Kreung Ethnicity - United Nations in Cambodia

4.2.3 Fire (arson)
Traditionally, fire represents an important element of the villagers’ lives;
they use fire for cooking, protection against insects and the cold, livelihoods
(such as burning resin-trees and bushes for farming), as well as a light source at
night. Care is taken in order to prevent fires spreading and harming residents,
villages and farms. Nevertheless, Kameng village does have a history of problems
with fires destroying houses and farms.
Residential fire
There have not been any cases of people intentionally setting fire to others‘s
houses or property; however, there have been instances of accidental fire. Any
person who through carelessness causes a fire which damages the property of
others must pay tatch to the victim according to the total damages incurred.
The compensation in tatch could take the form of cash, a buffalo, cow, pig,
chicken, jar of wine, or gong depending on the ability of the perpetrator to pay.
If a perpetrator is found to have intentionally started a fire, the tatch would be
doubled, to serve as punishment and as a deterrent. In determining the level
of tatch, a Krak Shrok will balance the level of imprudence of the perpetrator
against the total damages incurred.
Apart from tatch, the perpetrator is responsible for a ceremony called Tatasrast
(see details in section 4.7.2) for the victims to sacrifice to the spirits so as to rid
themselves of bad luck (such as illness or accident) and to ask for health and
happiness. The perpetrator has to pay wine and a chicken for sacrifice in this
Tatasrast ceremony. S/he must take the chicken’s blood mixed with wine to sprinkle
on the site where the fire occurred, while asking for a pardon from the spirits.
In case of a villager’s own house being damaged by fire, they must also organise
a Tatasrast to sacrifice to the spirits to reject bad luck and request happiness
and health.
Kreung Ethnicity: Documentation of Customary Rules
25