Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2025

Daily Sabah - Latest & Breaking News from Turkey | Istanbul

  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Short film highlights dark side of Cambodia dam project

by Anadolu Agency

PHNOM PENH Mar 23, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
No Image
by Anadolu Agency Mar 23, 2015 12:00 am

Villagers say completion of the project will have devastating effects on livelihoods, 39,000 hectares of forest, ecosystems and local biodiversity

A new documentary hopes to highlight the plight of remote Cambodian villagers as they strive to combat the construction of a dam. The 17-minute film highlights an ethnic minority in the northern province of Stung Treng as it fights alongside rights and environmental groups to stop the Lower Sesan II dam project, which was given the green light July 2, 2012.

The villagers say its completion would have a devastating affect on their livelihoods, 39,000 hectares of forest, ecosystems and biodiversity in the region.


"It will have a serious impact," one local says of the Chinese/Cambodian-backed 400-megawatt dam, while another stresses that people "really do not want" the project, but do want to continue to live in peace with the land. Many indigenous communities in Cambodia are animist and have deep spiritual connections to the land and nature around them. Tea Chub, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Environment, is seen delivering a speech in the documentary in which he concedes that "local communities, rice fields and farming areas will be flooded; consequently, this would affect ... indigenous people's spiritual places, indigenous burial grounds," as well as wetlands, forests and fish stocks.

"They will not recognize these resources any more," Kbal Romeas community representative Dam Samnang tearfully says of coming generations, as he sits in front of pictures of trees and rivers.

The communities argue that rural electrification is not as important as maintaining the natural integrity of the land, and many are unhappy with the compensation and relocation packages that have been offered to them.

In a statement released Friday, the NGO Forum - a consortium of rights groups that has produced the movie - said it hopes the film will draw fresh attention to the issue and "serve as an awareness raising and advocacy tool." It added that it hopes the film will "convince politicians, diplomats, governments and regional leadership to pursue concrete actions to respect the importance of the river, cultures and livelihood of those who are dependent on the aquatic resources and non-timber forest products." Despite protests, petitions and warnings of devastating environmental impact by the International Rivers group, construction has already started in the area; the land being cleared to make way for a reservoir.
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Mar 23, 2015 1:09 am
    KEYWORDS
    arts
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Protests in India over hijab ban in schools
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • DS TV
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021