Scraping out a living in Pailin’s spent gem mines
Late last month, Nhem Bunna, a retired government soldier, struck it lucky here like few have since Ieng Sary led his Khmer Rouge rebels to defect to Phnom Penh in 1996. Clutching his index finger below the top joint, his feet still in the silt of a gem-mining brook, Mr. Bunna, 47, demonstrated the size of the large, clear ruby that washed up in his pan. Once a mining haven, the gems in this former Khmer Rouge stronghold have long since vanished, making the find an extraordinary one. Mr. Bunna said he sold the stone to one of the many traders plying Pailin for $6,000. …
Hul Reaksmey and Alex Willemyns
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/scraping-out-a-living-in-pailins-spent-gem-mines-61043/
