Cambodge & Culture : Les inconnues de la « rivière Cham »

To reach the Cham River, travel approximately 18 Kilometers from National Road 7. The Cham River serves as a border between Cambodia and Vietnam, with parts of the river lying within both countries.

It is bordered by two communes: Ton-loung Commune and Choam Kravien commune, Memot District, Tbaung Khmum province. These communes contain six villages: Koh Thmar, Changkum Krom, and Changkum Kandal in Tonloung commune, and Tra-daok, Sre Leu Sen Chey, and Satum in Choam Kravien commune. The headwaters of the Cham River flow from Loc Ninh district, Binh Phuoc province, Vietnam.

Historically, the Cham River has significant meaning for the Cham Muslim people, who fled to its banks after Vietnam took control of the Champa Kingdom. Over generations, the Cham Muslim people have established communities along the river, particularly in areas known as Sre Ta Cham (or Sre Ambil), where they settled after escaping conflict in their former homeland.

During the Cambodia War (1970 -1975), the Cham River region endured intense bombings that significantly impacted residents in the Ton-loung and Choam Kravien communes. The scars of this conflict remain today, with craters from the bombings still visible.

Before the Cambodia War, Mr. Phi served as the chief of Ton-loung commune, managing agricultural activities in the area. From 1975 to 1978, the Cham River region became a battleground between the Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese forces. Following this tumultuous period, Mr. Hang succeeded Mr. Phi as chief until 1979.

Fifteen years ago, Cambodians living near the Cham River enjoyed abundant fishing resources, especially during the rainy season when water levels rose. However, the current population in the Cham Muslim people area is small now due to its remoteness from towns, and fishing has been restricted due to a ban on cross-border fishing between Cambodia and Vietnam.