i THE PEOPLES OF cambodia

Cambodia Research Network - CRN

© 2007, 2009, 2010 by CRN - Cambodia First edition 2007 Second edition 2009 Third edition 2010

i Table of Contents

Introduction ...... iv Cambodia Overview...... vii Buddhism and Cambodia...... xiii Animism Defined...... xvii Current Status Report ...... xix Pray for Cambodia...... xxi Brao...... 23 Bunong...... 24 Cham ...... 25 Chinese Cambodians...... 26 International Community...... 27 Jarai...... 28 Kampuchea Krom...... 29 Khmer...... 30 Segment Spotlight: Cambodian Diaspora...... 31 Segment Spotlight: Prostituted People...... 32 Segment Spotlight: Factory Workers...... 33 Segment Spotlight: Orphans ...... 34 Segment Spotlight: Physically Disabled...... 35 Segment Spotlight: Urban Poor...... 36 Segment Spotlight: Young People...... 37 Khmer Keh...... 38 Khmer, Northern...... 39 Kraol...... 40 Kuy...... 41 Lao ...... 42 Mel ...... 43 Pearic Cluster...... 44 Stieng...... 45 Tampuan...... 46 T’moan...... 47 Vietnamese...... 48 Segment Spotlight: Vietnamese Floating Villages...... 49 References...... 50 ii iii This book will help you pray for these people A Work in Progress Introduction groups and for harvesters, long-term servants who This book contains short cultural profiles of can live among them, know them and love them. Cambodia’s people groups. Cambodia is the most A second step of obedience is learning as much homogenous nation in mainland Southeast Asia From Killing Fields to .... written to describe some of these jewels formed as possible about these people groups. A good with the Khmer representing nearly 90% of the ‘Cambodia.’ What comes to mind when hearing under severe pressure. place to start is with the introductory pages of population. This book contains an overall profile on this name? Perhaps ancient temples, genocide, this book that give some broad background about the Khmer plus several segment spotlights which Buddhism, humanitarian aid, poverty, corruption, The purpose of this book is to introduce Buddhism, animism and Cambodia. The best way cross ethnic boundaries. high-profile Hollywood adoptions, the Ho Chi the Unreached Peoples of Cambodia to to learn about another religion, however, is to meet A one-page profile is by definition a simple Minh trail, and Christians, so others and truly listen as they discuss their personal summary. Some of the profiles are based on carpet bombing that prayer for faith, beliefs, hopes, fears, and dreams. extensive materials from academic, government are some of the these peoples, A third step of and field sources. Others possibilities. ministry to obedience is to partner are mere sketches For some, these peoples with others to bless one based on very minimal nothing comes and friendship or two people groups. information available. to mind because with these A practical way to do Ongoing research into they have peoples might this is called “Adopt a cultural similarities, absolutely no increase People.” Adoption can be preferred ethnic names knowledge in our done by a family, a small and population statistics about this small, generation. group or a congregation. continues to cause Southeast Asian Adopting a People means revisions to our list of nation that Cambodia is treating that ethnic peoples and clusters. often escapes moving forward, group like a member of As we gain better the world’s away from the your own family. As a information this book attention. ‘Killing Fields’ of congregation, this means will continue to evolve. In reality, the past toward committing to a long-term This edition is merely a snapshot of our current present-day a bright future. relationship toward a people, visiting them, and understanding in early 2009. Cambodia boasts a growing population of nearly There is hope for these ethnic groups to relate supporting workers among them. Partnering also This book represents the combined efforts of 14 million people. Life for these people in the together, perhaps as one brightly shining jewel, means joining support networks that can help you many Christian organizations in the Cambodia last 30 years has been an enormous struggle to perhaps as different gems set together. But it will bless this newly adopted member. Research Network (CRN). It is copyrighted for the overcome multitudes of obstacles. Years of war left take spiritual and social transformation for healthy Adopting a baby means promising to care non-commercial use of its members. Outside CRN the land and its people devastated and possessing new bonds of trust to form. intensively for it until it is mature enough to care sponsored activities, this book may only be sold for little hope. Only in the last 10-15 years has any God loves the peoples of Cambodia. He for itself. This book can help your group seriously recovery of purchase and delivery costs. sense of normalcy been restored. has watched their families and consider and pray for several groups before making We are hoping this book stimulates serious Massive influx of foreign aid cultures develop for ages. He this long-term decision. ethnographic research projects and personal money and assistance continue knows every happy child and A fourth step of obedience is to go and live involvement with these peoples. At time of to pour into Cambodia with the every worried parent. He knows among the people and provide a useful service that publication, little ethnographic data was available hope of helping the people pick every unemployed father and creates opportunities for friendship. A few will be for the Kachok and Khaonh. We would welcome up the pieces of their broken every abused mother. He loves called to be the pioneers, many will be called to any new data from field sources. Please send world. True progress has been every honest farmer and corrupt be support partners. The challenge of Jesus to his suggestions and corrections (with explanations and painful and slow as Cambodians officials. He loves the Buddhist disciples was to pray for long-term workers to enter bibliographic information) to the email address try to pick their way through majority and the Muslim, Chinese, the harvest. It takes years of cultural learning to below. Thank you! new minefields of corruption and animistic minorities. He loves deeply understand and love people from another and exploitation in an effort to the urban poor and the jungle culture. People like that are grown, not born. This CRN Research Workgroup move forward. These pressures hunters. book will help challenge people to consider this Email: cambodia.peoples@gmail. cross-cultural lifestyle and give them ideas for how also impact the various cultural A Broken Heart com and ethnic groups in Cambodia. to get started. Together, we can impact a people Jesus’ heart was broken with com- The cultures of these people are group in Cambodia with the love of God. passion when he saw the wander- priceless jewels forged and shaped Read the pages that follow, not for information, ing masses of society (Mt.9:36-38). by these hardships. but for inspiration! What is God calling you to do He called his followers to join Him God desires to shape and as a servant and partner in His plan to love the in compassion and in prayer to polish these cultures as well. God people of Cambodia? May you discover in these God for others. The first step of loves all the people of Cambodia. pages the beautiful peoples of Cambodia and learn obedience in becoming a blessing to the nations is He gave them rich resources and ethnic diversity to love and appreciate them just as their Maker having a broken heart that prays for the nations. to make something beautiful of their lives, not does! something devastated by war. This book was iv v Cambodia Overview

A Brief History King Sihanouk entered an alliance with the Khmer ambodia’s heritage can be traced back to Rouge, led by Pol Pot. The Khmer Rouge was a the rise of the Khmer empire in the 9th small guerrilla force, but grew into a large army in Ccentury. As the Khmer Empire grew in just a few weeks. As the raging war in neighboring power, the kingdom exerted political, cultural and Vietnam entered Cambodia, fighting engulfed the spiritual influence over much of Southeast Asia entire country. until the 13th century. This empire employed its On April 17, 1975, Phnom Penh fell to the people to Khmer build intricate Rouge. irrigation Historian systems and David construct temples, Chandler including paints a the Angkor vivid picture: Wat temple “Communist complex, a troops, finalist in dressed in the 2007 peasant ‘New Seven cloths or Wonders of simple khaki the World’ uniforms, contest. ominously After silent and this great heavily empire was armed, overthrown converged on in the 14th the capital. century, Many of the Khmer them were under fifteen years of age. Walking faced weak kings, internal rivalries, and continual slowly down the capital’s broad avenues, they warfare with the Thais until succumbing to French responded coldly to the people’s welcome. Their colonial rule in the late 1800s. However, in 1953, arrival coincided roughly with the Cambodian the French installed Norodom Sihanouk, who led New Year. The coincidence was Cambodia to independence. deliberate, for the communists King Sihanouk was the intended that the year to come, country’s leader for seventeen like Year One of the French years, before being ousted in Revolution, would usher in a coup d’état, led by General an entirely new phase of Lon Nol. In 1970, following Cambodian history.” Many the coup, Cambodia quickly rejoiced, believing the country’s descended into civil war, civil war was over and the involving three factions. country would soon be able to The factions consisted of rebuild. Cambodians loyal to the A new phase of Cambodian Royal family, those loyal to history was ushered in. The a communist ideal (Khmer Khmer Rouge victory led to a Rouge), and those loyal to the revolution sweeping through new Prime Minister (Lon Nol). Cambodia. Soldiers warned Each group believed they were that U.S. war planes would loyal to the best interest of the bomb the cities, and forced the Khmer. During the early part urban populations to evacuate, of the civil war (1970-1975), leaving the cities empty and vi vii lifeless. Many Khmer believed this evacuation border. This mass migration left the rice harvest 1993 election was an uneasy coalition of Prince in central Vietnam in the 15th century. Near the would be short. It turned into four years of forced unattended. Famine swept across the country in Ranariddh’s Funcinpec and Hun Sen’s Cambodian time of this migration the Cham became followers labor, famine, suffering and death in agrarian labor 1979 and 1980. Those who found their families People’s Party. The unified government fell apart of Islam and remain linked with other Muslim camps. attempted to return to normal lives, wanting to put violently in July 1997. When the dust settled, communities. The Khmer Rouge asserted that over two the horror of the previous four years out of their Hun Sen assumed sole leadership of Cambodia. Ethnic Chinese began settling in the thousand years of Cambodian history had ended. minds. Elections in 1998 returned Hun Sen to this area shortly after the 15th century. As savvy The new regime carried out a radical program Vietnam helped Cambodia in the steep position, despite accusations from the opposition businessmen, these Chinese soon established that included isolating the country from foreign challenge of rebuilding the country. The death about questionable electoral practices. While his themselves as the most influential minority in the influence, closing hospitals, or disappearance of so many democratic credentials are far from impressive, country. Most of the Chinese in Cambodia are schools and factories, educated people was a Hun Sen has proven to be a stabilizing force for bilingual and maintain their culture; however, abolishing finance, currency serious obstacle to installing Cambodia. they are so well assimilated in the Cambodian and banking, outlawing all a new government. The Following two shaky decades and the population that recognizing them is difficult. Today, religions and confiscating country began to rebuild its decimation of the the Chinese are all private property. The infrastructure, religion and culture, economy, reestablishing objective of the Khmer education with few qualified infrastructure, themselves as an Rouge was to introduce a individuals. The Khmer people social structure economic force. pure Maoist agrarian society. are still suffering from this and government, Estimates vary, To “purify” the people, they tragic loss. reconstruction but it is likely that executed all military and For a ten year period, has begun. up to 500,000+ public service personnel, the Vietnam led Cambodia to Although the Chinese make educated, intellectuals, those institute various reforms. These first two national Cambodia home. believed to be loyal to the reforms reestablished Khmer elections were The northeast old government, professional institutions and paved the way unstable, the region of workers and religious leaders. for a pattern of future reforms, 2003 and Cambodia is A conservative estimate of including amending the 2007 elections home to several deaths as a direct result of constitution to make Buddhism were relatively hill tribes. These Khmer Rouge actions is slightly Cambodia’s state religion and peaceful. groups have over one million, about one in abolishing the statute that Cambodia is a combined every seven Khmer. Altogether, limited monk-hood to middle- developing its population of deaths related to Khmer Rouge aged Khmer. culture, economy, over 100,000. actions, disease, starvation or other hardships are In 1990, the fighting parties agreed to form infrastructure, The Khmer refer estimated at over 1.7 million people. a legitimate authority that could aid Cambodia social structure, to these tribes as Khmer Rouge forces boldly began fighting with in forming a new government. In May 1993, and government. Khmer Loeu, or neighboring Vietnam. Responding to these armed UN-administered elections led to a new “Upper Khmer”. These tribal people still live in incursions, Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978, constitution and the reinstatement of Norodom Demographics near primitive fashion and maintain their unique forcing the Khmer Rouge to flee to the jungles Sihanouk as king. The Khmer Rouge boycotted Over 14 million people live in Cambodia. Over cultures and animistic religions. along the Thai border. From there, they conducted the elections, rejected peace talks and continued to half the population was born after 1987 and over Almost 80% of Cambodia’s population live in a guerrilla war buy arms from 35% of the population is under age 14. Over rural settings. These people organize themselves against the the Cambodian 1.5 million live in the capital city of Phnom into small farming villages. In the village there is government military Penh. Cambodia is perhaps the most ethnically a mey phum (village leader). If the village is large throughout the leadership. homogenized nation in the world as The Khmer enough there is a Buddhist wat (temple). If the late 1970s and Following the (ethnic Cambodians) account for nearly 90% of village is small then it shares a wat with a cluster of 80s. election, a the total population. When thinking of Cambodian nearby small villages. Following government- culture and people most are thinking of the Khmer. the Vietnamese sponsored The largest of the minority peoples in Government invasion of amnesty Cambodia are ethnic Vietnamese. There may be In 1993, Cambodia adopted a constitution Cambodia, secured up to 1,000,000 (7% of the population) Vietnamese outlining a multi-party democracy under a individuals defections from in Cambodia. Vietnamese people share little in constitutional monarchy. The head of state is staggered the Khmer culture and language with Khmer. They work King Norodom Sihamoni, who was sworn in as back to their Rouge until mainly as day laborers and fishermen. king October 29, 2004. He followed his father, homeland or 1994 when the Another ethnic minority is the Western former King Norodom Sihanouk, who abdicated made haste Khmer Rouge Cham. As many as 500,000 Cham (3.5% of the the throne citing poor health and protesting to refugee was outlawed by population) make their home along the Mekong the infighting in the Cambodian government. camps along the government. River to the north of Phnom Penh. The majority Kings in Cambodia used to rule with semi-divine the Thailand- The of Cham are followers of Islam. The Cham settled status. Today, however, the monarch’s role is Cambodia result of the in Cambodia following the defeat of their king predominantly ceremonial. viii ix The Prime Minister, Hun Sen, is the head Cambodia. The cool season comes in the months The high level of poverty and fuzzy economics standards. Infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis of government. He has held power in different of December and January offering a little relief contribute to the fact that the UN rates Cambodia and HIV/AIDS are responsible for more than 10% coalitions since 1985. He seized sole ownership of from the heat and humidity. as the 129th developed country out of 177 of all deaths each year. On a positive note, HIV the prime minister role from the co-prime minister, Cambodia is most beautiful before harvest time countries in the world. Another recent study infection in Cambodia fell from a height of 4% to Prince Norodom Ranariddh in the 1997 military at the end of the rainy season rice fields glow a revealed Cambodia is one of the most corrupt under 2% in 2003. coup d’état. brilliant green. Rice fields dominate the landscape. countries in the world, ranking 151st out of 163 Survivors of the Khmer Rouge atrocities The country’s twenty provinces are each Most of Cambodia is low, flat plains, which tend to countries studied. carry horrible memories. According to a headed by a governor. Each province is divided flood, aiding rice farming. survey authorized by the WHO, 75% of adult into districts, communes and villages. The four In 1960 forests covered 75% of the country, Issues of Concern Cambodians who lived through the Khmer Rouge municipalities of Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kep but now cover only 30%. Logging is now era suffer from extreme stress or post-traumatic and Pailin are also governed like provinces. technically illegal, but many believe the logging Culture stress disorder. Children of that generation do industry continues Cambodia’s culture suffered a severe blow during not fare much better. Aid workers estimate 40% Geography due to corruption. the Khmer Rouge’s assault on the arts. For many of young Cambodians suffer from stress disorders Cambodia is located No reason exists years, the common belief among The Khmer caused by growing up in a fractured social network. in Southeast Asia to believe the was that their culture had been annihilated. The However, in Cambodia there is not one inpatient bordering Vietnam destruction of this Khmer Rouge did away with living bearers of mental hospital and only 20 psychiatrists. to the east, Laos natural resource will Khmer culture, destroyed cultural artifacts, statues, to the north, and end soon. These musical instruments, books and anything that Human Trafficking Thailand to the forests house several served as a reminder of a past it was trying to The U.S. Department of State says Cambodia north and west. endangered species, efface. The temples of Angkor were spared as a is “a source, destination, and transit country Cambodia’s including elephants, symbol of Khmer glory and empire, but little else for men, women, and children trafficked for southern coast tigers, leopards, survived. Despite this devastation, Cambodia is the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced borders the Gulf rhinos, gibbons, bats witnessing a resurgence of traditional arts. labor.” Women and children are often trafficked of Thailand. and crocodiles. to Thailand and Malaysia for forced labor and The country is Health Care commercial sexual exploitation. Men are often sent slightly smaller Economy Unsanitary conditions and malnutrition contribute to Thailand for labor exploitation in construction than Oklahoma, Cambodia is one of to the poor health of Cambodians. Most children and fishing industries. There are 80,000 to 100,000 or England and the poorest countries are severely under weight and height. The UN commercial sex workers in Cambodia and 30% Scotland combined. in the world. Over reports only 16 physicians for every 100,000 people are under the age of 18. Among sex workers, 58% The most one-third of the in Cambodia. These physicians are limited by claim they were sold into prostitution. prominent country lives on less poor facilities, inadequate training and low medical geographical than $1.00 a day. features of Cambodia’s average Cambodia are its income is rising, but lake and rivers. Two still well behind other rivers, the Tonle Sap nations in the region. and Mekong River, Cambodia exports meet in Phnom rice, fish, timber, Penh. During the garments and rubber rainy season, the to the U.S. and Tonle Sap River other Asian nations. reverses it flow Tourism contributes and fills Tonle Sap significantly to the Lake to overflowing. attempted economic The flood caused by this overflow is crucial to the recovery in Cambodia. farmers and fishermen in the northwest portions of The country’s policies and history of instability the country. have not fostered trust among businesses and Cambodia experiences a tropical monsoon foreign investment. Cambodia relies heavily weather pattern with three seasons. The hot and on foreign aid, but this aid has sometimes been dry months are February to April. April is the withheld due to rampant corruption and fear hottest month, with temperatures hovering around of political instability. Businesses withheld $400 38 ° C (100 ° F) for the entire month. The rainy million in 2005 as a result of corruption and season begins in May and ends in November, when disrespect for the government. However, these the country celebrates the end of rainy season private businesses reported paying $330 million to with festive boat races in Phnom Penh. The rainy public officials in “unofficial fees.” season accounts for 80% of the annual rainfall in x xi Education social pressures are an obstacle to conversion at a Only 37% of Cambodia’s adult population is local level. In some rural settings, villagers blame Buddhism and Cambodia by Dr. Alex Smith functionally literate. The current education system Christians for bad luck and unfavorable weather is challenged by low wages ($30-45 per month after conditions. Families often feel rejected when a the first year of teaching), and poor training for family member becomes a believer. Asia’s Burgeoning Buddhist Billion Bama people in Myanmar (Burma) giving food teachers. School facilities are also lacking. Over half s “the Church is bigger than you think,” daily to the monks are current examples of the the schools are without so “the Buddhist world is larger than you pervasive spread of Buddhism. Like mushrooms a water supply and over Athink.” Buddhism significantly influences sprouting after a storm, new Buddhist Cults a third of the schools more than one billion people worldwide. Most live continue to arise in Japan, Vietnam and elsewhere are without toilets. One in Asia, though throughout its growth is out of five students who East Asia. escalating in enter first grade finishes the West too. World- the 9th grade. Nearly This religious wide 8,000 students graduate philosophy Distribu- each year from one of affects the tion Cambodia’s 47 colleges “Buddhist and universities. billion” in their Asia is the These graduates are daily practice focus of expected to invest of life. The Buddhism. in the education of forces driving Centuries younger Cambodians, it, consciously ago, many and but usually enter the of Asia’s subconsciously, current workforce to find better are karma, wages. Islamic reincarnation, peoples the endless Families such as wheel of Families are fractured life, a belief in Cambodia. It is not that all is in Indonesians, uncommon to find suffering, and that only one’s own human efforts Malays, Afghanis and Uighers were formerly families without fathers. can overcome it. Followers try to reach nirvana Buddhists. Buddhism is prevalent on all continents. Mothers tell familiar by keeping the Eight-fold Path and by producing In Western nations today it has become quite stories that their counter-karmic good works and massive merit. popular and appealing. Hollywood actors, talk husbands left them for Christ’s offer of salvation by grace though faith in His sacrificial substitution is largely foreign and show hosts and even some politicians promote another wife in another unknown to millions of Buddhists. it. America has over ten million “night-stand village. Gambling and domestic violence often Buddhists,” whose private plague families. Variety of Expressions and individual practice is Drugs Among Planet Earth’s population, independent of the saffron hundreds of different forms robed monks. In modern day Cambodia faces narcotics-related corruption. of Buddhism are found on all Australia, according to Professor Cambodia is a large producer of marijuana for the continents in a multitude of Philip Johnson, “Buddhism is international market. Cambodia is vulnerable to variegated expressions: Tibetan now the second largest faith.” money laundering due to its cash-based economy Buddhist Lamas chanting in the high Theravada Buddhism (the and porous borders. Himalayan Plateau, Dai and Tai-Lu narrow way) is found primarily Many young Cambodians turn to street drugs minorities avidly holding to Buddhist in Southeast Asia (including to deal with stress. Their lack of money means traditions in Yunnan, Khmer Cambodia) and Sri Lanka, they either buy yama (dangerous, low quality farmers eking out an existence in the totaling 250 million. Mahayana methamphetamines) or sniff glue. These drugs are fields for their families in Cambodia, Buddhism (the broader vehicle) addictive and once one begins using there is little Han grandparents in China teaching spreads its cloak widely over 950 help available for one to kick the addiction. their grandchildren how to worship million from Siberia, Mongolia, Religious freedom before Buddhist images, Chinese Japan, Korea, and across Buddhism is the national religion of Cambodia. youth offering incense jos-sticks China. In these latter three The Cambodian constitution declares religious at temple shrines, Thai Isaan taxi nations, Pure Land Buddhism freedom for its citizens. However, it also states that drivers battling to survive in the urban jungles of is popularly followed. Disciples repeatedly call on to be Cambodian is to be Buddhist. The Khmer Bangkok, over 150 million practicing Falun Gong the name of Amida, through mantras, expressing are not forbidden to convert to other religions, but Buddhism in China, and the majority of dominant efforts of faith, hoping to reach the Western xii xiii Paradise racial, and religious identity with Buddhism. This ancestral and nature ones). They are often - except suffering! This universal suffering is caused at death. is one of the strongest barriers to conversion. “To petrified by the thought of going to any one of by or produced through kiletsa (craving and lust) Wherever be Thai, Cambodian, Dai, Tibetan, Lao, Burmese, eight Buddhist hells, and are afraid of disgruntled and rakha tanha (passion and desire - both good the Japanese . . . . is to be Buddhist.” ancestral spirits, who plague and bother them and bad). For Buddhists, eliminating all desire and Diaspora of Like a sponge soaking up water, Buddhism frequently. The basis of Buddhism is Monism, passion is believed to be the solution for breaking Cambodians, permeates the thinking, philosophy, education, in the sense of the unity of the nature of all free of the endless cycles of rebirth. Chinese, beliefs and worldview of Folk Buddhists in subtle things. Humans, like everything else, are seen as Japanese but unmistakable ways. It influences and affects insignificant parts of one big whole. A personal Release by Extinction or Koreans all of life and accompanying daily practices. transcendent God of creation is totally non-existent Nirvana is a state of escape from all impermanence have China’s traditional religions are heavily spiced with in Buddhism. A concept of any kind of Higher and suffering, achieved purely by one’s own scattered Buddhism. Beneath all, fundamental Humanism Being, either initiating or controlling the universes, self-efforts to overcome the accumulated karmic them across controls life, and focuses the adherents’ energies is incongruous, impossible and unacceptable to consequences of multiple millions of past rebirths. the globe, on self-reliant deliverance apart from any God or Buddhist thinking. Nirvana is like an unblissful state of bliss, an there the spiritual power. Buddhism thereby becomes the unconscious state of consciousness, a non-existing elements of dominant canopy covering all aspects of living. The No Personal Soul Identity existence, like the smoke after a candle has been Buddhism motto is “depend only on oneself.” Karma (cause Although there is a debate among some Buddhist blown out. The Christian Heaven with its total lack are still and effect) controls everything. Buddhism teaches, scholars, a fundamental view of the Buddha was of suffering, curses, tears, death and any marriage, evident, “Do good, and one receives good. Do evil, and one that humans are not living souls, do not have an differs from Nirvana and is loftier than the sensual whether in South America or South Africa, Europe receives evil.” entity Christians call soul or spirit, nor do they pleasures of the various Buddhist heavens, the or Canada. therefore have individual personality that continues abodes of sensual gods and devas. Some Theological Differences on after death. At death five aggregates or Eclectic Nature: The Blender Effect Because of the multiple forms and diverse “khandhas” (matter, sensation, perception, mental Equality or Some Discrimination Down through the ages, Buddhism has encouraged expressions of Buddhism, it is not always easy to formation, and consciousness) dissipate. That’s all! The Buddha rightly rejected the system of the a placid approach of assimilation, which made define precepts precisely. While there are basic Accumulated karma is the only thing that seems castes of Hinduism, but still maintains one, a the spread of this religion quite eclectic and even doctrines fundamental to most sects, there is also to be recycled into the next rebirth. This differs “sexist” caste - as females (particularly in the elastic. So today Buddhism has a vast plethora much variance among the many syncretistic forms from Hindu transmigration of the soul, and also Theravada School) can never obtain the nirvanic of fascinating faces throughout the earth. This of Folk Buddhism. Thus belief systems among Christian eternal life. state except after being reborn as males. Hence Buddhists tend to have some key primary colors in normally Buddhist nuns are not empowered or common stance of acceptance and syncretism has Impermanence and Emptiness produced many different cultural expressions of common, but many shades of the rainbow’s hues entitled. The Christian Bible teaches that in Christ Buddhism mixed with local beliefs and adaptations also exist, differing slightly from group to group. In Buddhist understanding all is transitory, there is no difference between male or female in of other religions. So it is not uncommon to find a changing, and illusionary - so nothing is permanent His sight (Galatians 3:28). Unfortunately human God Ignored: Spirits Feared variety of seemingly conflicting beliefs incorporated into the lives and practices of many Buddhists. Basic Buddhism is atheistic, rejecting gods and This blended mixture is called Folk Buddhism. In supernatural powers as inconsequential, though Cambodia this folk religion incorporates guardian multitudes of Folk Buddhists fear the spirits (both and nature spirits (Neak Ta), ancestral spirits, Brahman deities (devada), ghosts (khmaoch, priey) and other animistic practices. Western academicians tend to analyze and define religions by categories - what part of it is Buddhism, or animism, or shamanism or ancestral cult and so on. But in his extensive studies of Buddhism in Asia, Dr. S.J. Tambiah of Cambridge pointed out that the Northeast Thai person sees his/her mixture of animistic spirits, ancestral cult, Brahmanic rites, and Buddhist beliefs and practices as one integrated whole – Buddhism, their own kind of Folk Buddhism. Total Saturation and Self Reliance Buddhism’s vacuum cleaner effect sucks up indigenous religions under its broad umbrella. Thus, it dominates and integrates local belief structures but does not dislodge nor destroy them. This amalgamation of many religious elements under Buddhism constitutes a strong national, xiv xv 1 Animism Defined by Dr. Gailyn Van Rheenen

A Comprehensive Definition Animism: A Belief in Beings and n this article animism is defined as the belief Forces that personal spiritual beings and impersonal Beings and forces are typically interacting Ispiritual forces have power over human affairs phenomena in animistic contexts. Beings and that humans, consequently, must discover are personal spirits which include God, gods, what beings and forces are impacting them in ancestors, ghosts, totemic spirits, nature spirits, order to determine future action and, frequently, to manipulate their power. What are the cultural angels, demons, and Satan. Forces are impersonal ramifications of this powers. They include definition? What are the power behind the the implications of it for use of magic, astrology, the Western missionary witchcraft, evil eye, and evangelizing in animistic other related phenomena. contexts? Some cultures have broad, descriptive terms for Animism: A Belief this power, like mana in System Melanesia, toh in parts of Animism is a belief system Indonesia, and baraka in through which reality is the Muslim world. Since perceived. This belief personal spiritual beings system assumes that the and impersonal spiritual seen world is related to the forces interact in animistic unseen: An interaction cultures, they must be exists between the divine studied in relation to one and the human, the sacred another. practice often betrayed that truth and ideal, even in swept up to ten million Dalit converts into that and the profane, the holy the Church. religion. Buddhism today influences more than one and the secular. Personal Animism: Power billion people around the globe, from Siberia to to Control Human Salvation Possible or Not spiritual beings and Indonesia, and from west India to Japan. impersonal spiritual forces Affairs In Theravada Buddhism only priests have any Significantly, this concentration encompasses are everywhere thought to The essence of Animism possibility of attaining Nirvana, through rigidly the eastern half of the 10/40 Window where be shaping what happens is power - power of the keeping 227 or more laws perfectly. Mahayana almost one half of humanity lives and where the in the animists' world. ancestor to control those of Buddhists recognized this as being too strict. They majority of unreached peoples are found. Some Animists live in continual fear of these powers. his lineage, power of an evil eye to kill a newborn liberalized teachings so their “larger vehicle” form of Buddhism affects most of these peoples. A Western secularist would likely look at these or ruin a harvest, power of planets to affect earthly made provision for the average person to progress Thus, the challenge to the Church of the 21st beliefs with amazement and ridicule. "How can destiny, power of the demonic to possess a spiritist, toward Nirvana. Primarily this was by the help century is to sacrifice through love, perseverance, these unseen powers be real?" he reasons. "How power of magic to control human events, power of of Bodhisattvas - high level priests or important and purity of life in order to reach this large can anyone really believe that spirits and forces impersonal forces to heal a child or make a person persons, who delay their own entry into Nirvana remaining Buddhist bloc. Here is the call to pray, should be feared, manipulated, or worshipped?" wealthy. Animism's "foundation is based in power in order to assist others along the way. By go, send, evangelize, and plant churches among To him, belief in spiritual beings and forces does and in power personalities" (Kamps 1986, 5). comparison, Jesus Christ, as God’s Son, provided all Buddhist peoples of Asia. Join us in the vast not seem "logical." However, the animist begins The secret use of spiritual power by an redemption for all tribes and peoples through His opportunities to make a difference by loving and with different presuppositions. He assumes that individual is almost always malevolent-meant unique sacrifice on Calvary. In Christ Jesus saving, serving millions of Buddhist peoples and by sharing spirits and forces shape reality and interprets to cause suffering. When used publicly by eternal life is available to all who repent, trust, and Christ’s Gospel with them in this 21st century. daily events to fit this model of reality. While a recognized leaders of a society, spiritual power is obey Him. Begin blessing these nations by interceding for Westerner generally interprets reality through a often benevolent, discovering who has brought Cambodia and its 95% Buddhist millions. A Global Religion and the Church’s secular worldview believing no spiritual powers evil upon the society. Whether spiritual power is Response impact the living, the animist presupposes that all used negatively or positively, its existence is never of life is being controlled by spiritual beings and questioned by the animist. Today, in its variegated forms, Buddhist influence forces. The animistic model is as logical as the saturates Asian peoples and envelopes all secular model, if one accepts the basic assumptions Animism: Discovering What Beings continents. After 1,000 years Buddhism declined of spirits and forces shaping reality. and Forces are Impacting Life in India when Hinduism reabsorbed it. However, The animist lives in fear of the spiritual powers. in the last half century, a New Buddhist revival He may appease the spirits before and after harvest, movement among Untouchable Caste Hindus seek the spirit world to insure success before the xvi xvii marriage of his daughter, determine how the Ominous signs might lead them to postpone action planets and stars will be arranged on the day of an or to attempt to manipulate the powers. Current Status Report important election, or dress up his male child like a Much of Animism is based on manipulation. girl so that he might not be injured by the evil eye The animist does not seek a personal relationship of a jealous neighbor. The animist is overwhelmed with the powers. He rather seeks to manipulate lthough the first Christian contact with many as 10,000 believers when the city finally fell by the many powers that might bring evil upon his spiritual beings and forces to do his will. He might Cambodia was made by Portuguese to the Khmer Rouge on 17th April 1975. Once life. He believes that only by use of the powers manipulate spiritual powers in order to determine ADominicans in 1555, the first evangelical again, the missionaries were forced into a reluctant can he be successful. He desperately searches for the source of calamity, to predict the future, to missionaries didn’t arrive until 1923, when two exodus. Along with the rest of the country, the C&MA families were able to enter the country. information to ward off evil and manipulate the curse those who are in opposition or to determine a Cambodian Church suffered greatly at the hands Response to the gospel was slow, although by of the Khmer Rouge. By 1979, only a few hundred powers to do his bidding. fortuitous time to invest in the stock market. 1935 there were Christians ministering in 11 of He is never completely confident that all powers People of God, in contrast to animists, believe Cambodia’s 14 provinces. However, new believers Christians of the 10,000 remained, along with just are lined up on his side. When confronted with that humans should neither divine spiritual were often persecuted. In his book, Killing 3 pastors. Church buildings were destroyed. Bibles unexpected evil, he typically asks questions like causation nor attempt to manipulate the divine. Fields, Living Fields, Don Cormack writes, “To were burned. "Who has caused this affliction to come upon me? They must rely on God and pay homage to him. be a Christian in Hundreds of Why has it happened to my family at this particular The prophets exhorted Judah to "wait on the Lord" Cambodian society thousands of time? What power is troubling me? Has this and "put trust in him" (Isa. 8:17). But instead of was to be a social Cambodians fled been caused by an ancestor? By some spirit? By "waiting on the Lord," they desired immediate pariah, misunderstood to Thailand, where witchcraft? By the evil eye? By the stars? Who can knowledge and power and consequently began and ill-treated, a they were housed in help me discover the cause and source of this evil?" to consult the mediums and the wizards. Isaiah convenient scapegoat refugee camps on for blame and abuse.” Benevolent animistic rightly asked Israel: "Should the border. Many In fact, the specialists are consulted not a people inquire of their Christian workers short history of the to determine the cause God? Why consult the dead joined with the Cambodian Church of the affliction and on behalf of the living?" surviving Cambodian is one of persecution prescribe remedies. It (Isa. 8:19). They should believers in witnessing and restriction. might be determined that have relied on the "law in the camps and the The first political malevolent practitioners and testimony" in order to church began to grow opposition began have brought the evil receive the true "light of once more. In one in 1928, when the upon those afflicted. dawn" (Isa. 8:20). Instead large camp, Khao king prohibited Sometimes malevolent of relying on God, they I Dang, a church proselytizing among practitioners, despised and attempted to manipulate of several thousand Cambodians. feared in every animistic their destiny by animistic emerged. Missionaries were society, are consulted to rites. Although the expelled during defeat enemies. The Judeo-Christian way country was liberated the Second World Each animistic society is based upon personally from the Khmer War period, and uses numerous methods relating to sovereign God Rouge in 1979, the both Catholics and to determine which giving to him glory and Church continued Protestants were killed powers are impacting honor. Conversely, the to face pressure and during the “Issarak” their lives. Some of animistic way is based on persecution. The uprising from these methodologies of manipulating the divine to new government 1942-1952. After a divination include omens, serve human needs. refused to allow relatively peaceful astrology, technique, church meetings, period during which ordeals, relying on Works Cited confiscated Bibles the church grew the dead, dreams and Kamps, Timothy James. and kept known slowly, missionaries possession. 1986. ‘The biblical forms and elements of Christians under surveillance. This continued for a were again forced to leave Cambodia in 1965 by power encounter.’ Master's thesis, Columbia decade until the Cambodian Protestant church was the anti-American regime. It is estimated that the Animism: Determining Future Action Graduate School of Bible and Missions, formally recognized in 1990. Christian mission and Evangelical Church numbered 1000 at the time. and Manipulating Power Columbia, S.C. relief agencies were able to enter the country and, Five years later, a new pro-American regime Animists seek to discover what beings and forces are as Cambodia’s plight gradually became known took power. Missionaries returned and despite impacting them in order to determine future action 1. Excerpted from Gailyn Van Rheenen, to the outside world, interest soared. Today there the beginning of the war with the Khmer Rouge, and, if necessary, manipulate powers that stand Communicating Christ in Animistic Contexts ( are hundreds of organizations and denominations there was freedom and growth for the church. in the way of health, wealth and security. They Pasadena, California: William Carey Library, 1991) working in Cambodia, with mixed results. Many turned to God. From three congregations believe that they can only determine future courses 20-23. Used with permission. The church has grown significantly in the last in Phnom Penh when war broke out, there were of action by discovering what is happening in the 15 years. From the small remnant that survived the thirty by 1975. The civil war forced over 2 million spiritual realms. They may determine that the Khmer Rouge genocide, it is now estimated that refugees into Phnom Penh and many responded to time is favorable to invest in the stock market, sign there are 250,000 believers in over 2500 churches. the gospel of Jesus Christ. There were perhaps as a treaty, plant crops in the fields or marry a wife. The church is young and enthusiastic, with a xviii xix natural flair for evangelism. Although written although attempts have been made to unite under resources are scarce, there is a wealth of indigenous umbrella groups such as the Evangelical Fellowship Pray for Cambodia songs and hymns of worship. of Cambodia. Further strides towards unity are Such rapid growth presents challenges in the needed. While the needs of a developing country areas of discipleship and leadership. The quantity like Cambodia cannot be ignored, inappropriate Praying through the Gospels and Acts Fourth, prayer is hard because it costs us time. may be increasing, but quality and depth still seem use of foreign funding has left many churches There is an unseen spiritual economy that is as real to be lacking. Intentional lifelong discipleship dependent on outside help, slowing down the move he life example of Jesus and the Apostles and powerful as the business offices and brokerages programs are rare and many of those who profess towards self-sufficiency and self-governance. shows us how God wants us to love, pray of the world. When we use the authorization of for and serve the Unreached Peoples. The faith in Christ seem to fall away at the first sign of Although the Church in Cambodia is growing, T Jesus name, we release transactions that can change Gospels and Acts can become our prayer guide difficulty. Many missions have responded to the the challenge of reaching the unreached remains. for how to pray for these unreached peoples. We lives around the world. But like any business worth need for leadership training, so that today there Most of Cambodia’s cities, towns and district should regularly read through these books, and doing, it takes time to serve people in prayer. are several formal, residential Bible Schools as well centers now have a church. But the rural areas, pray for Christians living among Unreached If we are serious in our commitment to love as non-residential options, such as the Theological where 80% of people live, still have little Christian Peoples to have the love and power of Jesus and the and serve the Unreached Peoples, we must make Education by Extension (TEE) program. witness. Although there are significant Christian faith and boldness of the Apostles. The experience time for the hard work of prayer. Like most work, it The presence of so many foreign missions populations among a few of Cambodia’s tribal of Jesus, Peter and Paul teach us that prayer is hard is often easier to do with a group. However, if we – and the funds they bring – has led to its own peoples, such as the Jarai, many of the other people work. It is hard for several reasons. wait until a group meets, we may never pray. set of problems. Disunity, fragmentation and groups have few or no believers. First, prayer is hard because it is not selfish. Use the prayer guide below as you read through competitiveness continue to affect the Church, When we pray, we look beyond ourselves to the and pray for the peoples in this book. Whether in desires of God and the needs of others. It often a group or alone, these topics will help you listen takes personal repentance and humility to be able to the Holy Spirit and recall God’s promises in to pray “Not my will, but Thine be done” and Date Main events Scripture. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Many believers have used the ACTS prayer 1555 Roman Catholicism first introduced by Portuguese Dominicans from Malacca Second, prayer is hard because it is an act of reminder: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving faith. When we pray, we pray to the unseen God 17th C. French Roman Catholic priests establish their church in Cambodia and Supplication. If you don’t know how to pray and for unseen people and places. When things are for Unreached Peoples and the workers living 1923 Two American C&MA couples are permitted to enter Cambodia, begin Bible school in Battambang, and out of sight, they are often out of our minds, and among them, use the GOSPELS acronym below to Bible translation (NT complete 1933, OT complete 1940) out of our prayers. Faith is grasping hold of the get started. You will also find some good verses to eternal and unseen for the needs of people separate pray over in the appendix at the back of this book. 1928 King Monivong bans evangelism and imprisons Bible school students from us by space and time. May God strengthen and enrich your own 1945-52 Many Catholics and some Protestants killed in anti-French Issarak uprisings Third, prayer is hard because it is a true battle. heart and your local ministry as you give yourself Christians are called to love men and fight against to the powerful, hard work of prayer for the evil spirits. When we pray for men, we pray against nations. Pray with an open Bible and pray without 1953 Khmer Bible is published Satan’s spiritual army. We oppose the temptations, ceasing! 1965 All American Protestant missionaries forced to leave Cambodia trials, terrorism and tricks that lead men into sin and spiritual bondage. 1970 C&MA missionaries return to find a Protestant church numbering about 300

1970-75 Significant church growth in Phnom Penh and provincial centers G Go Good News Pray for workers to Go share the Good News to all peoples. Rom. 10:9-17; Mat. 13:1-51; 24:14; 28:18-20; Rev. 5:9-17; 21:22-2; Acts 26:12-23 1975 All missionaries leave Cambodia; total number of Christians in Cambodia is c. 10,000 O Opportunities Obedience Pray for Opportunities to share, and Obedience to God. Col. 4:2-6; 1975-79 Virtually all Christian leaders and 90% of the church die in the genocide Eph. 6:18-20; Mt. 10:1-20; Lk. 4:18,19; 1Pet. 3:15-18; Heb 13:1-21; 2Cor. 4:3-7 S Spirit Servanthood Pray for the power, gifts & fruit of the Spirit in Servanthood. 1979-90 Church grows in the border camps; underground church in Cambodia numbers less than 1,000 Gal. 5:13-26; Eph.1:15-22; 4:3-16; 6:10-20; Acts 4:23-31; 1Pet. 4:7-11; 1Cor. 12:1-31; Rom. 8:1-17; Mk. 10:42-45 P Peace Persecution Pray for Peace and endurance in the midst of Persecution. 1990 Christianity formally recognized; Christian relief agencies and missionaries begin to enter Cambodia 1Tim. 2:1-8; Jas. 3:13-18; Rom. 12:9-2; 2Th. 1:3-7; 1Pet. 2:8-18; 4:12-19; Rev. 12:7-12; Jn. 15:18-16:4, 16:33; 17:5-19

1993 New constitution enshrines freedom of religion E Encouragement Equipping Pray for Encouragement and Equipping of the whole Body. Eph. 4:2-13; Heb. 12:1-12; 1Cor. 12:12-26; 2Cor. 1:2-11; Phil. 4:4-17; 1994 Protestant church numbers c. 5,000 with churches in every province 1Th. 3:6-13; 2Tim. 2:2-7; 4:1-8 2000 Protestant church numbers c. 40,000 L Love Lifestyle Pray for God’s Love to be seen in a cross cultural Lifestyle. Jn. 15:9-17; 21:15-17; 1Cor. 9:19-27; 13:1-13; Phil. 1:27-2:19; 1Th. 1:4-10; 2008 Protestant church numbers c. 250,000 Rom. 8:28-39 S Sin Satan Pray against Sin and Satan: temptation, lies, fear, bondage. Jam. 4:1-12; 1Pet. 5:6-11; 2Cor. 2:11; 10:3-5; 1Cor. 10:11-13; Job 1:6-22 xx xxi Brao

Population 30,000 Major Animism Religion Language Brao

Percent Less than 1% Christian

Bible Partial Translation

Who are the Brao? What do they believe? he Brao of northeast Cambodia have For centuries they have maintained animistic beliefs dark skin and black hair, resembling the rather than embracing the Buddhist religion of the Tmajority Khmer and Lao lowlanders of lowland people. The Brao live in continual fear of the region, although Brao are generally shorter in evil spirits. Village elders are responsible for lead- stature. They are one of several hilltribes inhab- ing village sacrifices made to spirits in the forest, iting isolated villages in Ratanakiri province of streams, rocks and fields. This maintains order in northeastern Cambodia and in Attapeu province of the community so that the spirits are not disturbed. southeastern Laos. Village diviners determine the cause of sickness The Brao language is a member of the Mon- through ritual and prescribe an animal to be sacri- Khmer language family. Krung, Kravet, Lun and ficed to the respective spirit. Laveh are also names for the overall Brao ethnic Sickness and crop failure are generally blamed group. These represent mutually intelligible on spirits. Arak and Bras are the local names for dialects within the group. spirits requiring appeasement. Villagers raise Older Brao often wear traditional dress. Their chickens, pigs, cows and water buffalo primarily for earlobes are stretched from wearing large elephant sacrifice. Village sacrifices, weddings and funerals tusk earrings in the past. Their faces sometimes involve the entire village drinking large quantities bear tattoos, also a fashion from the past. Younger of rice wine over several days. people generally wear western clothing purchased in the market. What are their needs? The Brao were untouched by the gospel until 1992. What are their lives like? Today there are around 200 believers in Cambo- The Brao differ from the lowland paddy rice farm- dia in small isolated groups. However, because of ers of the region. They traditionally depend heavily government restrictions, the Brao living in Laos on the forest for their livelihood and usually grow have not yet heard the gospel, with no known upland dry rice using swidden agriculture methods. believers among them. About one third of the Bible Cash crops like cashew and coffee provide limited has been translated into the Krung dialect. Other income. dialects of Brao have no scriptures yet. A part-time Rolling forested hills of red volcanic earth cover Bible school has begun, and church leader training much of the Brao homeland and several major remains a long term need. rivers traverse flat floodplains. Hunting, fishing The Brao are very poor, with little access and raising animals provide protein in their diet. to schooling, literacy programs and electricity. Unfortunately, recent logging has deforested vast Additionally, illegal logging and land concessions tracts of their land. Women are often seen walking encroach on traditional Brao land. Access to justice the red dirt roads with baskets on their backs through the court system is difficult to obtain. carrying produce and goods.

xxii 23 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Bunong Cham

Population 30,000 Population 500,000 Major Animism Major Islam Religion Religion Language Bunong Language Cham

Percent 3% Percent Less than 1% Christian Christian

Bible In Progress Bible None Translation Translation

Who are the Bunong? back to Cambodia. Today, they are 1000 strong. Who are the Cham? provinces, but, with rapid deforestation a growing ocated in the remote mountainous northeast The first Western missionaries came in 2000. he Western Cham used to have their own concern, laws have been enacted against logging region of Cambodia, bordering Vietnam, kingdom called Champa in present-day and many Cham who were involved in logging LMondulkiri is the country’s largest province What are their needs? Tsouth-central Vietnam. According to have left Cambodia to find work in Thailand or and is home to the second largest ethnic minority Food and land protection: The Bunong ancient legend, the Vietnamese king persuaded Malaysia as illegal immigrants. population, the Bunong (or Phnong). Renowned as experience a period of 3-5 months where the food the Cham king to marry a beautiful Vietnamese elephant tamers, they comprise about 30,000 of the grown in their fields runs out, so they must forage woman so that she could find out how the What do they believe? province’s estimated 43,000 residents. The Bunong in the forest, hunt, fish or gather resin to sell. Major Vietnamese could overthrow the kingdom of Originally, the Cham were Hindu, but in the year language is the main language spoken in their tracts of land have been logged, sold or otherwise Champa and take their land. When she learned 1421, a clever Muslim trader from Malaysia went homes and villages. from the king of Champa that the secret of the removed from the traditional ownership of the to Champa and converted the King to Islam. kingdom’s strength lay in a special tree that was What are their lives like? Bunong community, leading to a decrease in access in front of the palace, she complained of stomach Shortly after that the king declared Islam to be the to life-sustaining resources. official religion of the Cham. Today, the majority The Bunong culture and way of life is intimately pains and blamed them on the tree daily until the Literacy and education: The majority of of the Cham follow a very basic form of Malaysian associated with the forest area in which they live. king, who could no longer bear her complaining, Bunong do not have sufficient math skills to fairly Sunni Islam with Mohammed as the prophet, Access to land and the forests is essential to their had the tree cut down. Shortly after the tree was buy or sell produce at the market, and few can cut down, the Vietnamese went to war with the prayers five times a day and fasting at Ramadan. survival. The Bunong practice labor-intensive properly count money or use a scale. They are Cham and took their land. The majority of the The Western Cham are less well-informed about swidden (‘slash and burn’) agriculture, following a frequently cheated by local traders. Their ability Cham fled west into present-day Cambodia. Islam and more tolerant of other faiths than their 15-20 year cycle, using one site for up to five years to interact with the broader society is limited, In Cambodia today, the Cham are a minority Malaysian and Middle-Eastern counterparts. A before moving to a new location. preventing adoption of innovations and ideas from group with a population of about half-a-million. small portion (about 40,000) of the Western Cham What do they believe? the outside. Also, as outside influences encroach The Cham are bilingual and speak both Khmer only have prayers once a week and incorporate the with alarming speed and impact, the Bunong are and Western Cham. Some Cham also speak Malay, worship of spirits and animistic rites. These Cham The Bunong practice animism; the stability of their ill-equipped to confront the onslaught of changes. Arabic, Vietnamese and Thai. Angkor Wat, a claim that they hold to the ancient form of Islam lives depends on the satisfactory appeasement of Lack of Khmer language skills also render them at famous Cambodian Hindu temple, depicts the that was held in Champa. various types of spirits. Animal sacrifice plays a even greater risk for exploitation. ancient wars between the Cham and the Khmer vital role in the appeasement process. Weddings, Health care and education: Many serious and also has Chamic inscriptions on its walls. What are their needs? funerals, periods of illness and seasonal celebrations diseases have a much higher rate of prevalence The first known Cham convert to Christianity are some of the more significant events requiring in Mondulkiri than in other provinces. Also, the What are their lives like? came to Christ in 1999. By 2002, there were sacrifices. Bunong do not possess basic information which The Cham are skilled fishermen and have been only two known believers. The Western Cham In the mid 50s, having heard of minorities in could allow them to treat or prevent simple for centuries, but recent regulations have limited desperately need to hear the truth about Jesus Vietnam turning to Jesus, the Bunong in Cambodia diseases. the amount of fishing that can be done. So many who they think is only a prophet that came before asked the only operating mission agency to send Salvation and Scriptures: Only Christ can Cham have left the river banks and headed for the Mohammed and they need to know that only his missionaries. This request could not be fulfilled deliver the Bunong out of their poverty - physically jungles and mountainous regions to clear the land merit can take them to heaven. The Western Cham then, nor a second one in the mid-60s. Ten years and spiritually. They need God’s Spirit to fully and do cashew, mango, tobacco, pepper and coffee are also in need of good medical care as well as later, the province was part of the “Ho Chi Minh transform their lives. The church struggles due to farming. Many Cham are rice farmers and enjoy economic aid and development. trail” and the target of US bombing. Many Bunong lack of Scriptures in the Bunong language, and also two harvests per year in good years. Logging used fled to Vietnam, where they finally heard the desperately needs strong teaching. to be a lucrative pursuit for Cham in the northeast Gospel. In 1986, about 150 Bunong believers came

24 25 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Chinese Cambodians International Community

Population 500,000 Population 50,000 Major Chinese Major Secular/non- Religion Religion, Religion religious Animism Language English, French Language Several & Korean Chinese Percent Percent Dialects Christian 25% Christian Less than 1% Bible Bible Translation Yes Translation Yes

Who are the Chinese Cambodians? for rest, working from early morning to well into Who are they? still poor. For those working outside the major hinese Cambodians are a group of the evening. However, during the Chinese New ince the early 1990s, when Cambodia population centers, basic amenities are rare. ethnic minorities of Chinese descent Year celebrations most Chinese will stop doing became more politically stable and more Cliving in Cambodia. There are actually 5 business for 3 or 4 days to celebrate with their Sopen to overseas aid and investment, What do they believe? different ethno-linguistic groups among Chinese families and travel. the international community has grown Unsurprisingly, the international community Cambodians which include Teochew, Cantonese, Chinese food, traditional medicines, decorations rapidly. In addition to diplomatic staff and UN in Phnom Penh is made up of a diversity Hokkien, Hakka and Hainanese, the majority and religious paraphernalia are found in representatives, there are hundreds of non- of nationalities, cultures, beliefs, values and having Teochew ethnicity. These Chinese peoples abundance in Phnom Penh. Chinese noodle shops governmental organizations (NGOs), consultants, occupations. There are Muslims, Hindus, began to migrate to Cambodia as early as the 3rd and cafés cover the city and are enjoyed by Chinese missionaries and an increasing number of foreign Buddhists, Christians and those with no religious century, coming in waves due to wars, political and Khmer alike. businessmen and women. It is estimated that the affiliation. Many of those working in humanitarian pressures and economic hardships. international community may number as many as and human rights organizations have very Over the years many of the Chinese 50,000. Most internationals are based in Phnom What do they believe? strong negative attitudes about Christianity intermarried with the Khmer and were absorbed Penh with other concentrations in the cities of Chinese Cambodians hold to traditional Chinese and missionaries. Others are more open. The into Khmer culture, introducing Chinese customs Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Outside of these religious practices, ancestral worship, demon dichotomy can be quite stark. There remains a and beliefs into Khmer society. But there remains groups there are large numbers of French, Indians veneration and Theravada Buddhism. It is not and Koreans, even though many nationalities significant portion of the international community a community of Chinese Cambodians who speak uncommon to find an entire wall in their homes from all over the world are represented. Many that is without faith in Jesus. Khmer, yet have retained the distinctiveness of covered with altars to a pantheon of gods, as well internationals work in Christian humanitarian and their own language and culture. as food sacrifices and incense burning in their mission agencies. What do they need? During the Democratic Kampuchea regime shops. Even though religious beliefs are expressed Praise God for the work being done by many (1975–1979), the Khmer Rouge sought to persecute in a variety of ways, the true god of the Chinese is What are their lives like? internationals to help the people of Cambodia. and purge the Chinese from Cambodian society. money. In the 1990s, when the UN Transitionary Authority Pray that programs to help the poor and needy Attempting to escape extermination, many Chinese It is out of fear, not love, that Chinese helped to facilitate the move towards peace and in Cambodia will be successful and free from fled to neighboring Vietnam, while others tried to Cambodians serve these gods, for to not offer democracy, the soldiers serving in Cambodia corruption. Pray also that internationals will not mix with Cambodian villagers, passing themselves sacrifices and burn incense to them is to invite received massive salaries in comparison to local become calloused to the poverty and suffering off as peasants. disaster – poverty, sickness and bad luck. people. Even today, the average member of the which surrounds them in Cambodia. At the same In 1979, the Chinese returned and settled international community will earn more in one year time, pray against burnout for internationals living primarily in the population centers of the country, What are their needs? than most Cambodians will earn in a lifetime. Such and working in conditions far outside the norms in particularly Phnom Penh. Although economically more stable than average, salaries allow a comfortable standard of living, their home countries. What are their lives like? nearly all Chinese Cambodians have not heard a although this affluence is offset by the challenges of Most importantly, pray for those who still do clear presentation the gospel. Demonic strongholds living and working in Cambodia. Those working in not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Pray for Nearly all Chinese Cambodians are involved in a and searching for wealth have been strong barriers, NGOs often complain of systemic corruption. The their eyes to be opened to the truth of the Gospel. business of one sort or another, ranging from small causing the good news to fall on deaf ears. Pray underdeveloped health care system and lack of safe family-based shops to large companies. The vast that God would send laborers to work specifically blood mean that even a minor illness or operation majority of Chinese own retail sales shops, having with these people, breaking through the spiritual, can require a medical evacuation. Although converted their homes into street-side stores or economic and linguistic barriers that have kept improving rapidly, Cambodia’s infrastructure is selling in small market stalls. Most Chinese do them isolated. business day in and day out without taking time off

26 27 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Jarai Kampuchea Krom

Population 20,200 Population 250,000 Major Animism Major Buddhism Religion Religion Language Jarai Language Khmer

Percent 7% Percent Less than 1% Christian Christian

Bible Yes Bible Yes Translation Translation

Who are the Jarai? believed to be inhabited by spirits. People are Who are the Kampuchea Krom? What do they believe? he Jarai are a minority group living in compelled to make sacrifices to appease the spirits ampuchea Krom or Khmer Krom The main religion of the Kampuchea Krom is northeastern Cambodia and the Central in case of illness and to gain favor for good crops. translates literally as ‘lower Cambodians.’’ Theravada Buddhism. There are over 560 Khmer THighlands of Vietnam. They have Great significance is placed upon spirits who KThey are descendants of the original Buddhist temples in Vietnam. Kampuchea Krom inhabited these areas for thousands of years. The own and protect certain territories. When traveling, Khmer inhabitants of what is now southern South beliefs do not include a concept of a living God. small Jarai community in Cambodia maintains Vietnam. The Khmer controlled the region until animist Jarai typically offer sacrifices seeking The goal of their religious devotion and rituals is unofficial links with 300,000 Jarai kinsmen in the early 1600s. protection and safety from the spirit governing their to obtain merit that might somehow enable them Vietnam. Today there are at least 8 million Khmer in new location. This practice causes many Jarai to to escape the cycle of reincarnation and achieve Unlike all of the other indigenous minorities Vietnam, although accurate figures are difficult fear traveling far from their homes. Nirvana, a state or place of nothingness. in Cambodia, the Jarai language is not related to obtain. The Vietnamese government attempts Before 1975, Christian missionaries in Vietnam Theravada Buddhism is the public veneer of to Khmer. Rather, it is distantly related to the to minimize the importance of the rural Khmer planted a few churches and translated the New Kampuchea Krom religion, but animistic belief languages spoken in the island nations of Malaysia, population by drastically lowering the numbers. Testament. The church has continued to grow, in the spirit world may have more of a hold on Indonesia, and the Philippines. More and more young Kampuchea Krom are spreading to Cambodia in the 1990s. Today a their daily lives. The Kampuchea Krom keep an becoming integrated into Vietnamese society as significant minority of Jarai people, and even entire altar outside their homes where they offer food and What are their lives like? national schools teach only in Vietnamese. Khmer villages are known as Christian. Although Jarai in incense to the spirit world on a daily basis. Their Most Jarai engage in subsistence agriculture, temple schools provide the only opportunities for Cambodia speak a different dialect, they are able actions are driven by the fear that these spirits can growing rice and vegetables in small plots cut out learning to read and write the Khmer language. to make some use of the Bible and the literacy cause them harm if not appeased. Fortune tellers from the forest. Their diet is further supplemented Even with these factors, there are still millions of materials that were produced in Vietnam in the are regularly consulted at times of trouble or desire by hunting, fishing, and gathering wild foods early 1970’s. Kampuchea Krom who conduct their daily lives because of their perceived links to the spirit world. from the forest. These sources are diminishing using the Khmer language. with increased population and environmental What are their needs? There are at least 250,000 Kampuchea Krom What are their needs? degradation. The Jarai live in the most remote part of who have migrated from Vietnam and now live The Kampuchea Krom have had very little Traditional Jarai villages are made up of twenty Cambodia, cut-off from public education, modern within the borders of Cambodia. Because of opportunity to hear about Jesus, and for the most to sixty longhouses, partitioned into quarters for health care, roads and communications. This is linguistic, political and social factors they are distinct part they are extremely poor. The vast majority have individual family units, and are not mixed with beginning to change, but along with roads and in many ways from the wider Khmer population in never heard the Gospel, and many have never heard families of other language groups. Jarai society is mobile phone towers come people seeking land and Cambodia. of Jesus. There are only a few thousand Christians matrilineal. Marriage is normally initiated by the other resources. Difficulties in dealing with these among this vast people group. The fields are white bride’s family, and newlyweds typically live with the new outsiders make the Jarai open to exploitation. What are their lives like? unto harvest, and those who are hearing are also bride’s family. Frequent intermarriage and trade Pray for the young Jarai church in Cambodia, that Typically, the Kampuchea Krom in Vietnam are showing a hunger to know and understand more. between speakers of other languages leads to a high they will understand and apply the Scriptures, rural people who live in villages outside of the main Pray for the Christians that they may get degree of multilingualism. enabling them to be an effective light in their cities. Daily life consists of subsistance farming nourishment for their souls and walk in the power communities, affecting their culture for Christ. and agriculture. Opportunities for advancement in of the Holy Spirit to witness to their neighbors and What do they believe? society are limited and difficult to obtain because friends. Pray that there may be a spreading fire Like other minority groups in the area, Jarai of Vietnamese control. Many young men seek among them that spreads from village to village religious beliefs are animistic. Objects in the education and opportunities as monks in the which results in groups that multiply spontaneously. natural world - trees, mountains, rivers, etc. - are Buddhist temples.

28 29 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Khmer Segment Spotlight: Cambodian Diaspora

Population 12,750,000 What is the Cambodian practice Theravada Buddhism mixed Diaspora? with Major Buddhism animism and ancestor worship. Religion he Cambodian Diaspora is made up of those who left When Cambodians arrived in the Language Khmer TCambodia starting in April Thai refugee camps, many heard 1975, when the government fell to the Gospel and a high percentage Percent 1-2% the Khmer Rouge. Khmer began to Christian made professions of faith. This trend flee the Killing Fields to find safety in continued as they were sponsored Bible Yes refugee camps along the Thai border. by Christian churches in the West. Translation This continued through the 1980s as Unfortunately, as they settled into the Vietnamese army invaded and their host countries many fell away. occupied Cambodia. These displaced Over time, Buddhist temples were people sought acceptance as refugees Who are the Khmer? What do they believe? in various countries. The United built in those countries which provide he Khmer are one of the oldest population During the empire of Angkor, the reigning States, Australia, France and other a place to practice their Khmer groups in Indochina, occupying the Mekong monarch was identified with Siva, king of Hindu countries became their new homes. culture and traditional beliefs. Tvalley and fertile plains from modern day gods. In the 13th century, Theravada Buddhism At the same time, Cambodian northeast Thailand to southern Vietnam. The undermined the prestige of kings and priests What are churches have their lives had a significant Khmer language is related to many languages and eventually in 1432, the Angkor Empire fell. Fast Facts spoken by hilltribe peoples of Laos and Vietnam, Theravada Buddhism remained the dominant and like? influence. In the but is very different from Thai or Lao. Khmer unchallenged faith until 1975. During Pol Pot’s Cambodians early 1990s, there Population: were actually people constitute about 90% of Cambodia’s 14.2 regime, 90% of all Buddhist monks were killed. have had 277,000 million people. There are also millions of Khmer more Khmer In 1989, the Hun Sen government re-introduced difficulty Major Religion: still living in Thailand and Vietnam. adapting to their believers in the Buddhism as the national religion. Today more Buddhism, Animism than 94% of the new countries. West than in What are their lives like? Language: population is Buddhist. Cambodian Buddhism is The suffering Cambodia. When The Khmer developed a highly sophisticated an easy-going faith and tolerates ancestor and spirit they experienced a new Cambodian Khmer, language of host country culture that dominated the entire Indochinese worship. under the government Percent Christian: peninsula by the 10th century A.D. The flowering Christianity made little impact on the Khmer Khmer Rouge was formed, of Khmer culture is embodied in Angkor Wat, a until the early 1970s when there was a rapid caused many to many of these Less than 1% temple complex built in the 12th century. Today ingathering of new believers. Church growth was experience post Christians played this temple is the national symbol of Cambodia. phenomenal for three years but was halted by traumatic stress an important Years of war and brutal killings have so skewed the communist takeover in 1975. Ten thousand syndrome. Also, most Cambodian role in bringing the Gospel back to traditional morality and trust that the family unit is Christians were killed during the Pol Pot regime, refugees had a low level of education their homeland. Today, the overseas suffering. The children, forced into independence and less than 1,000 survived. and were farmers. Many were settled churches continue to send money too quickly, see little need for parental authority. Freedom of religion was made a constitutional in urban areas where they could not and people to support the growing Likewise, due to years of separation, many wives right in 1990. Since 1996, Protestant Christianity use their agricultural experience. As Christian movement in Cambodia. have lost trust in their husbands. a result, many overseas Cambodians has doubled in size every two years. It is now What are their needs? Only 20% of Cambodia is urban. Most Khmer estimated that there may be at least 260,000 live in poverty. In the United States, live in raised wooden houses on family farms. believers among the Khmer. Cambodians are near the bottom Cambodians in the West need to Villagers share in harvest and other heavy tasks. in education and per capita income adapt to their new countries. The The Khmer are primarily engaged in agricultural What are their needs? among all immigrant groups. second and third generations need activities and rice is the main crop grown. The land Even though the Gospel has made great strides Even among second generation better educational opportunities has become increasingly devastated due to years in recent years, less than 2% of Khmer people Cambodians, many drop out of so that their communities can of war, massacres, political isolation and socialist have faith in Jesus. Millions are still without high school and few attend college, emerge from the poverty which bureaucracy. Christ. Among believers, there is a great need therefore, these problems are passed has characterized their overseas The devastating effect of the Khmer Rouge for discipleship and leadership training as well as on from one generation to the next. experience. Most of all they need a caused unprecedented suffering for Khmer people, wisdom about how to best reach more Khmer. relationship with Jesus Christ. along with the rest of Cambodian society. The What do they believe? effects of the tragedy are still felt in Khmer life. Khmer in the West have similar beliefs to those in Cambodia. They

30 31 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Commercial Sex Workers and Human Trafficking Segment Spotlight: Prostituted People Segment Spotlight: Factory Workers

Who are the they are even allowed to keep it). They Who are they? What do they believe? may service ten or more men per Prostituted People of Cam- n 2006 the total number of Like most Cambodians, factory night. They are often given drugs by bodia? employees in Cambodia’s ever workers will be Folk Buddhists – a the brothel owners to foster addiction. Desperate people do desperate Iexpanding garment industry was mixture of Theravada Buddhism, They become indebted to the brothel things.” Many women, girls 293,600. There are over 200 garment animism and ancestor worship. They owners due to a need for medicine factories in Cambodia. Most are and boys are sold or step into will generally try to live a good life, “ and basic necessities. One man may in Phnom Penh with others in and prostitution believing they have no around the port of Sihanoukville. believing that those who do good other choice for their livelihood. take a girl out for a night only to have Nearly 90% of garment factory things will receive good things and For many, including parents of her be gang raped by several of his workers are young women aged 18-25 those who do bad things will receive rape victimes, loss of virginity is friends. AIDS and other diseases are years old. Many come into Phnom bad things. But they also live in fear the equivalent of loss of value and serious threats and there is often not Penh from the countryside to look for of the spirits and will be sure to make prostitution in the next step. Shame, enough income for proper treatment. work and often send 30-50% of their the right offerings at the right times forced drug usage and imprisonment What do they believe? salaries back to their families. The to the right spirits in order to secure are some of the methods used to keep protection and blessing. Most people follow the religion of Fast Facts average monthly salary for a factory people enslaved. However, as the country, Theravada Buddhism, worker in the Parents may be approached by a with many young but few are strongly committed to its Estimated number in garment industry person who Cambodia: Cambodians Fast Facts teachings. Many feel in 2006 was $72. offers to Estimated between today, they are permanently stained or 51,000 and 100,000 Only 8% of Number of workers: take their open to the defiled by their activities. women working daughter to Gospel. Finding 293,000 They believe they are Percent HIV positive: in the garment the capital Approximately 28% a safe place to Number of factories: valueless and their lives industry have city for stay in one of the 200+ are like that of a dog or Average age: had a high school needed growing number Average age of a rat confined in a trap 30% under the age 18 education. work. In of hostels run workers: - a common statement reality, this Youngest age: What are by churches 18-25 made by those caught in as young as 5 person will their lives and Christian Average salary: sell the girl the web of prostitution. Literacy level: like? organizations will $72 to a brothel often be the first What are their commonly 3rd grade or Official Percent of workers where she below needs? working hours are step to serious without high school cannot 8 hours per day, 6 days per week but consideration of the person and education: escape. Prostituted people need many workers do overtime in order to claims of Jesus Christ. 92% Some to know they have value supplement their salaries. Typically, enter prostitution voluntarily. If a and worth as individuals. They need What are their needs? to be touched with God’s love and to a worker in the garment industry girl is raped, she may feel (or be told) As well as fair and reasonable working know that Christ came to set them will average 10 hours per day in the that she has brought shame upon conditions, these factory workers need free—physically, emotionally and factory. Underpayment of wages has her family and so she leaves. Some safe and suitable accommodation spiritually. There is a great need for been a problem in some factories. girls with fierce family loyalty will where they can be free from the threat alternative income sources. Each And there are continuing problems prostitute themselves and send all the of violence or exploitation. But most man needs a godly transformation with use of protective equipment, money they receive home. of all these young women need Jesus to see himself as a faithful lover to safety guards on machines, training, For still other situations, the Christ. Pray for those who run hostels his wife, a protector to his daughters good ventilation and cleanliness. bottom line is greed or power. and evangelistic programs aimed at and a model of purity to his sons. Outside of work these young witnessing to and discipling these People who regard other humans women face other problems such as What are their lives like? young people. Also pray that many as commodities need to meet inadequate accommodation and can Once in the brothel, girls may be other churches in the city will respond justice head-on; legal and judicial fall victim to unscrupulous landlords. subjected to beatings, electrical shock, to the challenge of reaching them. Those who are new to the city face and food deprivation until they agree systems need to have a concern an entirely different pace of life and to sleep with customers. Their ‘homes’ for the vulnerable and be able to often a new set of values. City life are small wooden shacks with tiny act on their behalf. Please pray for brings with it an increased threat of cubicles containing little other than encouragement, protection, and violence, rape and STDs. a bed. Those in lower level brothels favor for those who work with these may make one dollar per customer (if precious traumatized people.

32 33 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Segment Spotlight: Orphans Segment Spotlight: Physically Disabled

n “orphan” in Cambodia widows, who provides all things, loves Who are they? difficult for them to become fully is a child who has lost or them deeply, and will never abandon hirty years of conflict and its involved in family and community life. Abeen abandoned by one or or abuse them aftermath have left Cambodia The physical and attitudinal both parents. By the end of 2003 - to be able to forgive and love their with one of the highest rates barriers which exclude children with there were an estimated 670,000 T fathers or others who may have of disability in the world. Disability disabilities from going to school and orphans, a large number of which abused or abandoned them; to be affects Cambodians of all religions, keep adults with disabilities from were AIDS orphans. Most often released from the spirit of hatred ethnicities and socio-economic levels, vocational training have long term these children are living with their - to break out of the cycle of poverty with the highest concentration among consequences. Without education it is mothers or are cared for by another the poor. relative. Orphans living with other - to receive skills training and quality difficult for disabled adults to support Cambodia is one of the most relatives are often resented; the education themselves. They remain poor and living arrangement greatly strains - to learn the value of hard work, not heavily land-mined nations in the dependent upon others, a cycle of the family’s resources, adding more unhealthy dependence or laziness world. Even today, two people are poverty which often has a devastating pressure to those already burdened by - to have access to good medical care injured or killed by landmines or effect. poverty. This can lead to malnutrition - to know protection or receive unexploded ordnance daily, adding While a physical or psychological at best, but many children also deliverance from sexual abuse to the figure of impairment may encounter - to receive 36,000 Cambodian be a source of neglect, deliverance from amputees. frustration for abuse, and trauma Among the the person with Fast Facts emotional and Fast Facts poor, many become psychological a disability, it is Number of amputees: Pray for the Estimated number of permanently the barriers put hurts. Some 36,000 caregivers: orphans: disabled by up by society families even sell Percent of children these children - to raise the 670,000 untreated illnesses which cause the in infancy and stunted by into brothels to children in love -to Common threats to more devastating malnutrition: help pay a family orphans: childhood. The find the peace and ‘handicap’. 45% debt. hope that comes Abuse, malnutrition, destruction of ‘Difficulty in the Number of women Other only from faith in human trafficking the nation’s heart’ (Khmer: infrastructure and who will die in orphans are Jesus Christ and pibaak chet) is childbirth: sent to live in health services to look to God often used by One in fifty the local temple the Creator as the during the war people with grounds to be provider of all means that today disabilities educated and good things there are large numbers of people to describe the emotional distress looked after by the monks, who are -to be provided with the funds needed living with impairments from vaccine- caused by experiencing ongoing social often scarcely no more than children to properly care for the children, and preventable illnesses such as polio and marginalization. themselves. These young men to be honest in handling those funds measles. 70% of women are assisted have no training or preparation for - to resist the temptation for by unskilled attendants during labor What are their needs? teaching or childcare, and most are corruption and birth injuries are also a significant Pray that as the nation’s medical, quite anxious about the responsibility. - to receive adequate training cause of disability for both mothers health and social services are Still other children are cared for - for faithfulness, honesty and truth to and babies. gradually rebuilt, poverty-related in orphanages, some of which are rule their lives Stunted growth due to disabilities will become less common care centers and some of which are malnutrition is common. Also, and the needs of people with existing set up to facilitate adoptions. Care in Pray for Cambodia: iodine deficiency causes intellectual disabilities will be adequately these centers ranges from wonderful - for funds to reach the intended impairment in many rural addressed. loving care and family-like settings to destination and for restraints to be in communities. Activities to raise awareness are low quality care and neglect, whether place to provide ethical adoptions having some impact in breaking down intentional or not. What beliefs affect their - that life would not be seen as cheap, lives? prejudices and misunderstanding that children would be valued and about disability, but more needs Pray for the orphans of people would not want to get rid of One popular interpretation of karma to be done. Pray for Cambodian Cambodia: their children. teaches that disability is caused by bad communities and churches to become - to know God as their Heavenly actions in previous lives. This belief increasingly inclusive of people with Father, who cares for orphans and can lead to discrimination against disabilities. people with disabilities, making it

34 35 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Segment Spotlight: Urban Poor Segment Spotlight: Young People

Phnom Penh, search of economic opportunities. n many ways, Cambodian youth young people recognize that in a city of squatters Consequently, the city’s population are identical to youth all over the order to find jobs and opportunities increased from 584,000 inhabitants Iworld. They enjoy spending time in Cambodia they must be able to in 1987 to more than 1 million over with their friends and sport such as hnom Penh is one of the most speak English. Young people flock to the following decade. This rapid soccer and volleyball. Local games language centers in hopes of learning unique cities in the world. It is include sey which uses a kicking the only capital city in recent growth was chaotic and disorganized. the English language so that they can P The neglected physical infrastructure toy with feathers on top (similar to history whose entire population has a hackey sack in America). As with have access to jobs. has had an impact on the urban been evicted. During four years (1975- other typical youth, they also enjoy Youth seek escape in many ways. 1979) of Khmer Rouge rule, the environment and living conditions of watching television and playing video Some young people become extra city was empty and its infrastructure local residents. games. motivated to produce financially and neglected. Today, Phnom Penh is continually Most children in the West grow educationally. Other young people When the population started drawing in thousands of low income up believing they have opportunities turn to gambling, computer games to return in 1979, the shape and migrants who come looking for to do what ever they want to do as or drugs. The lack of available jobs structure of the city changed work in the city’s factories, markets long as they put their mind to it. does not encourage creativity and completely, as most of the new and construction sites. Although its Opportunity and freedom nurture hopefulness among the youth. residents came growing economy Western youth to Cambodians from rural areas. depends heavily Fast Facts follow their dreams consider Fast Facts Following Pol on the cheap someone who Number of families and attempt big % of Total Population: Pot’s ousting labor that these is not and living in slum areas: things. This concept >50% by the invading people provide, is virtually non- never has been 35,000 Top Concern for Many Vietnamese, people the city has been existent among married to be a Average daily salary: Youth: began to emerge unable to offer Cambodian youth. youth. Age does from the jungle them much in 1 US$ not necessarily Where they will get Over half their next meal into an empty, return by way Common health the population determine dilapidated city. of affordable afflictions: youth in the Top Educational of Cambodia is Priority for Many: They camped out in housing or Tuberculosis, AIDS, under twenty- Khmer culture. malnutrition Learning English empty buildings and assistance and the one. Cambodian Cambodians lit open fires to cook urban poor are % Urban poor families expect youth to Rite of Passage to youth grow up in Move from Youth to their rice. When left to fend for with no access to a act childish and toilet: a country that is Adult: all the houses and themselves. irresponsibly. 40% full of corruption, Marriage flats had been occupied, newcomers deceit, ulterior motives and few Khmer do not expect youth to handle built shelters wherever they could What are their needs? opportunities. Instead of thinking adult responsiblities until they are find space: along river banks, railway At the physical level, Cambodia’s about the possibilities of the future, married. tracks, on streets, in the areas between urban poor struggle to find shelter, many youth are more concerned with Pray that the youth find hope. buildings and on rooftops. adequate sanitation, clean water, how they will find food for the day. The economic, social, educational These collections of dwellings, as physical security and good medical Most youth in Cambodia are and spiritual condition of the country the only solution to the city’s critical care. Adequate work can be very reared in fractured families. Some saps the hope of many young people. shortage of affordable housing for the difficult to find. The poor are people expect men to be unfaithful Hope exists only in Jesus Christ. Pray poor, became thriving communities often victimized as the wealthy in marriage. In fact, some men down the spiritual walls of darkness and home to a new generation of and powerful pursue gains at their father families in numerous villages. which hinder them from investigating city-builders. During the 80s, however, expense. Pray for social justice and In addition to unstable homes truth claims other than the traditional the city further deteriorated due to relief from daily suffering. because of infidelity, youth are being teachings. the lack of both financial and human Spiritually, most of the urban raised by parents who suffer from Pray that youth would have access resources. poor are lost in the common mixture post-traumatic stress disorder. Forty to good medical care. With the arrival of the United between Buddhism and animistic percent of all young Cambodians Pray that the love of Christ Nations Transitional Authority in beliefs and practices. The greatest suffer from stress disorders caused exhibited by churches in Cambodia Cambodia (UNTAC) and their cash need of Cambodia’s urban poor is to by growing up in such a fractured would draw youth to Christ. in 1992, the city entered a period know Jesus as Savior and Lord. society. Pray that youth would find peace of growth and dramatic change. Education is poor in Cambodia in Jesus and in the community of Phnom Penh attracted a large and relatively few youth are able to believers that does not exist in the number of migrants who arrived in earn a high school diploma. However, culture.

36 37 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Khmer Keh Khmer, Northern

Population 5,222 Population 1,250,000 (mainly in Major Animism Thailand) Religion Major Buddhism Language Khmer Keh Religion Percent 1% Language Khmer, Christian Northern Percent Bible Yes Christian Less than 1% Translation Bible Translation Yes

Who are the Khmer Keh? family work needs. Education is very basic. Reading Who are the Northern Khmer? which can be notoriously fickle, with one village he Khmer Keh are a minority group of is rather difficult for them. The girls are married he Northern Khmer are mostly found in able to plant crops while another suffers drought. Khmer people living in 8 villages in the at the age of 15 to 17 years or even younger. If a the lower northeast of Thailand, in the They are also skilled timber-cutters and house Tnortheastern part of Cambodia. Legend girl is over twenty, nobody wants to marry her any Tprovinces of Buriram, Surin and Sisaket, builders, and many Khmer women weave silk and tells that hundreds of years ago a crocodile caught more. which border Cambodia. They are also known as cotton cloth during the dry season. Due to lack the daughter of the king. The citizens went after Thai-Khmer or Khmer-Surin. Northern Khmer of ground water, only small-scale agriculture is the crocodile, but could not catch it. Because they What do they believe? speakers are also found in villages along the Thai- possible, apart from raising cattle or buffaloes. were afraid to go back, they settled in different The Khmer Keh are mostly animistic with Cambodian border in the Prachinburi province. Their food is distinctively Khmer with the villages. They were called Khmer Khac which later Buddhist influence. Once a year, there is a They number approximately 1.25 million people popular somlor (soup) and liberal use of prohok. changed to Khmer Keh. Some also went to the ceremony where the spirit medium performs special in Thailand with possibly 3,000 - 5,000 Christians Music is also very much part of their culture Thai border. The Khmer there are nothern Khmer, among them. The dialect of Khmer spoken in dances to receive the spirits. The followers come with the Khmer violin and pleng kantrum or Khmer Surin. Cambodia across the north is very similar to the to offer things like eggs, chicken, alcohol, money, (Khmer folksong) at the centre of village life and They speak their own dialect of Khmer, which dialect in Thailand, though in Thailand many Thai kroma or material for a skirt. When they are sick celebrations. They dress much like the Thai, but is mixed with Lao and very similar to Khmer Surin. words are also used. they either go to the medium, who will tell them the with distinctive colors and patterns in their sarongs. Apart from their dialect and darker skin there is The Khmer have been in the lower northeast cause of the sickness and what they should offer, or little difference from other Khmer. They relate and of present-day Thailand even longer than the they go to the Kru Khmer (traditional healer). What do they believe? intermarry with the rest of the population. Thai. There are many Khmer ruins dating from Young people today often do not have such a the pre-Angkor and the Angkor period in the three Outwardly they are followers of the Thai national What are their lives like? strong belief in these spirits as their ancestors. provinces and beyond, notably at Phanomrung religion of Theravada Buddhism, with a strong admixture of spirit-worship and divination which Most of the Khmer Keh are subsistence rice (Buriram), still with concentrations of Khmer– What are their needs? is performed by the kruu, who may be either a farmers. Some people raise chickens or pigs speaking communities nearby. The Khmer Keh are very dependent on rice monk or a layman. The Khmer are known (and and they also catch fish and frogs. There is no A linguistic survey carried out in the planting for survival. Those who do not get enough sometimes feared) within Thailand for their powers tradition of growing vegetables or fruit. There is 1960s discovered that Buriram province was harvest to feed their families have to borrow rice at of witchcraft and sorcery. As well as Buddhist great dependence on food that grows naturally approximately 75% Khmer-speaking, Surin 90% high interest rates. festivals, they also hold a festival to the spirits of the in the forest. Change is slowly coming through and Sisaket 70%. These figures may have changed There has not been much exposure to the dead known as Prachum Ben. Most Khmer houses a development program encouraging vegetable since then, but the broad coverage of the language outside world, but the district is beginning to have a spirit-shelf near the house, and another gardens. can still be found in each of the provinces. open up as accessibility gets better. This type of inside the house with items placed there by the Their wooden houses are built on stilts, with In Thailand, many Khmer are migrant outside contact is new and the Khmer Keh are khruu. low roofs, like the Lao houses, traditionally made laborers, especially in the dry season, and can be very vulnerable to any kind of influence. In some of straw, now mostly with iron. The women usually found on construction sites in Bangkok and in fruit villages there are groups of Christians, but they What are their needs? dress with a sarong and a shirt or blouse, men with and sugarcane plantations in other parts of the are still very young in their faith. The leaders are In Thailand, the Northern Khmer come at the trousers or a kroma. They used to weave and make country. Many of the young people from the region simple people with servant hearts, but have only bottom of educational success, and alcoholism their own cloth, but now they buy all in the district are now working in factories in and around Greater very basic education and not much training. Pray among both men and women is a major problem capital. Some now also have motorbikes and even Bangkok. that the believers can grow and mature in their in many families. Their greatest need is to hear the mobile phones. faith and understanding of the Word of God. They Gospel presented in a way they can understand. There are schools in their villages, but some What are their lives like? also need more teaching and training. children cannot go to school because of distance or The Northern Khmer are traditionally rice farmers, following the rhythm of the monsoon

38 39 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Kraol Kuy

Population 3,000 Population 30,000 Major Animism Major Animism, Folk Religion Religion Buddhism Language Kraol Language Kuy

Percent 0% Percent Less than 1% Christian Christian

Bible None Bible None Translation Translation

Who are the Kraol? The Mel and Kraol languages are not mutually Who are the Kuy? surrounding the village. Their dress is not different he Kraol people live on the border of intelligible, so they converse using the Khmer uy people are found in Thailand, Laos and from that of the Khmer people. They typically Kracheh and Mondolkiri provinces. They language. Cambodia. They are also known as Kui, wear Western type clothing, though women often number nearly 3,000, with most living in Suai and Kamen-boran (which means wear a sarong. Both men and women use the T What do they believe? K Kracheh. They live primary along the banks of ancient Khmer).In Cambodia they live primarily Cambodian Krama (checked cotton piece of fabric) the Krieng River. They suffered greatly under the While professing to be Buddhist because of political in the north-central part of the country, in Preah as scarves, head wear, belts, wraps for bathing and wars of Cambodia. At one time they were forced pressure, all the Kraol are animists and continue Vihear and Kampong Thom provinces. Their other uses. to adopt Khmer ways, including religion and their animistic sacrifices. They hold annual villages are mostly in remote areas interspersed Like most in Cambodia, the Kuy have an oral language in an effort to “civilize” them. They were sacrifices where they slaughter several water buffalo with Khmer villages. culture with high illiteracy. For most, education bombed during the Vietnam-American war and the or cows to appease the spirits they fear. More Early inhabitants of the area, the Kuy did not is only available for two or three years, but in Vietnamese would force them to help them carry regularly, for sicknesses or spells, they will offer have an advanced civilization or empire like the Khmer, which contributes to their assimilation into supplies on the infamous Ho Chi Minh trail. Under chickens and pigs for sacrifices. Khmers. In the past they had a reputation as iron Cambodian culture. the Khmer Rouge, they were heavily persecuted ore smelters and blacksmiths, but those skills seem and forced to move into another area for growing Celebration of Buddhist holidays is mixed with to have been lost. rice. In the late 1980s the main Kraol village of animistic wine-pot drinking and sacrifices to spirits. What do they believe? In appearance they do not differ from the Srie Chi, was burned down by the Khmer Rouge The Gospel has only recently come to the Kraol Their beliefs are a mixture of animist and Folk and many villagers killed. A few Bunong have and most have still never heard. Khmers. They have their own language, unwritten Buddhist ideas with animism being the older and married into their tribe, but they generally live until recently. One folk tale is that the village elders more dominant belief structure. Buddhism is among their own people and still use their own What are their needs? originally wrote their language on a pig skin but increasing in their areas as they assimilate more language, though most can speak Khmer fairly The Kraol have only one poor dirt road which then dogs ate it so their writing was lost. Kuy is with the Khmer people. For example one large well. goes to their village and only a few wells dug by an in the Mon-Khmer language group and there village now has a very simple wooden Buddhist are several dialects. Most Kuy people also speak What are their lives like? organization a few years ago for three thousand temple built less than 10 years ago. Many wear people. Only the main village has access to any well Khmer and in some places they are losing their strings tied around the neck, waist or wrists to ward Most of the Kraol are rice farmers and they raise water. Because of their remoteness everything is own language. off evil spirits. They mostly rely on traditional cows which are sold to Khmer every year. The cows expensive for them including fuel for plows, canned healers in the case of illness. are left to graze in the jungles during the day and goods and tools. The Kraol all live along the river What are their lives like? the brought back into the villages at night. Since Krieng and there are no bridges which cross this The Kuy are mostly poor wet rice farmers. What are their needs? the main Kraol village was recently destroyed, they river near where they live. There are Kraol people Farming is labor intensive, plowing with cows or The Kuy are at the bottom of the economic heap have rebuilt the village in a Khmer style complete on both sides of the river, so crossing to the other water buffalo and transporting goods by oxcart. in Cambodia. They are often looked down upon by with a Wat where a few of the young people live side is difficult at any time of the year. Because of They grow few other crops, though in some areas Khmer people. The Kuy have little access to good as monks. There is basic primary education for their poverty, there is no market for the food they they grow cashews. They also raise chickens, pigs health care. They could really benefit from health only grades one through three, but the teachers are grow and little access to medical care, education or and cattle. Many also gather forest products like and hygiene education, better access to clean water, usually young Khmer men from Kratie town who modern infrastructure. resin, wood and traditional medicines although this and improved agricultural methods. are not used to jungle life so there are only classes is changing due to rapid deforestation. Frequently Many have never heard of Jesus and few have for a few days each month. their diet consists of rice eaten with salt and chili had the opportunity to hear the Gospel presented The closest neighbors to the Kroal are the Mel peppers. in a way that makes sense to them. Pray for people. They share much of the language with Kuy villagers live in houses like those of their committed Cambodians and other believers to the T’moan people, but have a distinct dialect. Khmer neighbors, bamboo and thatch on stilts. bring the good news to these people. Their fields are typically some distance away

40 41 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Lao Mel

Population 22,000 Population 3,000 Major Buddhism Major Animism Religion Religion Language Lao, Khmer Language Mel

Percent Less than 1% Percent 0% Christian Christian Yes Bible Bible None Translation Translation

Who are the Lao? bamboo shoots and leaves found in the forest. They Who are the Mel? What do they believe? he Lao like their sister race the Thai/ celebrate anything with rice whisky with resulting he Mel people live in the Northern Kracheh There are a few Mel Christians in scattered villages Tai, pushed southward from central drunkenness. province. They number about 3,000 people and no organized church has been started, though TChina and took over the river valleys For visits to the pagodas and special festivals, Tin the entire tribe. They live in an area work is continuing. Most Mel will claim to be in the mountainous area of northern Laos and the Lao like to wear traditional hand-woven silks, which is down river from the Kroal people along Buddhist, and in the main town of Ralouh, most along the Mekong river as far south as Steung the Krieng River. The Mel mostly live on the but those in Cambodia do not weave themselves. probably are, but in the outlying Mel villages Treng, a northern Cambodian border province. They have a fairer skin than the Khmer and ethnic most accessible side of the Krieng River with a They captured the land vacated by the retreating simple dirt track as their road to the main town of there are few if any Buddhists. They all follow the minorities. They are striving to maintain their animistic religion of their traditions. Cambodians, who had pushed their kingdom as far ethnic identity. Kracheh some 100 km away. The Mel people are north at Vientiane, the present day capital of Laos. often the “middle men” for the remote jungle tribes In the main villages, when Buddhism replaced In the mid 19th century, the French built major What do they believe? and the Khmers who wish to buy their products. Animism, many of the outside pressures have crept The remote tribes of the Kroal and T’moan will in. Karaoke parlors and prostitution are common roads along the Mekong River through Cambodia The Lao are Theravada Buddhists and their to Saigon, giving access to new markets and gather jungle products like resin and small animals place in the main village of Ralouh. pagodas in the bigger villages are the hubs of their and will sell it to the Mel people who in turn sell In the outlying villages, the Mel remain agricultural areas. social activities. Their fear of spirits keeps them Over a century ago, the Lao living on the it to the Khmers for a profit. There are many traditional animists. They hold annual sacrifices in bondage, however, and their houses have altars comparatively wealthy people among the Mel islands in the Mekong where land for wet rice was where they can slaughter several water buffalo or and miniature temples where offerings are made and those who have military connections bring in cows as sacrifices, and more regularly for sicknesses limited, decided to explore to the south. Thus, the Khmer loggers and traffic larger wildlife such as to appease the spirits. Ancestors are also revered. or spells they will offer chickens and pigs for Lao settled along two rivers and today there are They tie strings on each other’s wrists at many tigers and sun bears. sacrifices. numerous villages where Lao is spoken. In spite ceremonies like weddings and farewells. These of attempts to impose fines on the Lao in the 60s What are their lives like? strings signify the keeping of the ‘khwan’ spirits What are their needs? for using their mother tongue rather than Khmer, within the person for a healthy and successful Most of the Mel are rice farmers and they raise Though the Mel are in close proximity to the Kroal Lao remains their first language and the children life. Some festivals, like the New Year (April) and cows which are sold to Khmer every year. The cows people, most development has taken place only start school often not speaking Khmer. During the Water festival prior to harvest, go back further than are left to graze in the jungles during the day and among the Mel people. Probably because of their Khmer Rouge years, some Lao moved back to Laos Buddhism to Hindu and animistic elements. the brought back into the villages at night. The assimilation to the Khmer way of life, outsiders find reinforcing ties with relatives living there. Since Mel are more assimilated to the Khmer lifestyle it easier to work among the Mel than the Kroal. roads are improving, many travel to Laos for the What are their needs? than other more remote tribes. The new houses The condition of the villages is still much worse big festivals. As education becomes more available to them, they which are built in the Mel areas all reflect Khmer than most Khmer villages. Only the main village want good jobs in the cities and many young people architecture and village layout, and most Mel What are their lives like? has access to any well water. Because of remoteness are moving away. Parents are therefore losing their children no longer speak Mel. There are numerous everything is expensive for them including fuel for The Lao live mostly in wooden houses on stilts ‘farm hands’ and agricultural profits. Spiritually the and large schools among the Mel villages as well plows, canned goods and tools. along river banks, and farm inland alongside Lao need liberation from fear of the spirits and all as health centers and government offices. Some the local population. They have herds of buffalo the traditions that go with their religious life, so that work has begun on a road into the main Mel and cows and ox-carts bring the rice sheaves they can embrace the good news of Jesus Christ. village of “Ralouh” which when completed will back to the villages for threshing and storing. One group of Christians in Siem Pang has been bring in more and more Khmers, and increase the Fishing and gardening supplement their food. meeting for eight years; otherwise there are only assimilation to the Khmer lifestyle as well as bring They prefer glutinous rice steamed and put into scattered believers. more development to the area. baskets. The Lao are partial to frogs and snails,

42 43 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Pearic Cluster Stieng

Population Less than Population 6,000 10,000 Major Animism Major Animism Religion Religion Language Stieng Language Chong, Por, Samre, Saoch, Percent More than 15% Somray, Suoy Christian Percent Christian 0% Bible None Translation Bible None Translation

Who are the Pearic Peoples of Cam- are very dependent on the monsoon rains and Who are the Stieng? Most Stieng still live in traditional houses bodia? in flood or drought they will face food shortages. he Stieng people live on the Vietnamese which are made from the leaves of palm trees. here are six small people groups in They also grow a few vegetables and bananas, border between Memut in Kompong The roof structures are quite different from Cambodia which are linguistically related: and gather forest products such as resin, firewood TCham province, Snoul in Kratie province those of other tribes, thus their houses are easily Tthe Chong, the Por (Peur, Pear), the Samre, and charcoal. Some still live in the Cardamom and Kao Sema in the Mondolkiri province. There recognizable. Because the Stieng live very close, or the Saoch, the Somray and the Suoy (Suy).These mountains and collect cardamom from the forest. are approximately 6,000 Stieng in Cambodia, and even inter-mingle with the Khmer, they are often groups are both linguistically and ethnically They mostly live in humble, short stilted, one nearly 50,000 in Vietnam. They speak two distinct indistinguishable by the untrained eye. distinct from the Khmer majority. Together they room houses with the roofs made from leaves and dialects: Budip and Bulo. total less than 10,000, with some of the groups walls made from leaves, bamboo and occasionally The majority of the Stieng live near Snoul, What do they believe? numbering just a few hundred. The Chong people wood. They dress similarly to rural Khmers which Kratie, in Cambodia. During the French colonial The Stieng, like all peoples of Cambodia, are are also found in Trat and Chantaburi Provinces in is basically western style. Most are non-literate. days, the Stieng enjoyed much autonomy in highly animistic. While some have adopted Khmer Thailand. Historically, they were early inhabitants Educational opportunities are quite limited and Indochina. When the post-colonial borders were Buddhism, others retain purely animistic practices. of Cambodia and probably pre-dated the Khmers. conducted in the national language, Khmer. drawn the minority groups’ villages were not There are approximately 1,000 Stieng Christians During the Angkor period it is quite likely that considered hence the border was drawn right some of these groups served as slaves. They in Cambodia, with many thousands of Christians through the Stieng ancestral territory. Today were also known as cultivators and gatherers of What do they believe? in Vietnam. Indeed, the Gospel entered the Stieng cardamom. The Khmer Rouge severely persecuted The Pearic people are primarily animistic. They most Stieng have relatives on both sides of the area in Cambodia in the late 1980s and early 1990s some of these groups. Some lost their traditional worship Neak Ta or Arak whom they believe are Vietnamese-Cambodian border. through Vietnamese-Stieng evangelists. Today, all lands during the decades of conflict. Presently they powerful spirits which can harm them and require During the Vietnam war, the Stieng area was the Stieng pastors became Christians through cross- are scattered in pockets west of the Mekong River. sacrifices to appease them. They often practice a hotbed of military activity. It was in the Stieng border inter-tribe evangelism. Most also speak the national language, Khmer, traditional medicine which is a mixture of spiritism region where the Americans invaded and where and are becoming increasingly assimilated into and the use of medicinal plants gathered from the B-52 carpet bombing was centered. Nearly every What are their needs? Cambodian society. Many younger people from forest. However, most of these practices are not Stieng family lost multiple family members in the The Stieng have never been appreciated or these groups now use only Khmer. In some cases helpful and some are even harmful. They are very war between the USA and Vietnam. Under the respected. They live in close proximity to other only a few elderly people still speak the language. superstitious and live in great fear of the spirits. Khmer Rouge, the Stieng were often considered majority groups such as the Khmer, Vietnamese It is likely that in a generation these unwritten American spies and again faced much harsh languages will become extinct. Information about For example, those who live next to the Cardamom and Cham and therefore most speak fluent Khmer. treatment and persecution. these groups is very limited. A recent survey trip forest have very specific “rules” about how they They still, however, seek to retain the use of their for the Chong failed to find any people from that must behave while collecting cardamom in the On 2 December 1978 when the Khmer and language at home. The current “land-rush” in group. Although there are historical references to forest. Vietnamese forces invaded to topple the Khmer Cambodia has cost the Stieng once again as they them, they may no longer be present in Cambodia. Rouge, the first invasion was launched in Snoul. are forced to leave their ancestral lands, having What are their needs? whole sections of the jungle given to private What are their lives like? They are extremely poor and looked down upon by What are their lives like? companies. It is on this jungle that they have They live in small, remote, isolated villages that are the Khmer majority. They lack access to education Most of the Stieng do not grow rice, but rather made their livelihood for generations There is no often located in heavily forested areas. Mostly they and health care. With no known believers in have plantations. In these plantations black pepper, education in the Stieng language, and most purely practice subsistence rice farming. Their fields are Cambodia, they most importantly need someone cashew nuts and durian are the main crops. They Stieng villages do not have schools or medical usually some distance away in the forest and every who will take them the Good News. also rely heavily on hunting and wood cutting in facilities available. Therefore, education is a couple of years or so they will move them. They the jungles around their homes. primary need.

44 45 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Tampuan T’moan

Population 32,000 Population 700 Major Animism Major Christian Religion Religion Language Tampuan Language T’moan

Percent Less than 1% Percent More than 50% Christian Christian

Bible In Process Bible None Translation Translation

Who are the Tampuan? What do they believe? Who are the T’moan? girl’s house at night. A young man is successful he Tampuan are a people group who The Tampuan are animistic in their religion, he T’moan people are one of the most in “courtship” when the girl accepts him into the inhabit the hilly northeastern province of believing in spirits of the forest, rocks, mountains remote tribes in all of Cambodia, located in house. If he is caught he must pay a fine to the TRatanakiri. They occupy about 70 villages, and rivers, as well as the spirits of the deceased. TNorthern parts of Kratie and Mondolkiri village and is often required to be married. mainly to the east of Banlung, the provincial Animal sacrifices are still commonplace. They take provinces. There are approximately 650 to 700 The T’moan live in bamboo houses on stilts capital. They speak their own language which is T’moan people living in five different villages which place at set times of the year, such as before sowing, which are organized in a circle or long rectangle. As related to other groups in the area, such as Krung are centered around their extended families. They before harvest and when the harvest is complete, as they have no access to modern medical care there and Brao, as well as to Bahnar in Vietnam. are governed by the male tribal elders. are many sick people and malnutrition is common. well as at other times such as weddings, funerals or They have very little contact with Khmer and when someone is sick. The Tampuan will consult All sicknesses are handled through village “spirit What are their lives like? as such very few can speak Khmer, but they do doctors”. Death from sickness is very common. The Tampuan are traditionally subsistence farmers, witchdoctors in order to ascertain how to deal with have limited contact with the Mel, Kraol, Bunong practicing swidden agriculture. They will clear a sicknesses (what sort of sacrifice the spirits require) and most significantly the Jarai. Their language is What do they believe? section of forest, typically about one hectare (about and for other matters. They also believe that the more closely related to the Kraol people. spirits communicate with them in dreams to tell Until recently the T’moan were purely animistic. 2.5 acres), which they will plant with upland rice for There are no roads to the villages and most They are still uninfluenced by Buddhism. 3-5 years before clearing a fresh field and leaving them what to sacrifice, to give permission to clear of their villages are not listed on any Cambodian a section of forest or to warn them. Some still Traditionally, being animistic and fearing the the former field to lie fallow for 15-20 years before Government map. There are no schools, health spirits, they hold annual sacrifices where they returning to it once more. They augment their food practice trials by ordeal in order to judge disputes – centers or government offices among any of the these involve such ordeals as pouring boiling water might slaughter several water buffalo or cows. For supply by gathering tubers in the forest, raising T’moan tribal villages. sicknesses or spells they will frequently sacrifice pigs, cattle and chickens, and hunting and trapping onto the protagonist’s hands. If they are innocent they will not be harmed. chickens and pigs. small forest animals. What are their lives like? In 2006 two villages totaling some 400 people In recent years, significant changes in their The younger generation is much less inclined to The T’moan people were formally semi-nomadic follow the animistic ways of their parents. The old was said to have recieved Christ. Currently the lifestyle have begun with a large migration of but stayed generally in the remote forests of the T’moan are more than 50% Christian, with the rituals are being gradually abandoned. lowland Khmer into the province. With pressures northern Kratie province. They were nomadic not other villages still to be reached. on their traditional lands and destruction of forests, What are their needs? because of following wildlife or moving their fields, many are now turning to cash crops, particularly but because of spirits which would cause problems cashews, to secure sufficient income to meet With such rapid changes and the threats to or sicknesses in the village. When the jungle spirits What are their needs? their livelihood, the Tampuan are finding their their needs caused by declining rice yields and were offended, they would burn the village and Minorities in Cambodia are often treated very communities fragmenting and crime increasing. increasing difficulty in hunting and gathering. Their move to a new location to start a new village. The poorly unless their village becomes assimilated Health and nutrition standards remain far below traditional dwellings are also changing, with many T’moan do not cut timber, living in bamboo houses to the Khmer way of life, including religion and national averages. Also, the Tampuan are less more wooden houses replacing their traditional made without nails. language. The T’moan people consider themselves responsive to the Gospel than the other minority thatched bamboo dwellings. The T’moan divide the responsibilities of life by the “minority of minorities”. There are no roads groups in the northeast. They need to be awakened Rice wine plays a significant part of their gender and age. Old men work in the deep jungles to the villages, no schools and no access to clean to the truth of the Gospel. Of those who have lifestyle. Each family makes several jars each year. looking for food and farming, women care for the water. They desire to be educated so that they believed, only a small number are playing an It is consumed freely at every celebration, with young children and young men stay together in may be more a part of the Cambodian society. active role in building up the church, and few are drunkenness being a common problem. a special house in the center of the village where Because of their remoteness and lack of education, well grounded in the truths of the Bible. A Bible they will live until they find a wife to marry. During outsiders often take advantage of them and their translation project is under way. courtship, the young men try and sneak into a ignorance.

46 47 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA Vietnamese Segment Spotlight: Vietnamese Floating Villages

Population 1,000,000 Who are they? tools. To supplement their income, he Vietnamese of the families raise fish in half-submerged Major Buddhism cages, pigs in floating pig pens, Religion floating villages migrated Tto the Tonle Sap Lake chickens and ducks over fish cages Language Vietnamese of Cambodia as fishermen. The or grow vegetable on rafts. They use majority of the families have lived lake water for everything: washing, Percent Less than 1% in their communities for four or Christian bathing, cooking and drinking. five generations. Despite living in Often the lake water is polluted and Bible Yes Cambodia for such an extended contaminated with human waste. Translation period, most are not fluent Khmer speakers. The Vietnamese of the What do they believe? floating villages live and work peacefully with the Khmer people. Most of the Vietnamese of the Who are the Vietnamese? Most Vietnamese maintain their own language, Most continue to speak Vietnamese at floating villages claim to be Buddhists culture and traditions, with little integration into home and in the neighborhood. or ancestor worshippers. However, he Vietnamese come to Cambodia for animistic beliefs are inter-twined. many reasons. Some have lived here for Khmer culture. They are very family-loyal and They live in fear of generations. Vietnamese began migrating community-oriented; T though unrelated, ghosts and spirits, Fast Facts to Cambodia as early as the seventeenth century. What do they believe? In 1863, when Cambodia became a French colony, If asked, a majority of Vietnamese would claim to younger folks address believing the spirits can Population: many Vietnamese were brought to Cambodia by be Buddhist. However, though most Vietnamese their elders as aunts, harm the living with 40,000 the French to work on plantations and occupy civil uncles, etc. The men sickness, disease and even would identify themselves as Buddhist, they are Major Religion: servant positions. During the Lon Nol Regime unfamiliar with the teachings and practices of in the village are often death. When sick, family (1970-1975) and Pol Pot regime (1975 -1979), members seek spiritual Buddhism and Buddhism. The Vietnamese follow Mahayana found sitting together, Animism many of the Vietnamese living in Cambodia Buddhism, not the Theravada Buddhism of drinking hot tea and mediums to determine were killed. Others were either repatriated or talking about fishing. which deceased relative Language: escaped to Vietnam or Thailand. During the Cambodian. Often when a mother caused the illness and Vietnamese ten year Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia The more important religious practices of the dies in child-birth and make the appropriate from 1979 until 1989 many of the Vietnamese Vietnamese center around ancestor worship and Percent Christian: appeasement offerings. who had previously lived in Cambodia returned. animism. Food and beverage are regularly offered the father cannot care Less than 1% Along with them came friends and relatives. Also, to deceased relatives and other spirits. On special for the newborn, a neighbor adopts The folk stories of the Vietnamese many former South Vietnamese soldiers came to holidays, paper votives representing money and the child. describe the creator god as the Most Bible Translation: Yes Cambodia fleeing persecution from the communist gold are burned and sent to the deceased ancestors. High of all beings who possesses government. Today, due to the high unemployment It is their belief that these spirits have the ability What are their lives like? ultimate authority over all creation. rate in Vietnam, many Vietnamese come to to influence the lives of the living, so they must The Vietnamese of the floating Cambodia looking for work. What are their needs? be appeased. They live in constant fear that an villages move in accordance with the ebb and flow of the water. They Life is hard for the Vietnamese of What are their lives like? unappeased spirit will bring misfortune upon them and their families. construct their floating homes from a the floating villages. Over-fishing and While many Vietnamese come to Cambodia variety of materials: simple bamboo water contamination decreases their looking for a better life, few find it. Due to What are their needs? frame with roofs of coconut leaves, livelihood. The thought of living on Vietnam’s ten year occupation of Cambodia, most The majority of the Vietnamese of Cambodia bundles of bamboo and/or emptied land is very scary to most, as fishing is Cambodians harbor a deep distrust and dislike of live in extreme poverty. They lack clean water, oil barrels. Some live on larger boats. the only skill they know well. Beside the Vietnamese. Most Vietnamese in Cambodia sanitation facilities, schools, basic health care and Traditionally fishermen, some basic daily and healthcare needs, the live in poverty with inadequate food and housing jobs. Many Vietnamese are considered stateless, villagers own bigger boats and Vietnamese of the floating villages and no access to clean water. Many are without nor recognized as citizens of either Cambodia or employ helpers for longer trips. Most, need deliverance from a fear of land, living in floating villages on the lake or rivers. Vietnam. But their greatest need is the joy and however, go out on small paddle boats spirits and deceased relatives. Their They earn their living as fishermen, sellers and hope that comes in knowing Christ. Many of the with their family members for up knowledge of the Most High Creator laborers. Diseases such as tuberculosis and AIDS Vietnamese have never heard the name of Jesus. to three or four days. In most cases, is general and limited. They need are spreading among the people. They have limited Pray that God will send harvesters to this field and children accompany to help paddle intimate knowledge of the Creator/ access to medical care and educational systems. open doors to the Gospel among the Vietnamese of while adults cast nets, bait hooks Redeemer God. However, there is a growing number of middle- Cambodia. on the lines, or deploy other fishing class Vietnamese. They own restaurants, computer shops, beauty salons or other small businesses.

48 49 THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA THE PEOPLES OF CAMBODIA References

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