah-roka-forest-crime-investigation
Indigenous communities ask for government intervention in land disputes
The representatives of two different indigenous communities in Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear provinces are calling for government intervention to help solve long-running land disputes in their communities. ...
Try Thaney
https://cambojanews.com/indigenous-communities-ask-for-government-intervention-in-land-disputes/
U.S. deeply values and admires Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage
The United States has deeply valued and admires Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage, underlined Eric Catalfamo, Director of Cultural Heritage Centre in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, when addressing the International Conference on Cultural Property Protection in Siem ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501146518/u-s-deeply-values-and-admires-cambodias-rich-cultural-heritage/
Preah Vihear’s indigenous patrollers red flag Preah Roka logging
Indigenous community patrollers found around 250 cases of suspected deforestation at Preah Vihear’s Prey Preah Roka forest during two patrols in July and August, and are urging authorities to allow more patrols into the forest. ...
Meng Kroypunlok
https://vodenglish.news/preah-vihears-indigenous-patrollers-red-flag-preah-roka-logging/
Cambodia, India speak highly of cultural cooperation
Cambodia and India have highly valued their cultural cooperation focusing mainly on ancient temple conservation, Sanskrit and Khmer language studies, young leaders’ exchange, and textiles museum enhancement. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501141346/cambodia-india-speak-highly-of-cultural-cooperation/
Ratanakiri land dispute escalates amid indigenous frustration
Nine Tampoun villagers are facing an imminent court verdict over allegedly stealing wood from a Chinese concessionaire with which Ratanakiri communities have been locked in an escalating dispute. ...
Phin Rathana
https://vodenglish.news/ratanakiri-land-dispute-escalates-amid-indigenous-frustration/
Ratanakiri Land Dispute Escalates Amid Indigenous Frustration
Nine Tampoun villagers are facing an imminent court verdict over allegedly stealing wood from a Chinese concessionaire with which Ratanakiri communities have been locked in an escalating dispute. ...
Phin Rathana
https://vodenglish.news/ratanakiri-land-dispute-escalates-amid-indigenous-frustration/
Ratanakiri court drops charges against four forestry activists
The Ratanakiri Provincial Court has dropped forest-clearing charges against four indigenous forestry activists after a crime was not found, according to a rights group supporting the activists. ...
Meng Kroypunlok
https://vodenglish.news/ratanakiri-court-drops-charges-against-four-forestry-activists/
Ratanakiri community says revoked concession still operates
Indigenous Jarai and Tompoun communities in Ratanakiri are urging authorities to return nearly 1,000 hectares of land from a rubber plantation that they say continues to operate on a revoked part of a concession. ...
Phon Sotthyroth and Phin Rathana
https://vodenglish.news/ratanakiri-community-says-revoked-concession-still-operates/
Budding indigenous filmmakers find common ground in Phnom Penh
Kin Lean is living in a Phnom Penh house with five other budding filmmakers. The housemates are experiencing life in the capital together while also being trained in documentary filmmaking. ...
Daniel Zak
https://vodenglish.news/budding-indigenous-filmmakers-find-common-ground-in-phnom-penh/
Conservation draft laws go under review by ministry’s working group
Minister of Justice Koeut Rith has set up a working group to review and advise on the penalty provisions of the draft laws on fisheries, forestry and protected natural areas before submitting them to the Council of Ministers for approval. ...
Fear, frustration for community stuck in protected-zone confusion
Bunong community leader Miv Khem, 29, who like his neighbors in Memang commune relies on subsistence rice farming, dates the start of the dispute to 2017, when management of both the Keo Seima and Phnom Prich wildlife sanctuaries were transferred to the Environment Ministry. Protected ...
Fiona Kelliher and Phin Rathana
https://vodenglish.news/fear-frustration-for-community-stuck-in-protected-zone-confusion/
Mondulkiri province’s indigenous farmers say they have no market for their avocados this year
Farmers from indigenous communities in Mondulkiri province say they are not able to sell their avocado crop right now to the point that some villagers have left their avocados on the ground instead of harvesting them. ...
Po Sophea and Sam Sopich
https://cambodianess.com/article/mondulkiri-provinces-indigenous-farmers-say-they-have-no-market-for-their-avocados-this-year
NGO urges end to violence against indigenous women
Indigenous people, especially females, are vulnerable to several forms of violence in addition to being affected by land-related issues, a non-governmental organisation has alleged on the occasion of International Day of the World Indigenous Peoples. ...
Torn Vibol
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501129169/ngo-urges-end-to-violence-against-indigenous-women/
Environment ministry, activists spar over Preah Roka deforestation claims
The Kuy indigenous community in Brame village and commune and six environmental activists claim to have found 260 cases of deforestation in the Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary of Preah Vihear province from July 15 to 17. ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/environment-ministry-activists-spar-over-preah-roka-deforestation-claims
U.S. repatriates 27 looted cultural artifacts to Cambodia in handover ceremony
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy, and Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona celebrated the repatriation of 27 looted artifacts to Cambodia at the National Museum today. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501113232/u-s-repatriates-27-looted-cultural-artifacts-to-cambodia-in-handover-ceremony/
First ethnic Phnong youth in Cambodia to become a Catholic priest
The Catholic Church in Cambodia celebrates the priestly ordination of the first young man of the Phnong ethnic group. As Fides learned, with a procession enriched by traditional Phnong music, songs and dances, the population accompanied the young man to the church, for the “gift ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501111018/first-ethnic-phnong-youth-in-cambodia-to-become-a-catholic-priest/