Empowered Chong Community: Fighting for Cultural Preservation and Areng Development

Called by the Prime Minister Hun Sen the ‘Battery Province,’ Koh Kong has potential for

Message from local community

hydropower dam construction projects. Areng dam is one of the plan. However, there have been conflicts caused by its immense natural and cultural impacts to the local indigenous community. Once the dam is constructed, literally 1,500 indigenous people will be forced to relocate to the nearby Cardamom protected forest, and roughly 44 squares kilometers area will be flooded and become a giant water reservoir, destroying endangered animals’ habitats and biodiversity of many kinds. Consequently, with a strong desire to protect their natural and cultural heritages and a concept of eco-tourism in mind, the community people gather together to go against the plan. Based on my observation and interviews with villagers during a study trip to Chong village in Areng valley, this article will explore what the community think and act with regard to Areng valley development, and further discuss how they get empowered to work together as a community.

Commitment to Act against the Dam Construction

PIC's Cambodian Fellow Peace

“We will fight on our own against the construction even if there is no outside support,” a villager clearly emphasized when asked what the community would do during Alex’s absence. This reflects a strong determination of the indigenous people in protecting Areng valley. In a short interview at the community centre in Chong village, a group of villagers actively getting involved in the act against Sinohydro’s hydropower dam construction claimed that the electricity would offer them no benefits at all besides harming their livelihoods and the environment. A villager said that her ancestors had been living in and fed by the valley for over 600 years. “We have lived here very happily. No need, the dam! Even without electricity, we can survive by nature, by our river and by our farming,” said a female villager living nearby the community centre.

Based on my self-study and observation, their statement is correct in the sense that the advantages of the dam and will not outweigh its far-reaching effects on the people, endangered animals and the forests. During the trip, I have observed that Areng River does not flow so strongly that will not be able to efficiently run the turbine to generate electricity during dry season. Also, according to the village representative, there have been two companies coming to assess the feasibility of the hydropower dam project in Areng, and all the results were dissatisfactory as the project will not be profitable, yet diversely impact the entire rainforests. Essentially, the community people understand it clearly that this third company has its hidden agenda beyond their intention to build the dam, and that will be to collect luxurious timbers through clearing out the forests.  So far, they have submitted petitions to Chinese Embassy and Energy and Mining Ministry, and got support from International River Organization.

Community Perspectives: Eco-tourism Planning

When asked about their ideas on Eco-tourism, one villager mentioned the community has planned to transform Areng into a potential eco-tourism site. He continued, “Tatai and other eco-tourism sites in Koh Kong are not better than Areng; why can they make it a profitable place for their people? I think it is about our willingness to make it happen.”

The villagers are now organizing three teams to facilitate trips for visitors. The first is ‘Moto-dub’ team, who will transport visitors from Thmor Bang to the village centre. The second is ‘Housing’ team, who will prepare and provide accommodation at villager houses for the visitors. The third is ‘Guide’ team, which will guide the visitors to ecotourism sites in the areas, such as Chhay Areng River and their tributaries, hiking sites, and Siamese crocodiles’  and dragon fish’s habitats,  many more. However, they added that their efforts in preventing the dam construction is much more important, and they urged all Cambodians and NGOs to pay attention to the Areng valley.  

Development in Areng Valley

Based on interviews with Chong villagers and my observation, there is not much development

Struggling with the muddy road

happening in Areng. First, there is no accessible health centre; if anyone gets sick, they need to travel 20 kilometers from their community. Second, there is no primary school for small kids in the community, making it challenging for villagers to take their children to school, which is far away from home. Third, no communication could be made since there is no phone reception available at the valley. The villagers said they had urged the authorities to consider constructing roads, schools and health centre nearby the community, but the authorities refused by stating Areng valley is a conflicted zone; if schools are built and then the dam is constructed, they will be flooded.

So far, it has been really challenging for tourists to reach this isolated rainforest due to virtually inaccessible roads and communication.

By: Kakada Kuy