La Ang Spean in Battambang, The Oldest Prehistoric Site in Cambodia

 

Pre-history in Cambodia is really important to tell about the past of Cambodia (Kamboja / Kambuja / Kanbawza). Cambodia locates in the mainland Southeast Asia. The ancient people lived here thousand years before the historical record known to the world. To study about the pre-history in Cambodia, they never forget one place as the oldest prehistoric site of Cambodia in the northwest region of this country, Battambang Province. Battambang has been known to the world for its prehistoric site, La Ang Spean, in the cave of Teak Trang Mountain telling the secret how ancient people movement in this area and habitating here​ since the Stone Age. The cave of La Ang Spean prehistoric site locates  on the west part of Teak Trang Mountain in the Kilo 38 Village, Treng Commune, Rattanak Mondol District, Battambang province and 40 km westward from Battambang City . Both international and national tourists can travel to this prehistoric site through National Road 10 (Today National Road 57) from Battambang City to Pailin Province. The name of La Ang Spean came from the view of the stone above the cave that look like bridge in the cave. It should be noted that Teak Trang Mountain was formed at about 300 million B.C. during the earth plain movements.

In 1964, Mr. Roland Mourer and his wife, Cécile came to Cambodia for this well-known prehistoric site and did a research over land area of 15 square metre in the mountain cave of this prehistoric site. This cave is 42 metre long, 20 metre wide and 20 metre high. They dug the soil near the west wall of the cave around 1.5 metre deep and found that there are 9 layers of soil. In the 9th layer of soil, they saw a lot of stone equipments and broken part of pottery products such as jar, porcelain, etc. They set the age of soil as to the stone age from 8500 to 6800 B.C.

Recently, archaeologists from France with Cambodian archaeologists  from Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts did a research on the land area of 70 square metres and found many equipments and broken jar of local prehistoric people used at La Ang Spean Prehistoric Site. They found 5 ancient dead body: one is female and others are male which at least from 3300 to 3370 B.C. Along with the buried ancient dead body, there are porcelain, ax made of limestone, some with arrows, some without arrows, stone bracelets, stone beads and animal bones, especially turtle bones (Yosothor Organization, 2020). From this research, both French and Cambodian archaeologists believed that these ancient people at La Ang Spean Pre-Historical Site can use various equipments and pottery products in different designs as you can find below photos (Yosothor Organization, 2020). 

Based on the previous research, people living in the cave of La Ang Spean Prehistoric Site can be traced back into three stages:

1. From 26000 to 71000 years before now ( Stone Age) in the layer of soil from 3 metre to 5 metre of the cave: there was the note for human activity with animal bones and stone equipments. People lived based on picking wild fruits and shooting animals and little fish.
2. From 5100 to 11000 years before now (Ending Stone Age) in the layer of soil from 30 centimetre to 1.4 metre (black soil layer from 30 centimetre to 40 centimetre): prehistoric people use stones from nearby river to use as stone equipments. There are lots of bone fragments, as well as snail shells and shells. When the bones of these animals are analyzed, it is found that most of them are large species such as rhinos, giraffes, rattlesnakes, tigers and deer. In addition, there are wild boars, deers, hedgehogs, ferrets, cobra, pythons, monitor lizard, birds and little fish bones which were left behind as their daily food. People lived in this period picking wild fruits and shooting animals  and little fish while stayed in the cave.
3. From 3300 to 3370 years before now (Bronze Age): during this period, due to the warming temperature, people moving outside the cave to live on the farm doing agriculture and fishery. They just used the cave at La Ang Spean prehistoric site of Teak Trang Mountain as the buried place for their relatives' dead bodies which found 5 ancient dead bodies. It is believed that people moving southwards during this period to other location with the support of the warming temperature.

La Ang Spean is surely the known oldest prehistoric site in Cambodia. It should be promoted to worldwide for more research study to find more evidence of human settlement in this area as well as for Cambodia's pre-history. Based on this data, we hope more Cambodian people will get interested in this research and educate our people about the root of our history well. We are not born alone, so we shall learn history as the lessons from our ancestors who lived thousand years before now and live in peace with each other. Nature can take us back one day when we are trying to destroy the nature around us.

By: Steung Khiev

Source: http://www.yosothor.org/publications/khmer-renaissance/chapter-four/lphol-tmey-tmey-ban-mok-pi-kamnay-nov-snanny-laang-spean.html

Ros Sereysothea, Life and Achievement in Cambodia

 

Ros Sereysothea (1946-1977)

Everyone in Cambodia surely knows the most famous female singer, Ros Sereysothea. What is special about her? Why do we need to remember her name when you're going to Cambodia?

Let me tell you that Ros Sereysothea coming from Battambang Province in the northwest region in Cambodia can speak Khmer, Thai and little English. She was known to be born on 06 November 1946 in Battambang Town, Battambang Province.

So you can guess what will I tell you about her? Haha.... Yeah! She is my favorite female Khmer singer before April 1975. She is purely Cambodian and a Khmer woman who never give up. She was so successful for her singing career with Sinn Sisamouth. She loves singing since she was a child in a poor family. However, she wasn't well with love and men always broke her heart.

A note for you is this woman singer being different from others. She has very highly sweet voice and she can make your heart beating by listening to her song. She is very introvert person and she rarely talks much. She loves to stay calm and respects others. She likes simple Khmer food with fresh fruit. She is also good at jogging and mini marathon. 

She had been very active for her singing career from 1964 to 1975. Most of her songs is with Sinn Sisamouth, the most famous male singer in Cambodia. He helped her from sadness and be strong for singing career. Besides that, she was also the female parachutists for modeling the women in the troops as well.

Sothea was forced to flee from Phnom Penh to Pnhom Sruch, Kampong Speu on 17 April. She was said to lose child one by one and lived with her family during Khmer Rouge. Unfortunately, she and her family was captured and killed in April 1977. Thousand of her songs still remain and video below from youtube is her best songs. Don't forget to listen to relax and best wish for her to RIP.

By: Steung Khiev

Covid-19 and Cambodia Struggling Economy in 2020

 

The Very Quiet Scenes of Local Theatre Educational Center, Phare Ponleu Selpak

Covid-19 is the worth epidemic for the world and Cambodia. Billion of people were suffered from the Coronavirus outbreak since the early 2020 and economically lost for their daily life. Million of people lost jobs or income as less people travelling and border closing.

Cambodian people who depend on agriculture saw a big loss with this outbreak and pandemic life. There is still ongoing report of Covid-19 cases within the country and people are hard to find enough incomes during this period, especially everyone who depends on the international tourism.

Businesses in the international tourism are closing some and art performance are no show anymore after many events cancelled. Phare Ponleu Selpak is one of them which suffered economically and artists are hard to support themselves. 

People who depend on salary are seeing a financial crisis as some are laid off and some working in very low income jobs. They are affected mentally and physically while the price of the food and products are going up. Sellers along the road get less customers as less people travel during the news of local communities' Covid-19 outbreak. 

If it takes that longer period, more people will find no way to support their life. Crimes will be increased and local people will be suffered more. We are really concerned for Cambodia and the world that this might be the third cold war for our people to struggle. Who develop and study about this virus? Who will be responsible for the hardship of these people? Humanity is till there yet or not? 

We hope Cambodia to recover soon and businesses and trades will increase more for our people to sell their agricultural products. We wish for factory who love to develop the factory to create the final products from our raw agricultural crops. We wish to have more rice mill and rice market for Cambodia to trade on. Let's contact Cambodia for your wish to trade rice; our farmers will be happy if more trades are available.

By: Steung Khiev

Yike Is Khmer Traditional Performance

 

Khmer in Early 1900s

Yike is Khmer traditional theatre with the ancient music and singers. It was thought to originate since Funan period in the first century of Khmer Kingdom. Yike is not only popular among Khmer people, but Cham people also loves it as both Khmer and Cham share the same root of history as the center for trade in Southeast Asia between the ancient kingdoms from today China and India. There were many intermarriages between local people and royal family to the traders, academicians and royal families from ancient kingdoms in India today. There were also the international relation with Royal House of the ancient kingdoms in China for religion and leadership.

During 1960s, Khmer loved seeing Yike Performance and artists were very influential to people in Cambodia. Many Khmer literature were used to create Yike Performance while people would like to relax after working on their farm and rice field during big events like Khmer New Year, etc. There were some Yike songs created as well for local people to learn and sing. A lot of masterpieces from Yike Theatre Group during that period remains till today even their artists were tortured by communist group in Cambodia during 1975-1979 with the support from neighboring communist and big communist country. Only few artists survived the regime and Yike is still known in Khmer National Radio during 1980s and 1990s, but today there is less popularity due to the influence for the modern multimedia such as TV and YouTube for foreign performance. Besides Khmer people in Cambodia, there are millions of Khmer communities living in neighboring countries such as South Vietnam (before is South Cambodia or French Cochinchina) and northeastern Thailand (part of the ancient Khmer Empire) who love seeing Yike performance, especially millions of Khmer Krom people in today Southern Vietnam (South Cambodia) totalling to 21 provinces.

Khmer overseas in USA, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Laos, some other parts of Thailand (Ratchaburi, Prachinburi, Kanchanaburi, Suphanburi, Sa Kaeo, Krung Thep (Bangkok), Chanthaburi, Trat, etc), France and Germany also support Yike performance online watch with YouTube Channel as well. We hope that Yike will be well-preserved and popular again among Cambodian youth and young Khmer living overseas. "Yike is our heart and soul, let's watch it!"

By: Steung Khiev

Cambodia and E-Learning in 2020

App for Cambodian Learning Online

On June 22, 2020, H.E. HANG Chuonnarong, Minister of MoEYS Cambodia, gave a speech during the celebration of Digital Learning and Distance Learning building to be repaired at Preah Sisowath High School according to live video on MoEYS Cambodia Facebook Page. He noted that digital learning is really important for Cambodia not only during Covid-19, but also after that as well. Blended learning will be used for our educational system with the support from Google classroom (Google Sheet) and other technology.

He also wishes to launch smart classroom (digital classroom) and video conference to be used in every school throughout Cambodia. He also gave special thanks to stakeholder who supported financially and technically. It should be noted that not only high school is going to upgrade for educational technology, but also some universities in Cambodia going for online education such Institute of Technology in Cambodia (ITC/Techno), Phnom Penh International University (PPIU), etc.

He also talked about the percentage of students (3 millions) throughout Cambodia as the participants to have smart phone only 30%, but other students can use it with friends as the group study with only one phone, another 30% expected for online TV education for more 30% while others can use self-study.

Finally, we do hope Cambodian educational system to be upgraded with educational technology soon and we can broader our experience with this technology with the start under leadership of H.E. HANG Chuonnarong.

https://elearning.moeys.gov.kh/

Huy Meas, Popular Story Speaking Star on National Radio of Cambodia in The Past

ហួយ មាស តារាល្ខោននិយាយដ៏ស្រួយរបស់កម្ពុជា

Huy Meas, Popular Star on National Radio of Cambodia

Today Huy Meas was already not in this world anymore because of  the world ideological war on Cambodia leading to Khmer Rouge Regime (Apr 1975 - Jan 1979), but her tiny sweet voice is still the most popular among Cambodian who like listening to story speaking on National Radio of Cambodia. Therefore, we talk about her story speaking on national radio with her background and career.

Huy Meas was born in Battambang Province in 1946​ and started her singing career at very young age. She attended the religious ceremony with her grandmother and hymn there. Her voice made her noticeable among audience in Battambang and she won the champion on singing contest as well. Then she moved to Phnom Penh to start her professional singing career and got a chance to be host on national radio and star on story speaking to educate people throughout the country.

She was considered to be the best female radio host and star on story speaking with her sweet voice. We can say she is the golden voice for radio hosting and story speaking. She can use many styles of her voice to entertain people in various characteristics

She was so flexible to any changes that she sang from traditional song to western song mixed with English. Her songs, radio host recording and story speaking still remains till today and local residents can listen on YouTube.com for her sweet voice. Just note that she was unfortunately found by Khmer Rouge Regime in Moung Reussey District, Battambang in 1977 and was tortured until her death by their hand. We wish her RIP forever and released all pains she got during Khmer Rouge Regime.

By: Steung Khiev

ភាពទំនើបកម្មនិងល្ខោននិយាយគួរអោយចង់ស្ដាប់ ដូចមើលឃើញ។ តោះស្ដាប់សំឡេងហួយមាសដ៏ពីរោះនិងក្រុមវិទ្យុជាតិម្ដងមើល!!!

ស្ដាប់សំលេងហួយ មាសច្រៀង

សំលេងវិទ្យុជាតិដោយហួយ មាស

Toyota Drawing Dream Car Contest Cambodia Award 2020

Cambodian Student from Phare Ponleu Selpak, Lex Tingkong, 

One of the Awardee, in Toyota Cambodia Drawing Contest 2020

Drawing is so popular among young Cambodian nowadays. There are many drawing classes at private school and some art schools supported by NGOs. Phare Ponleu Selpak is an association to support students giving free education of drawing. Here, Mr. Lex Tingkong, a student from Visual and Applied Arts School of Phare Ponleu Selpak, go the drawing award in TOYOTA Drawing Contest 2020 about Dream Car. You see his artwork is so interesting mixed with Khmer Art and his imagination. 

Drawing is not only about Khmer art, but now being mixed with contemporary art by the western influence as well. Kids are now smart and so creative. We believe in them bring Cambodia drawing art to the world contest as well. 

Regarding to the Toyota drawing contest is done annually and many kids attended from all provinces and cities of Cambodia. This is the good initiative for Cambodia to start valuing our culture and art; art can change life of an individual.

Hope you support our young Cambodia for their creative artwork and there is drawing being sold near the temple and some shops in the city as well. Take care at your home and learn to draw for your own experience.

By: Steung Khiev

Findings of Ancient Turtle Statue and Gem in the middle of Angkor Water Reservoir, Cambodia

ការកឃើញដ៏អស្ចារ្យអំឡុងពេលជួសជុលប្រាសាទកណ្ដាលស្រះស្រង់

Ancient Turtle Statue Inside Srah Srong (Angkor Water Reservoir) 

in front of Banteay Kdey Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Just few days ago, Khmer Apsara Authority just got interview about their findings under the Angkor Water Reservoir in front of Banteay Kdey Temple, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. It should be noted this water reservoir is around 1000 years old and never dry. Cambodian People (Khmer) just visit sitting at the bank of water reservoir and sometimes swimming there as they believe it is magic water to cure all weakness since the ancient time.

With this findings alert us about how the life in the ancient be and their belief in this water reservoir. Normally, they believe turtle (Kūrma) supporting the earth in the story of Ramayana (Reamker) when the asura and deva joining to move the mountain with the help from turtle (Vrah Visnu) to support the mountain easily move to get the magic longlife water. They believe turtle is the support of universe with great efforts and honesty to the world giving life for others. Therefore, the findings here includes turtle, Naga and gem here might represents the story of Ramayana meaning that water in this Baray is magic to support life in this kingdom, Kambojadesa (Cambodia). 

Gem represents the property for under the sea that is precious to give the beauty of water more magic and temple inside of this Baray is surely the representation of mount Meru. This is the very good findings for Cambodian to understand about profound knowledge of our ancestors. We shall strive harder for rebuilding this kingdom again and again until we can live in peace and happy life. Naga is also important here since we know that our people believe Naga is one part of our ancestor that is listed in the story of Ramayana.

Hope you have time to visit Cambodia and enjoy our cultural heritage and temples throughout the land here. We will surely serve you good food and fresh mood in the paradise of nature in Cambodia. Covid-19 go, so we will meet here in Cambodia. Good luck and take care your health, everyone.

By: Steung Khiev 

How to Read Your First Page of Book for World Future Reading

Reading is one of the four skill for learning any language or knowledge. To read effectively and efficiently, you need to read more about good strategy towards your continuous reading. Here is just few concepts for you to consider about good reading.

Imagine that you are reading a page in the book and ask yourself with these questions:

 1. What will I learn?

 2. Can I get good ideas to share with others?

 3. What can I do for my real life?

នៅពេលអ្នកអានបានចប់មួយទំព័រ ឬមួយជំពូក អ្នកគួរសួរខ្លួនអ្នកថា៖ 

ក) តើខ្ញុំរៀនបានអ្វីខ្លះ?
ខ) តើខ្ញុំអាចយកទៅចែករំលែកជាមួយអ្នកដទៃនូវអ្វីបានខ្លះ?
គ) តើអ្វីខ្លះដែលខ្ញុំអាចយកទៅអនុវត្តបាន?

The strategies that you can use for your good reading results are:

 1. Using prior knowledge or previewing: to make your understanding faster on a reading, just review back to your own knowledge before to make your reading more interesting and focus on new information only.

 2. Predicting: you know why predicting is good before you start your reading? Honestly, when you think about something before you do it, it will help you generate your consciousness during your reading and you easily grab new information faster.

 3. Identifying the main ideas and summary: on an article of your reading, normally it will have main ideas that you need to understand it and figure out for understanding fast with your summarization.

 4. Questioning: just ask yourself why you read it and for what as well as what is your expectation for this reading to help you gain more comprehension.

 5. Visualizing: reading and imagine about the reality as it is happening and reflecting to the real life you are facing.

Lastly, it is recommended for you to look back at your own reading style and type of article you really need for your better life. Let's do based on your preference and need. Good luck to your reading and stay safe during this Covid-19.

By: Steung Khiev

Phom Sampov, Paradise of Nature in Battambang, Cambodia

Tree on Phnom Sampov, Battambang, Cambodia

Do you know Cambodia yet? Cambodia locates on the Indochinese Peninsula bording Thailand to the west, Laos to the North, Vietnam to the East and Gulf of Siam to the South. The main capital is Phnom Penh and there are big cities like Battambang, Sihanoukville, Siem Reap, Takhmao, Poipet, Kampong Cham, etc. Today, I am going to bring you all to Phnom Sampov of Battambang, Cambodia. Battambang locates in the northwest of Cambodia bording Thailand and four provinces of Cambodia such as Pursat, Banteay Meanchey, Pailin and Siem Reap. People usually loves nature in Battambang and Phnom Sampov being far from Battambang city around 12 km is the very famous mount here representing Battambang provinces. It is the soul of our residents here having the best natural shape of caves, Khmer architectural art and Buddha, especially having around 2 million bats. When we go on the top of this mountain, we can view the surrounding nature such as rich rice field, infrastructure, irrigation system, blue sky, fresh wind and the range of other long mountains.

Do you love to see natural view in Battambang, Cambodia? 

Besides that, there is the road that you can drive motorbike or car to the mount top as well. Along the road to the top, you will feel surprising to see so many trees along and adventurous as the scaring mode when you look down the road back. There are monkeys and many statues on the top. You can feed them, but be careful as some of them should not be underestimated. Some are so aggressive and some are gentle. They usually look for food that you can feed them. Furthermore, you can pray to all the magic statue and Buddha. With the sun shinning, the beauty of this mount is the best in the morning and during sun set.

Local people usually come in family and enjoy during national holiday like Pchum Ben or Khmer New Year (Chol Chnam Thmey/Sangkranta). If it is holiday, you will find people around going up and down on the mountain in different caves. Battambang is surely one the best place in Cambodia for you to enjoy nature and daily life of our local people. There are different meal that you can taste with very suitable pricing. Recently, there is flower park near the mountain for you to enjoy taking photo with a lot of flowers. There are many oldies song before 1975 such as Tov Leng Phnom Sampov and Anusavry Khnong Phnom Sampov.

This mountain is the center for you to enjoy and then choose other options for next destination such as Kamping Puoy lake, Banan Temple, Banan Bamboo Train, Sneung Temple, rapids or going to Pailin for waterfall. Let's enjoy if you come and can contact me for your guide on weekend @ pokpanhavuth@gmail.com. Please kindly support us and we will welcome you well after better situation of Covid-19. Good luck to all and hope everyone can come and enjoy at Phnom Sampov Mountain.

By: Steung Khiev

Covid-19 and LGBT in Cambodia Today

Cambodia Map with LGBT Color

Everything in this world gets affected and LGBT is one of those as well. People, known as out of nature, live with daily life as others and still new to cultural society of Cambodia. Khmer people, mostly shy and not satisfied for anyone as LGBT in the past, but now seems change. Because some members of the family being LGBT changing concept of this society. Anyway, LGBT in Cambodia today still faces more difficulty than others during epidemic. Mostly, they lost their job, especially make up job due to cancel or delay of wedding ceremony.

Why Covid-19 is the main factor for difficulty of LGBT in Cambodia? As you know, Covid-19 affected everyone around the globe and that's also including LGBT in Cambodia. As you know already that they are less priority of the society and during this difficult time, it is more difficult for them as the society affected with economic activity slow down.

At last, most of them are unemployed or cannot process their daily business as normal as most people stay safe and stay home, especially some business was closed down due to financial loss during this time.

We hope LGBT will find their way for their own economic status by themselves, but we hope everyone gives them a hand as well during this difficult time. Good luck and that's a short report to know about our LGBT in Cambodia today. More information will come more soon.

By: Steung Khiev

Remdesevir, Treatment for Covid-19 (Corona) In USA

Donald Trump (US President in 2020)

As covid-19 concern in USA, Donald Trump supports the medical team to use Remdesevir (Medicine for Ebola) to be used for treatment of Covid-19 after successful medical test. It should be noted that Covid-19 is the most concerned issues for everyone on our planet. All countries has seen the significant slow down of economic activities and education as well due to the social distancing recommended by WHO (World Health Organization). In fact, we really don't care where it is from, but we do care more on how to treat it well and which medicine is effectively used to treat this disease. 

China has seen the very low rate of Covid-19 infection (Corona) recently as other countries, especially USA are facing the higher rate of Covid-19 infection and death. However, with this medicine, we believe that soon Covid-19 will disappear soon. Right now, shipping of products also gets stuck as most flight was canceled and tourism is also so low now. People are afraid to go out of home and delay all their trips to different places, especially overseas. Some effects of Covid-19 on world society is online business and e-learning has seen the first time more popular among residents around the globe. People are asking what medicine or vaccine is going to help us out of Covid-19 and we do hope Remdesevir save us.

Stay safe and we wish you all the best for this situation.

By: Steung Khiev

Covid-19 in Cambodia and How We Prevent It in 2020

Do you know abouth Corona or Covid-19?

RIP! I think you all know about this name. Coronavirus or Covid-19 is supposed to come from Wuhan, China. Then it spreads across the globe to some regions such South East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Middle East, America, etc. Cambodia locates in South East Asia bordering Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Gulf of Siam also got affected by Covid-19; since Mid-March school nationwide is ordered to close and online learning is being popular term to Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), teacher and students.

As report worldwide as of  May 01, 2020, more than 3 million people got infected, around 1 million people recovered and more than two hundred thousand people died. Similarly, national report in Cambodia shows that 122 people got infected, 119 recovered and 3 still remains at the covid-19 treatment center; there is no dead reported in Cambodia. Most cases of Covid-19 in Cambodia are imported mainly from China, Japan, Europe and Malaysia and very few cases is locally transmitted. However, both government and our residents are still taking care of this case that mostly we remain home and get more distance from society. All social events such concerts, wedding ceremony and parties were all cancelled or postponed. Government of Cambodia also educates people about Covid-19 and how we prevent it well; residents are supposed to buy their own masks and alcoholic gel to clean their hand so often that their hand are recommended to stay away from face.

What affects Cambodia the most from Covid-19 is more unemployment in many industries, especially tourism that most jobs are postponed or layoff.  Economic activity see the first time of lost to all stakeholders in this society and some families lost income to support their family facing the big financial problem due to having loan with financial institutions. This concern makes Cambodia to request some financial institution to delay their repayment of loan or postpone without charges for few months. Some international organization depending on income from tourism (Circus show and selling some artworks) to support their activities also face challenges for on-going operation that becomes in salary cut down and few layoff. If it is more serious in the future, more layoffs is supposed to be done and unemployment rate will be higher. Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang is one of those who is now seeking for fund or grants overseas to support their operations as mostly this association is to educate young Cambodian on art education and technology to change their life through the art such as on circus skill, music, dance, other performances, graphic design, animation, and visual arts. However, as most of the incomes are from circus show to foreign tourists that now close for awhile affected the future operation as there is no more income to operate. Currently, they are striving their best to operate with their left limited budget as well. Please support if you can for this art training center in Battambang, Cambodia. Find their contact at: https://phareps.org , https://fb.com/pharevaas/ , https://fb.com/PhareCircus/ , https://fb.com/phareponleuselpak/ , https://fb.com/pharepas/ .

Currently, residents start feeling a bit relaxed, but government has warning that second spread of Covid-19 can happen any time that both public and private school still not open yet. Actually, students and teachers start their cooperation through online learning that mainly support from MoEYS and IT stakeholders. People just keep hope alive and expect Covid-19 to an end soon. They need their daily life to be normal as before; surely that Covid-19 destroyed us in different way that all of us got affected mentally and physically. Let's make a wish for our earth, stay home stay safe!

By: Steung Khiev

Revised Cambodia Traffic Law 2020 with More Charges From 01 May 2020

All Cambodian will need to obey the new revision of Cambodia traffic law 2020 for more charges (fine) higher than before three or four times. It is to note that from tomorrow (01 May 2020) that the implementation of charges of new traffic law will start and whoever commits the crime on the this law, will be charged and vehicle confiscated for three days until they go to pay the fine completely. 

As in the video, you will see that all traffic police in Cambodia for 4000 spots are ready to start tomorrow. I hope all people, especially young Cambodian knows and be careful on the road to obey this law with all documentation with them.

The law is as the following:

Drink driving

To try and help clamp down on drink driving incidents, drivers can be charged between 250,000-800,000 KHR (USD$60-200) for being a certain amount above the limit on the alcohol test. In addition, the drivers won’t be allowed to complete their journey. (It did not specify the limit or how drivers can get home).

Motorbikes and Tuk-Tuk

As part of the updates to the Road Traffic Law, fines for motorcycle or Tuk-Tuk drivers and motorbike riders who fail to wear helmets or wear them incorrectly is now 60,000 KHR ($15).

Other fines of 15,000 KHR ($3.75) are for motorcycle and Tuk-Tuk drivers:
-  Parking in places forbidden by the law.
-  Carrying too many passengers.
-  Driving up to 19km/h over the speed limit.
-  Ignoring traffic signs.

Light and Heavy vehicles

Fines of 75,000 KHR and 150,000 KHR ($18-36) will be issued if the correct documentation such as driving license and business permits are shown when stopped.

If drivers are caught talking on their phones while driving, fines of 120,000 KHR ($30 USD) for light vehicles and 225,000 KHR ($56) for heavy vehicles can be issued.

Driving without a driver’s license or if the license has been revoked or suspended can be a 1.2 million KHR fine ($300), or 2.4 million KHR ($600) if driving a heavy vehicle. If the offence is repeated with six months, drivers can face legal charges.

All vehicles

Other fines will make the owner/driver liable to pay between 180,000 and 375,000 KHR ($45-95) for such as:
-  Failing to conduct vehicle inspections.
-  Changing the color of the vehicle without permission.
-  Placing stickers in inappropriate areas.

Illegal racing or drive exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h could result in fines between 300,000 and 625,000 ($75-160).

Khmer Surin Today (ខ្មេរ៍សុរិន្ទ្របច្ចុប្បន្ន)

Prasat Sikhoraphum, Surin, Thailand

(ប្រាសាទសិខរភូមិ នៅខេត្តសុរិន្ទ្រ ប្រទេសថៃ)

Khmer Surin is a word known to all Khmer in Cambodia as our people living in Thailand. In fact, there is another name for all Khmer in Thailand as Northeastern Khmer, Western Khmer and Khmer-Thai because if we talk about Khmer Surin, it means only Khmer living in Surin while Khmer Buriram, Khmer Sisaket, and Khmer in other provinces of Thailand don't prefer to be called as Khmer Surin. They have been living there since the pre-history. During the peak of Khmer Empire (Kamvujadesa from 802 AD to 1432AD), our Kingdom covers larger territory on the most of Thailand and Laos, some part of Burma and China and two third of Vietnam today, especially Srindrapura (Surin) is also one of the main town as well.

Today there is more than one million people living in Surin Province and over 50% are Khmer descendant in Thailand and we have other several million of Khmer living in Buriram Province, Sisaket Province, Roi Et Province, Ubonratchathani Province and Nakhonrat Sima Province, Chanthaburi Province, Sakaeo Province, Trat Province, Prachinburi Province, Ratchaburi Province and some in Bangkok. I would call Khmer in Thailand as Khmer Surin to easily call them together. Most of older Khmer Surin can speak Khmer language fluently while less younger Khmer Surin can speak Khmer fluently.

There are Khmer temples in Nakhonratchasima (Korat), Buriram, Surin, Sisaket, Sakaeo, Lopburi, Sokhothai, Ratchaburi, Kanchanakburi, Chanthaburi, Sakonnakhon, Roi Et, Yasothon, Phetchaburi, Surat Thani and more. 

Khmer in Thailand mostly speaks local Khmer mixed with Thai accent for younger generation while older people speak Khmer clearly. Tourism are focusing in local livelihood of Khmer in Thailand with their unique music and Elephant festival. Khmer in Thailand are very kind for local living in rural areas. I used to get lost and warmly welcomed by our Khmer Surin with meal and accommodation. I am so grateful to them and wish them good luck and keeping going for their own cultural way. Let's cooperate if possible.

By: Steung Khiev