SBR- Content.pmd - INBO

5 - Peoples of the Mekong1.2 Ethnic diversity in the Mekong RegionThe Mekong Region is characterised by a rich diversity of ethnic cultures, particularly in the uplandareas of Lao PDR, Cambodia and Viet Nam. The history of Southeast Asia, including the MekongBasin, is one of waves of different ethnic groups moving into the area from South Asia and fromChina, and bringing with them their traditions and religious beliefs. Today’s national boundaries dividethe same ethnic peoples into several countries. 3 The Hmong, Mien and Khmu, for example, live inLao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. The Cham are found in both Cambodia and Viet Nam. Nearlyone million ethnic Khmer live in the more remote parts of the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam.The Khmer, the Tai Lao and the Kinh are, respectively, the dominant ethnic groups in Cambodia, LaoPDR and Viet Nam. The Khmer constitute 90 percent of the population of Cambodia. Hill tribes, orKhmer Loeu, as they are collectively known, are concentrated in the mountainous regions of northeastCambodia. They include the Jarai, Kreung, Brou, Kuay, Mnong, Stieng and the Tampuan. 4 Whileonly about one percent of the total population,hill tribes account for the majority of thepopulation in the provinces of Rattanakiri andMondulkiri. 5In 1995, the national census in Lao PDRdistinguished 47 main ethnic groups and a totalof 149 sub-groups. a The dominant ethnic groupis the Tai Lao, also known as ethnic Lao, whomake up 35 percent of the national population. 6Other groups referred to as ethnic minorities,comprise half the population in the Central andSouthern Regions, and about 85 percent in thenorth. 7There are more than 70 different ethnic groups in theLMB, each with its own language and cultureEthnicity in Lao PDR is generally categorised by ethno-linguistic family, as well as by patterns ofgeographic distribution and lifestyle. 8 The ethnic Lao, along with other members of the Tai linguisticfamily, such as the Phutai and the Lue, account for about 60 percent of the population. 9 They arecommonly known as Lao Loum, or lowland Lao, as they tend to live near the Mekong and in other rivervalleys where they practice sedentary rainfed and/or irrigated paddy cultivation of glutinous rice.The Khmu and other Mon-Khmer ethnic groups of the Austro-Asiatic family represent about 30percent of the Lao population. 10 These groups were the first inhabitants of Lao PDR. Because theysettled on slopes and in valleys at altitudes of 300-900 m, they are known as the Lao Theung(midland Lao). They are distributed throughout the country, where their traditional production systemscombine swidden (shifting) cultivation of glutinous rice and other crops on forested highlands withmostly rainfed paddy cultivation in valleys.In Lao PDR, the Hmong make up 80 percent of the Miao-Yao family that constitutes slightly morethan 5 percent of the national population. 11 The ethnic groups of the Sino-Tibetan family compriseunder 5 percent of the population. 12 Together, groups of these families are known as Lao Soung(highland Lao). Located primarily in the north of Lao PDR, they practice swidden cultivation, growingrainfed non-glutinous rice, corn and other vegetables during the rainy season and, often, opium poppyduring the dry season.aChazée 1999; it should be noted that some studies have identified as many as 200 ethnic groups and subgroupsin Lao PDR.43