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Trapang Prasat diary - June 2001
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 Another
trip .. this time Ingrid and Mick were with Pete, Michala, Victoria and
Daniel. The Cambodia visit was in fact the start of our journey as we
left Singapore to relocate to the UK. But that is another story.....
 After
arriving in Siem Reap, we first spent a couple of days reacquainting
ourselves with Angkor. Pete had never been before, and Michala and Daniel
had not been visitors for quite some time. Victoria was something of an
"old hand", as she was on the March
2000 trip to Angkor, Anlong Veng and Trapang Prasat. Still, every time
we visit that wonderful place, we are struck both with its beauty (which
changes in every light and every season) and its contrast with the more
recent events in Cambodia. We are also struck by the need to take even
better care of our collective heritage.
We
had a working dinner with our old friends - Sarath from Save the Children,
Ung Sereidy and Tor Kimsean from the Siem Reap Provincial Education
Office (PEO). It was a chance to catch up with the facts. The programs
are all proceeding on schedule, with few new details versus earlier diary
entries on specific plans.
However,
one item of great excitement to us all was talking about the major grant Save
the Children had just got confirmed from the Japanese Social Development
Fund (JSDF). This was destined for Education programs in 5 Districts of the
Siem Reap Province over the next two years, and the proposal had used the
Reconciliation Area pilots as a base. It was good to note that the
professional partnership being built between Save the Children and the PEO
was one critical success factor in getting the grant . The World Bank
is administering the funds, and by coincidence their representatives were in
Phnom Penh this same week talking with Ole Berndt Harvold (Save's Director)
on getting the programs going. We'll cover progress on the JSDF program in
the next visit diary.
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The
next morning we all met early to travel to Trapang Prasat via Anlong
Veng. In fact, the first thing we should do is put the record straight
- it would be better spelt as "Trapeang Prasat", but then old
habits die hard! We were joined by Sarath, Ung Sereidy, Nara, Save's PR chief, camera
expert and all round techie, and our friend Phalla, from the PEO - as well
as Nimola Yim of the Khmer Women's Voice Centre, who was on her first
"up country" reporting trip. In all, the group comprised three
jeeps.
This
time, though, the drive to Anlong only took just over two hours. The road
had been completed (although it was already showing a few aging signs, with the odd
pothole, even though the rainy season had not yet properly started). Since last
March, we could immediately see many differences on the route. The road
itself was narrower, as the forest was encroaching almost everywhere.
Villages along the way looked more active, with new buildings and land
clearance for family farms. Schools seemed to be more lively, with more
students. And we saw less land mine clearance in progress .. but we'll come
back to that later. Overriding impression: steady progress, although the
area still was devoid of animals and birds, just like last time.
 Anlong
Veng itself was bustling. Sarath estimated that the population was up
+50% in the last twelve months, as many people returned to the home area now
free of the Khmer Rouge, and entrepreneurs from Siem Reap were also setting
up shop. The market had expanded, and there was now a Government built
monument in the centre marking the major traffic intersection! The group
stopped for refreshments in the dusty town (our mid morning Tiger beer never
tasted better ....). Another change from last time was less obvious interest
being shown in the foreigners and their children. A few western tourists
now get to Anlong fairly often, apparently, and we heard that there was now
a small Guest House in operation.
We
briefly stopped by the so-called "Ta Mok" school to see the
completed "Hun Sen" school extensions. Sad to see that the
school was not in operation today. Some
children told us that bad weather had stopped some teachers coming, so
the school decided not to work that day. The kids now needed to walk
home .....
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It
took less than an hour to reach Trapang. The road was also completed, except
for a couple of bridges still being fixed. We were absolutely delighted
to see the District Governor (Mr. Cheat Chum) waiting for us at one of the construction
sites, to be sure we could navigate the road works. This time, though, an
army escort was not needed!
 Along
the way we stopped by the first "Yates Family" primary
school, built where there was previously a simple cottage structure.
Details were reported in the Phnom
Penh diary, but this was our first visit to the school to see it for
ourselves. We were greeted by an enthusiastic group of parents - it was between
"shifts" so few children were there - we saw them all on the
return, later in the day. Frankly we were overwhelmed by the welcome and the
hospitality. Virtually everyone that could be there was - parents,
grandparents, teachers, local government. Speeches were made, reporting on various
areas of progress. The children were smiling - but better yet the adults
were smiling. Mick got told off by the family as I used the same line
in many speeches over the duration of this visit!
There
is a very active parents committee working with the school, and
enrolment was increasing weekly - now at just under 300 students. There are
still many challenges, but it is rewarding to see the deep commitment to
education. It was also a dramatic example of the benefit to the entire
community of new school facilities. Many new houses had sprung up around the
school, and mine clearing is now about complete. 
In
talking with Sarath and Sereidy, we must consider whether this school should
be extended to become more of a "central" facility than a
"satellite" of Trapang as it was originally intended. More
population research is needed.
As
we then drove in Trapang, we were struck by the changes, although the
Governor told us the population is stable. Recall that Trapang is
mainly a community of ex soldiers and their families, who quit their nomadic
existence only fairly recently. Cheat Chum himself was a military commander.
Many older buildings along the main road in Trapang have been razed, and a
new market hall is almost completed. The health clinic is in full swing, and
student grade 1 & 2 attendance in the central area is estimated around
80%, up from 50% last year. On the other hand, the new High School is hardly
being used due to lack of resources, and a lack of children with sufficient
primary education.
 After
a good lunch and conversation at what is now our "regular"
restaurant, we visited the main Primary School. The new library and
resource center is fully in operation, and we were touched to see the many
books that the children themselves had created to add to the library. It is
still everyone's intention to make this school a model for Siem Reap
Province. Enrolment is now approaching 800, so we are building a 3 room
extension to ease the situation. In this construction, however, mines
had been found, right behind the school. So far the Halo Trust has
removed 4 (very old) mines to make the area safe. It was a sobering reminder
that even when things appear under control, the legacy of years of war is
still everywhere.
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So,
it was approaching the time to make the return trip - this visit we were not
staying overnight in Trapang. Interviews were recorded, farewells were said,
hands shaken. We promised we would be back soon.
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Slide
Presentation to King Edward's School, Bath
- November 2002
Anlong
Veng & Trapang Prasat photos - March 3 2003
Angkor
Chum & Varin photos - March 4 2003
Svay
Leu photos - March 5 2003
Siem
Reap / Artisans d'Angkor - February 20 2004
Anlong
Veng & Trapang Prasat
- February 21 2004
Dangrek
Mountains & Preah Vihear
Temple - February
22 2004
Kulen
District & Koh Ker Temple - February 23 2004
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