Gold Mining and its affect

Mr. Ma Vichet (wearing black jacket), governor of O Yadav district in#Ratanakiri led a group of villagers of Peak village to see the affect caused by the mining company in Peak village, December 28, 2014. 

Another photo is a mining shaft.

Report and photo by Sev Huot, a citizen journalist in Peak village, Yatung commune, O Yadav district, Ratanakiri. 

Photo by Sev Huot, CJ, Ratanakiri, December 2014

Photo by Sev Huot, CJ, Ratanakiri, December 2014

Is the right to free and prior informed consent respected?

What would happen to the Indigenous communities here in #Ratanakiri, such as their livelihoods, culture, custom and tradition, if their natural resource was taken? Indigenous People has their right to free, and prior informed consent (FPIC). Has it (the right) been respected?

Belief of indigenous community in using a buffalo blood

You probably wonder why ...?

... and you also probably wonder what these people are doing with this buffalo and what will they use it.

For those who know about indigenous communities; these two photos will not surprise them. However, those who are not familiar with indigenous people communities may consider these photos and story below.  The story could be a very strange and want to read more.

The villagers will kill this buffalo and will use the blood for cleaning all bad things in their village, according to Sarun Linh (សារុន លីញ) who is an indigenous people and is citizen journalist in Ratanakiri.

A woman was pregnant after her husband left her a year ago. (They divorced). The tribal chief and villagers in the village consider this as a bad thing in their community and they need to wash the whole village using the blood from the buffalo.

This story happen on September 25th, 2014 in Lower Sea village (ភូមិ​សមុទ្រ​ក្រោម), Seda commune, Lumphat district, Ratanakiri.

Report and photos by Sarun Linh (សារុន លីញ), citizen journalist in Ratanakiri 

Inauguration of Office of Radio Voice of Indigenous Community

Ratanakiri, on September 18th, 2014: Mr. Poy Nhorch (ប៉ូយ ញ៉ច) said this morning he went to join an inauguration of Office of Radio Voice of Indigenous Community.

Mr. Poy Nhorch (ប៉ូយ ញ៉ច) is one member of indigenous community and citizen journalist in Ratanakiri province.

The inauguration ceremony of the new office was celebrated in Lom village, Pok Nhai commune (ប៉ក់ ញ៉ៃ), Oyadav district, Ratanakiri. The size of the office is 5 x 6 meter and is under support from organization for Promoting Voice of Indigenous Community - BCV and other three communities namely PokThom village (ប៉ក់​ធំ), PokToch village (ប៉ក់​តូច), and Lom village. These villages are in Pok Nhai commune (ប៉ក់​ញ៉ៃ)​, Oyadav district, Ratanakiri.

Fifty-eight persons in which twenty-three are women participated in the inauguration opening ceremony. These participants are representatives of village and commune authorities; representatives of communities, and representatives of the organization. Many ordinary citizens participated in the ceremony, as well.

Report and photo by Mr. Poy Nhorch (ប៉ូយ ញ៉ច), citizen journalist in Ratanakiri; English by Sek Sokha

Indigenous youth in Ratanakiri trained on law

A group of college students who got trained from Equitable Cambodia (EC) in Kep came to Ratanakiri in order to give indigenous youth what they learned from Equitable Cambodia.

The training took place at Upper Khmer Association (HA) from 13th to 14th September , 2014 in OKantel village (អូរ​កន្តិល), Sangkat Labansiek (ឡាបាន​សៀក), Banlung city, Ratanakiri. Thirty seven youth jointed the training. Most of the youth come from different communities.

The training was facilitated by college students, namely Mr. Ratha who is studying international relation in his third year; Mr. Vanthear (វ៉ាន់​ធា) a fourth year student studying law​; and Miss Kim Srian (គីម ស៊្រាន) a third year student  studying law, as well.   

The training to the indigenous youth processed well, smoothly, and ended with friendly and happy environment. 

Report and photos by Forng Champei, citizen journalist in Ratanakiri; English language by Sek Sokha

The first work by a citizens journalist in Ratanakiri: A man death in a Motorbike Traffic Accident

The first short video clip after a citizens journalist in Ratanakiri completed training on using smart phone for reporting news.

On August 29 2014, CLEC taught members of 10 people from indigenous communities in Ratanakiri. These members were taught how to use smart phone for news reporting. The skills taught included typing Khmer script Unicode, shooting photo and video, LINE application for news reporting.

After completion of this one-day training; most of them have sent text news and photo news via LINE app.

For Maria who is one member of the ten who participated in the training, this is the first time that she is able to shoot a video clip and sent it via LINE app. And since they have completed the course, no one has shooting any video using smart phone.

The video clip that was taken by Maria described about a man who died in motorbike accidence which occurred in village of Domrei Ngorp (Domrei ងាប់).

His motorbike hit with a pole while he was driving it by drunk condition.

Though her video look not very good and need correction or improvement; it is a first step forward for her who is member of indigenous community.
Narrated by Sek Sokha; source of story and Video by​ Maria (សេវ ម៉ារៀ), citizens journalist in Ratanakiri province

A Meeting of Members of Indigenous People Organization (IPO)​ in order to review work done

Ratanakiri, on 11 September 2014, there is a quarterly meeting to review the results of work that have been carried out until now by members of Indigenous People Organization.

The meeting was held at the office of Indigenous People Organization (IPO) in Uon village, Lomchor commune, Oyadav District, Ratanakiri province.

In the meeting, there are 39 participants in which 9 were women. The facilitators who facilitate the meeting are Mr. Poi Nhorch, Mr. Romas Moeun, and Mr. Men Sothea.

Report and photos by Poi Nhorch, citizen journalist in Ratanakiri province, on 11 September 2014

Training On Legal and Consulting Expertise

Community Legal Education Center under the support from Oxfam America conducts a training on "legal and consultation skill" for community representatives as citizen consultant or paralegals based in community.

The training was held in BBU school; in Banlung city, Ratanakiri province and there are participants who were recruited as citizen consultant, amounted 57 people, from various communities in Ratanakiri province. They were divided into two groups, group 1 starts on 1st to 5th September and group 2, from 8th to 12th September, 2014.

Report and photos by Meas Sophea, CLEC staff and citizen journalist in Ratanakiri province, on September 11th 2014

Gift distribution season

On Sunday, September 7, 2014 at hour 9:25 am, HE Muong Poi who is the chairman of the council of Ratanakiri province came to preside over an inauguration ceremony of canal in Kong Yu village, Pate commune, O'Yadao district, Ratanakiri.

In the event, HE Muong Poi who is from CPP gave gifts, such as scarves, mosquito nets, and medicine to citizens, 245 people.

Photos and Report by Sev T'vel, citizen journalist, Ratanakiri Province

Way indigenous Peoples prepare food

This is how indigenous peoples prepare and eat their food.

Below is a man who prepare food using bamboo.

Food is already for eating. Please enjoy eating the food with us.

Photos and reported by Poy Nhoch, Citizen Journalist in Ratanakiri province

Group of Patrollers and the preserved forest of communities

Forest Conservation Commission is patrolling in the conservative forest of community in Poktouch village, Ratanakiri

The team has five members that contain two from the conservation commission;
a security guard; and two ordinary citizens.

They eat lunch in the forest.

Photos and Reported by Poy Nhorch, Citizen Journalist in Ratanakiri province, September 8th 2014 

NGO Forum Cambodia Organized a Meeting about dispute Related to Economic Land Concession in Preah Vihear Province

Preah Vihear Province: On September 8th 2014, NGO Forum Cambodia and Network of Land organized a discussion meeting with Srayang village community, Phnom Kulen district, Preah Vihear province about land dispute with Economic Land Concession companies, namely SP Malaysia, Seila Damic and Emnin.

Meeting organized by NGO Forum and Network of Land,
in Preah Vihear

Parties participating in this meeting are village chiefs and NGO staff, a total of 27 persons. They discussed issues related to land conflicts in Srayang commune, which caused impact on total land area of over 2,000 hectares, including farmland and reserve forest land of communities.

The land disputes cause impact 818 families and over 800 hectares of land in the Srayang South village and 1207 hectares in the Srayang North village. Until now, villagers protest every day, and there isn’t any resolution.

Photo and reported by Mr. Em Sopheak, Citizen Journalist in Mondulkiri

Daily Life of Indigenous People in Takok Chrai Village; Ratanakiri

By Forng Champei; citizen journalist in Ratanakiri province


I would like to tell story about the community where I live. I would like to brief about the livelihood of indigenous people in my community.

Usually for women and children always go to the field every day. In my community, farmers engaged in agriculture. They have the fields for planting crops such as potatoes, beans, rice, and cashew​ trees, which are not characterized as a large scale.

For men, sometimes they go to the Chamkar and help their wives there. Their regular jobs is to go to the forest and logging good and priced timbers for sale. When they have the money from the sale of timber, they spend the money for buying wine, playing snooker and going karaoke.

In addition to the mentioned above, I also noticed the breakage of this community because of sale of land or I can say land grab for sale. Before, when there was a traditional festivals only Gong is played by the community. They helped each other in the community to help organize the event, both energy and material.

In contrast, often there is attack each other, when there is any festivity; and the neighbor won't join the festivity, unless there is music player.

Flood Caused By Heavy Rain

Ratanakiri province: last night on 6 September 2014 there was heavy rain and caused flood in Takok Chrai village, Bor Kham commune, Oyadav district, Ratanakiri province. Road in the village was also flooded.

Though the rain stopped, the water still continue to rise and some areas were flooded.

Photos and reported by Forng Champei: citizen journalist, Ratanakiri province

Livelihood of Indigenous Peoples

Photos on September 6th, 2014: This is how indigenous peoples in Cambodia live. They have been living in Takok Chrai village, Bokham commune, O Ya Dav district, Ratanakkiri province.

Photos and reported by Forng Champei: citizen journalist, in Ratanakiri Province

Indigenous People and Their Community Development

Ratanakiri, September 5, 2014: There was a discussion meeting on raising awareness on women rights to making decision and participation in community development. The discussion focused on indigenous women's rights.

In the discussion meeting which was held at IPO (Indigenous People Organization) office located in Un village, Lumjor commune of Ratanakiri's O Ya Dav district, there were 34 participants in which 25 were women.

The meeting was facilitated by Soeng Thu, Romas Moeun, and Rojom Naep, all are from indigenous community.

Poy Nhorch, a citizen journalist also participated in the meeting.

Report by Poy Nhorch, citizen journalist, Ratanakiri    

Technology: Members of Young Indigenous People Can Chat from Distance

RTK, September 4, 2014: Just less than a week after ten indigenous people were trained by Community Legal Education Center (CLEC) on using smart phone for reporting, they are now able to chat using LINE app.

They can tell what is happening in their community. They can give comment, ask and answer questions, send message, photo, video and more ...

Below is a translation of their chat via LINE on their tradition, custom and belief.

With the start of the chat Sev Twelve who is a member of Jarai indigenous community sent a photo below, saying now villagers are eating meat from buffalo which is used to offer to thunder spirit (អារក្ស​រន្ទះ).

Twelve: Because when their farm yard or other important place was hit by thunder, they have to kill a buffalo and use the meat to offer to the spirit.

A girl whose name is Forng Champei and also member of the indigenous community start her chat by asking Twelve to give more detail.

Champei: Can you give a detail.
Twelve: If we don't offer to the spirit buffalo meat, the villagers will get sick and die. Therefore, we have to offer buffalo meat to the spirit.

Champei clarified during the chat that this is the indigenous people's identity which is our ancient tradition and custom even though other people said it is savage to treat animal like this.

Sarun Linh who is a young lady from another indigenous community said: when a family has a funeral, other villagers very often come to accompany the host.

Another girl named Sev Maria who is from another indigenous community agreed with Sarun Linh.

Sarun Linh: Thank you both, Sisters for sharing the tradition and custom of the IP.

And more chat on LINE ...

Technology can help filling in the gaps of communication between these remotest communities of indigenous people in Ratanakiri, Northeastern of Cambodia.

Training on Using Smart Phone for Sending Report

Community Legal Education Center (CLEC) on August 29th, 2014 conducted a training on using smart phone for reporting. The training which was conducted at Build Bright University, in Banlung Ratanakiri Province last one whole day. All ten participants were selected from ingenious communities in Ratanakiri.

The group of participants is call 'Citizen Journalists Ratanakiri' who will after the training will use the mobile phone to report news/event from their own community. The following basic skills were given to the participants.

1. How to use smart phone,
2. How to write using Khmer Unicode on smart phone,
3. How to take photo and short video,
4. Post text on LINE,
5. Send voice message on LINE, and
6. Chat privately and chat to group.

Each participant was given by CLEC (Community Legal Education Center) a SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 Mini smart phone, including a power bank, charger for charging from battery. The Citizen Journalist or Media Operators will use the mobile phone to report news and/or event from their own village/community.

Awareness on Health Service

RTK, September 4, 2014: Staff from Ratanakiri Based Care on September 4, 2014 held a meeting with villagers of indigenous community, Pok Touch village,  to raise awareness on health. The staff explained the villagers about their right to public health service by the health center.

Reported by Poy Nhorch, a citizen journalist in Ratanakiri