Kreung Ethnicity - United Nations in Cambodia

Due to the fact that one convicted of murder will be condemned by the court
and put in jail, villagers will not force the murderer to pay the entire tatch
according to tradition. Instead s/he must pay half the tatch which is the
equivalent of six buffaloes. If the murderer cannot afford the required number
of buffaloes, his family (extending as far as his/her second cousin) may pay the
remaining ‘debt’ according to their resources; other villagers may contribute as
well. However, relatives cannot be forced to pay nor have resources confiscated
in such situations. Their contribution remains simply a symbol of charity to either
the perpetrator or the victim.
Tatch in such cases is divided into two parts. The first part includes one buffalo,
one pig, one chicken and a jar of wine for the funeral ceremony. This ceremony
includes a sacrifice to the spirits to ask for forgiveness, be cleansed of bad luck
and gain future happiness and fortune. Kreung people call this ceremony
Char Brieng (see details in section 4.7.2). Other villagers bring their own jars of
wine as a contribution to the ceremony. The second part of the tatch, given to
the victim’s family, is called the pakkahteung 8 meaning the compensation for
the loss of the victim to their family members.
4.1.2 Manslaughter 9
Villagers explained that manslaughter is when a perpetrator kills someone,
however, had not planned to kill, i.e. the killing was accidental, or the perpetrator
was unaware that the injury caused would lead to death. According to the culture
of the villagers, manslaughter does entitle the victim’s family to tatch from the
perpetrator. Manslaughter is not considered to be as serious a crime as
intentional murder as there was no intent to kill the victim. Elders usually settle
such cases by ordering the perpetrator to compensate the victim’s family with
assets equal to six buffaloes. However, the tatch is negotiable in accordance with
the agreement between both parties.
8
This word is from the original Kreung and usage is used throughout this document.
9
According to the Criminal Code Article 207, manslaughter is punishable with a sentence of one to three
years in jail and a fine of 2-6,000,000 riel.
Kreung Ethnicity: Documentation of Customary Rules
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