Kreung Ethnicity - United Nations in Cambodia

explained that in such cases, it is the fault of the neighbouring farmer as s/he did
not take the appropriate measures to protect their land.
Fire caused by carelessness of the burner
In the event that the burner does not inform his/her fellow farmers of plans to
slash and burn their land and the fire spreads to neighbouring farms, s/he is
responsible to pay tatch according to the total damage incurred. The tatch can
be in the form of livestock as well as chicken and wine which are consumed to
signify a healed friendship.
Today, disputes over farm fires usually occur on cashew farms. A solution is
typically found with the aid of the Kanong or Krak Shrok and those responsible
are required to pay compensation of money or a pig, plus chicken and wine.
4.2.4 Cattle grazing on someone else’s rice farm
Traditionally, the villagers cultivate rice once a year during the rainy season
between July and December. During the cultivation season, all cattle are
required to be tied up so as to avoid them consuming others’ rice. In cases
where a cow eats someone else’s rice and a dispute occurs, it is normally settled
with tatch. The tatch can be rice or livestock and wine. When the parties agree
on the level of tatch, the guilty party is required to pay a chicken and a jar of
wine to celebrate the end of the dispute. In addition to the tatch, the farm
owner must hold a Tatasrast ceremony to apologise to the rice spirits and
ask them to help the rice to grow as it did before. Then s/he performs a
Chrolab Chreh to the rice farm owner with a chicken and a jar of wine.
In the event that one’s cattle have strayed and grazed on someone else’s rice
farm, even after repeated warnings from the neighbouring farmer, that farmer
is allowed to kill the cattle. The meat of the cattle is then divided into two parts
and shared; one part for the rice farm owner and the other part for the cattle
owner.
Such regulations only apply in the rainy season. During the dry season, cattle are
able to wander freely without potential punishment for grazing on other people’s
land.
Kreung Ethnicity: Documentation of Customary Rules
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