2012 Indigenous Peoples Day

The 18th International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia held in Kampong Cham Province

Tuesday, 21 August 2012 11:02

On the 09 August, 2012 morning, H.E Suos Kong, secretary of ministry of rural development, representing H.E. Chea Sophara, minister of MRD, presided over the 18th celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which is held in Bun Rany Hun Sen Memot high school of Kampong Cham’s Memot district by department of Indigenous peoples development of MRD. At that time, there were participation of the minister of ministries, secretary, vice-secretary, ministers, vice-ministers of departments, many MRD officers, chairpersons of provincial councils, provincial and district governors and representatives of partnership NGOs as well as Indigenous peoples from Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Kampong Speu, and Battambang provinces, in particularly 1200 Indigenous Stieng from Memot district who is facing the loss of their own identity.

H.E. Yim Chung, president of department of Indigenous peoples development read greeting report, noting that United Nations officially claimed the first International decade on Indigenous Peoples (1995-2004) and the second (2005-2015) adopted the international day of the world’s Indigenous Peoples on 09 August every year aiming at eliminating discrimination, promoting participation of Indigenous Peoples in national and international development planning in accordance with culture, tradition, belief, language, and enhancing law implementation.

On this occasion, H.E. Suos Kong, representing H.E. Chea Suphara, said that estimate 1 per cent of Indigenous Peoples of core nation living in other areas comprising of Bunong, Kui, tum Puon, Jarai, Kroeng, Prov, Kavet, Stieng, Kroal, Moel, Kachok, Por, Koanh, Chong, Suoy, Thmuon, Lun, Sa’och, Rode, Khes, Ra’ong, La’eun, Samre, and others who have distinct culture, custom, tradition, belief, and languages. They make a living by rotational farmings, collecting NTFP, hunting, fishery, and animal raising depending completely on natural resoures. He added that the royal government of Cambodia under Samdech Decho Hun Sen‘s ruling increases in all sectors over the country; Indigenous Peoples also benefit from the achievement of many sectors such as cultural, judicial and education sectors, and vocational training on health, environment, agriculture, water resource, infrastructure, land, tourism, and mine and energy industry. In addition to this, the government  has regulated Royal degree, sub-degree, policies, and other instruments like nation policy on Indigenous peoples development, land registration, and right over land of Indigenous communities.

By Rim Sarem