Cambodia conserves culture of indigenous people

Cambodia highlights conservation of culture of Indigenous people.


By Chhorng Long Heng

Over 1,000 people from indigenous people communities in the country, civil servants and policy and legal framework markers, civil society workers, international development workers August 9 gathered to mark 16h international day of indigenous people at ancient Banteay Kdey Temple in Angkor Wat temple compound with focusing on sustainable development, for local communities, conservation of their cultures.
“The government has always introduced the relevant ministries especially to mark this event annually in contribution of promotion of morality value, culture, tradition and rights for local
Indigenous people and seek understandings of livelihood, and their ancient traditions, H.E. Chea Sophara, minister of rural development said in his opening remark at the ceremony.

“As we set up our development plan, the ministry will try to promote further for improving livelihood, development, conservation of natural resources of indigenous people and communities,” Sophara added.
“The government also has provided the opportunities to contribute to development of their local communities; we have known the situation of poor condition of the indigenous communities and the government is trying to improve their living condition through education and heath, and infrastructural building, rural development, clean water, and loans for economic integration” He said, adding that Cambodian constitution stipulated that indigenous people are Khmer and all laws protect their rights and they join to develop national interests. This is the sixth anniversary of Cambodia to mark this international day.
“Indigenous people should benefit from the economic development as well as essential services provision such as health care and education,” Lim Solinn, regional coordinator for Oxfam America said in her opening remark.
She continued that land is one of the challenges confronting indigenous peoples. Indigenous land represents culture, identity, livelihoods and spirituality. But competition for land is fierce with a high demand for large scale agriculture, tourism, hydropower, oil and gas exploration and extraction, mining, ranging bio-diversities, habitat conservation,” she noted.

Most of the sector brings certain level of adverse effects, but the mineral sector is of a major concern. To ensure indigenous people’s sustainable livelihood and culture, we have to secure their rights for ancestral land, and preserve area, and set up mechanisms for accessing issues affecting land, water, health and education, vovational training for local communities, “she added.
A representative of indigenous people said that “we need to know about the government plan for development of local communities and they could take part to ideas for conservation of their culture and communities. Their ideas will contribute to help project and they could talk openly with their communities for community’s development,” the representative said.
Cambodia marked this kind of event for 6th time including this event in the purpose of promotion the indigenous via the acknowledgement of public and to raise the awareness of all the people on the indigenous people culture and issues, the statement from the organizers said, Cambodia has started to celebrate the first international day of indigenous people in 2005, in which, the department of ethnic minorities ‘development of the ministry of rural development with support from civil societies and international development partner.
Since then, the department has organized it every year with different places in the provinces where there are indigenous people living and the civil societies and different development partners are also continue to contribute.
Cambodia has about 30 indigenous groups and on the day of indigenous peoples, some 300 indigenous peoples from across the country will join a parade to call for respect for their own rights for their communities and will present their ways of life in an exhibition and a cultural performance. Indigenous peoples, making up 5 per cent (about 340 million) of the world’s population, are among the poorest of the poor, according to a statement from Oxfam America in cooperation with 17th other local and international organizations.
Cambodia ’s indigenous peoples included 1.34 per cent of total population among 13.5 million people according to in 2008. It equals about 179,000 peoples in the country especially northeastern region in Ratanakiri, Kratie, Steung Treng, and Mondulkiri provinces. The indigenous peoples composes Tompuon, Kreung, Jarai, Kroel, Stieng, Thmoan, Kuy, Ponon, Proev, Kavet, Kachak, Lon, Ro’De, Mil, , Khoanh,, Chung, Por, Sorch, Suoy, Róng, Thmon, , Kroung.
"we also encourage all development partner to take serious action to provide protection and assistance to enble the indigenous community to get on board altogether," Mr. Bill Salter, ILO director for regional office said in ceremony. ILO welcome the government that have approved the national policy on indigenous people development, he said.

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