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.