Kreung Ethnicity - United Nations in Cambodia
Kreung Ethnicity - United Nations in Cambodia
Kreung Ethnicity - United Nations in Cambodia
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Close to the Rong house <strong>in</strong> Kameng village, there is a small banana tree farm<br />
approximately 15m 2 surrounded by timber pots to prevent its destruction<br />
by animals and children. This is a place where sacrific<strong>in</strong>g to the village spirits<br />
takes place. Only a Krak Shrok Sen Phum can enter <strong>in</strong>to this farm for sacrific<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
All others are not permitted to enter, or s/he or another villager risks becom<strong>in</strong>g<br />
sick and dy<strong>in</strong>g. If someone accidentally enters <strong>in</strong>to the farm, the villagers<br />
sacrifice to the spirits aga<strong>in</strong> ask<strong>in</strong>g for good fortune, happ<strong>in</strong>ess and forgiveness,<br />
<strong>in</strong> hope of avoid<strong>in</strong>g any punishment that might be imposed by the spirits.<br />
Then s/he must be responsible to compensate all expenditures <strong>in</strong>curred <strong>in</strong> the<br />
sacrific<strong>in</strong>g ceremony. The second sacrifice must correspond to the previous<br />
sacrifice, i.e. if the previous sacrifice was celebrated with a buffalo, then the<br />
second sacrifice must also be with a buffalo. In addition, the person who<br />
broke the rule must pay tatch of a buffalo. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the village sacrifice<br />
celebration, all villagers and other people or guests are <strong>in</strong>vited to jo<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> the<br />
eat<strong>in</strong>g, dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g, danc<strong>in</strong>g, play<strong>in</strong>g music and s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g. After the celebration,<br />
the village will be closed for three days for krang, dur<strong>in</strong>g which time no<br />
outsiders are allowed to enter the village unless they are <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the<br />
celebration. To prohibit guests from enter<strong>in</strong>g the village, they place a no-entry<br />
sign consist<strong>in</strong>g of a piece of rope strung with tree branches across the village<br />
entrance. The villagers tak<strong>in</strong>g part <strong>in</strong> the ceremony can move around<br />
with<strong>in</strong> and come and go from the village as usual. If someone without the<br />
right to enter the village, does enter, s/he is considered to be break<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
village’s krang. This would cause the spirits to become angry or unhappy and<br />
may punish the people <strong>in</strong> the village with illness and death. To avoid the bad<br />
fortune caused by break<strong>in</strong>g their krang, the villagers must re-sacrifice with the<br />
same resources they used <strong>in</strong> the orig<strong>in</strong>al sacrifice. The <strong>in</strong>dividual who violated<br />
krang will be arrested by the villagers and required to pay tatch which <strong>in</strong>cludes<br />
all resources needed for the additional sacrifice.<br />
<strong>Kreung</strong> <strong>Ethnicity</strong>: Documentation of Customary Rules<br />
43
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