Homes/Ancestral lands of indigenous ethnic minorities at risk from Dam testing

[violet]

maybe it is connected to the the opening of the dam that is up river? I understand they open it regularly and I was wondering how dangerous that would be for anyone in or close to the river? I mean they play a freaking loud alarm each time they do it that lasts for at least ten minutes. I guess they would not have to do this if it wasn't dangerous...

http://www.khmer440.com/chat_forum/view ... 12#p886741

Speaking of dams...

the news below, reminds me of what indigenous in Australia have gone through with mining /drilling operations on ancestral lands. The mining and energy companies got smart and 'bought' indigenous people's consent by paying for education and training, etc. The companies then boost their image as they can now claim they actively contribute to improving the lives of indigenous locals (at the cost of their traditions, sacred land ... and eventually, their culture). At least the people get something from it in Australia. No such luck here (yet).

Government Rejects 11th-Hour Reprieve for Sesan Dam Families
An official in Stung Treng province said there was no way to grant a last-minute reprieve requested on Thursday by villagers whose homes could be flooded within days once testing of the Lower Sesan II hydropower dam begins on Saturday.

About 10 representatives of the more than 100 families traveled to Phnom Penh on Thursday for a media conference hosted by the NGO Forum to publicly implore the government to delay testing of the dam for one more month. The families—most of them from indigenous ethnic minorities—have refused to move to a relocation site the government has prepared for them in Sesan district, reluctant to give up their ancestral lands and worried about losing their traditional way of life.

https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt ... es-132499/

[YaTingPom]

That report doesn't mention what ethnic group they're from. Just curious, do you know violet?

[violet]

I'm not very familiar with much of anything to be honest, but Google results in some information, such as this from Oxfam https://cambodia.oxfam.org/indigenous-p ... -sesan-2-0 :

For the indigenous peoples of Cambodia, land and forests are a major spiritual part of their lives and a living link to the spirits of their ancestors and nature. Hundreds of ethnic Punong, Tampuan, Kreung, Brao and Laos communities living along the Mekong River and its tributaries are fighting against the Lower Sesan 2 dam in northeastern Cambodia that threatens not only livelihoods and food security but also their cultural practices and beliefs.

For these ethnic communities, lands and forests form a part of the community’s cultural identity and sense of wellbeing. In the forest enclosures, the communities pray to these spirits, invoking their help in retaining the spiritual and physical strength and health of the community. The loss or degradation of their lands and forests has a major impact on local cultural practices and beliefs.

Besides the majority ethnic Khmer, Cambodia is a multi-ethnic society comprising Cham, Chinese and Vietnamese. The remaining population is composed of indigenous peoples under different names,1 belonging to two distinct linguistic families. The main groups are Austronesia speaking Jarai, and Mon-Khmer speaking: Brao, Kreung, Tampuan, Punong, Stieng, Kui and Poar.

I admit, I'm not a fan of dams, although I've assisted in their expanded existence in my lifetime. I'm for development, but have a hard time balancing that with impacts on special habitats and indigenous cultures.

According to an Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) completed in October 2008 as part of a larger feasibility study, the construction of the dam will destroy 30,000 hectares of forest adjoining the Srepok and Sesan rivers, thereby having a significant impact on wildlife habitat, as well as 24% of the total agricultural land in Sesan District. The project will also have a severe impact on migratory fish stocks, creating a flooded area of 335km2 and requiring the involuntary resettlement of 1579 households to six resettlement areas, some of which are in approved forest/land concession areas“ likely be subject to considerable disturbance now and in the future.”

http://cchrcambodia.org/project_page/la ... ile-en.pdf

[YaTingPom]

I'm weary of any stats or pieces by groups who have an agenda.

I met a couple of ethnic Aborigines in QLD, Oz in the mid 90s. They told me that the whites who claim to be part indiginous will cause more rifts and divisions within the next 20 years between them and white Australians than ever before. They said they don't need "glory hunters", his words, fucking up something they can achieve on their own given enough time.

Its clouded my views sadly.

[violet]

I'm weary of any stats or pieces by groups who have an agenda.

I met a couple of ethnic Aborigines in QLD, Oz in the mid 90s. They told me that the whites who claim to be part indiginous will cause more rifts and divisions within the next 20 years between them and white Australians than ever before. They said they don't need "glory hunters", his words, fucking up something they can achieve on their own given enough time.

Its clouded my views sadly.

i get your point. I'm wary of stats in general. Simple truth is that there are indigenous people being affected, seemingly with no compensation (I don't know, I haven't looked further into this), but more importantly, being a NZer and a person with very close affinity to the physical/natural environment, people whose history, knowledge, beliefs, etc. are being trodden over by the big western world. I know about survival of the fittest. I'm just not sure I want that 'fittest' to survive. There are many types of 'fit', the one that perpetuates is the one we allow/encourage, etc.
But I digress.


besides, I'm grateful for a/c

[YaTingPom]

True but then no one fucks with the Maori!

[ricecakes]

ancestral lands ?

It's not Saxony for fuck sake...

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[Jackal]

Their homes are being relocated around 15km south from the Sesan river to the Srepok river. Topography is essentially the same: shitty bush and shallow soil over rocky plain.

Most families have moved already.

Biggest gripe they have is a valid one however - the area where their new homes are is around 30km westward of where their newly allocated farmland is: massive pain in the arse.

[YaTingPom]

It also says the move is temporary as that land has already been sold to whoever.