Kreung Ethnicity - United Nations in Cambodia

If victim dies due to his/her injuries, the animal’s owner must pay tatch to the
victim’s family which includes resources for the funeral and pakkahteung
(compensation for the victim’s family). However, the level of tatch is not as
large as that attributed to murder and is often dependent on the ability of the
animal’s owner to compensate the victim’s family. The tatch can be as high as
one buffalo, one pig, one chicken and a jar of wine in accordance with tradition.
In this case the animal’s owner has to conduct a Char Brieng ceremony to reject
bad luck and bring back happiness to the village.
Case study 7: A case occurring in the village
A thirsty woman, who chose not to go home for a drink, went to her
neighbour’s house to get a drink of water, where she was bitten on her leg
by the house owner’s dog. The injury was not serious; just a small wound
on the skin of her leg. The house owner saw the situation, carefully treated
the wound with rice and offered a prayer of healing. There was no dispute.
Case study 8: A case occurring in the village
Last year, one of the villagers’ dogs contracted rabies and began chasing
and attacking people. A 10-year old girl was bitten on the leg. The dog was
killed. Her grandfather and parents took her to the provincial hospital for
treatment. After staying in the hospital for five nights, the girl was healed and
the doctor allowed her to return home. After a few days, she went with her
grandfather to gather cashew nut fruits on his farm. Unfortunately, a treeant
bit her on the wound she had received from the rabid dog. As darkness
fell, she got a high fever and died during the night. The girl’s family received
tatch from the dog’s owner of a cow, a pig, a chicken and a jar of wine for the
funeral and a Char Brieng ceremony was held.
22 Kameng village, Rattanakiri province