First Screening of

“JUNGLE GUARD” Location: WAT LANGKA PAGODA

Sovichet Meta - May 20, 2019

“JUNGLE GUARD” �1

Background of the film On the annual National Day of Remembrance in Cambodia, “Jungle Guard,” a documentary film by Sleuk Rith Motion Picture of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, was screened for the first time in Langka Pagoda following a year-long production process. Legally recognized as “The Monk Community Forest”, this jungle is located in Anlong Veng district where it is known as the last battlefield of the surviving Khmer Rouge army prior to the 1998 peace agreement. Throughout the film, audiences hear venerable Bun Saluth, founder of the Monk Community Forest, recounting for the people in Oddar Meanchey province his journey of creating Cambodia’s first community forest to preserve the environment to protect the exotic animals within it. In 2018, after decades of demanding work by the monk and his associates, the government not only authorized the Monk Community Forest but expanded it from 18,261 hectares to 30,254 and officially named it as “Sangrukhavoan Wildlife Sanctuary”(Monk Community Forest). As the name suggests, Jungle Guard is a documentary film that depicts the efforts of the Cambodian Buddhist Monk Community to preserve the jungle and its wildlife.

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Attending this premier of Jungle Guard were some 600 guests including, monks, students, ambassadors from multiple countries, nuns, journalists, teachers, government officials, and the public. The pagoda was selected as the launch venue to honoring the monks of the Samraong monk to see it first, acknowledging his important role of serving as an example for Buddhist followers to embrace nature and to protect natural wildlife. Hopefully this example also would inspire other religious leaders to do the same. Prior to the screening, members of the audience stood to honor Cambodia’s national anthem, sung by Preah Yukunthor High School students.

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Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator, provided welcoming remarks, mentioning how the film and Venerable Bun Saluth’s work coincide with the soon-to-be-released UNDP National Human Development Report in an effort to ensure the sustainability of natural resources.

Ms. Veena Reddy, Mission Director of USAID Cambodia, praised the venerable Saluth for his commitment to the forest and his ability to raise awareness of environmental damage caused by deforestation. Having had first-hand experience in Anlong Veng district, Ms. Reddy noted, “This film offers a new image of Anlong Veng, one that contrasts starkly with its history as the former Khmer Rouge military stronghold”.

His Excellency Huon Vannit, Deputy Governor of Oddar Meanchey province, and Mr. Ho Chinvirakyuth, governor of Anlong Veng district, demonstrated their ongoing commitment to the Monk Community Forest with their presence. His Excellency Huon Vannit wrapped up the opening remarks by acknowledging that in the long run, the venerable Saluth’s effort to protect the forest will serve as example of preservation and protection of all of Cambodia’s natural forests and wildlife populations. The film screening followed the remarks.

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Following the screening, the audience had the opportunity to raise questions which focused mainly on the venerable Saluth’s strategy for creating the community, possible solutions to impending issues of deforestation in Cambodia, and the future developments of the Monk Community Forest.

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Audience Reactions

Tub Vaniya, a female student studying to become a social study teacher in the National Institute of Education, observed that “The film is an eye-opener for me. I never knew such forest or such community existed. It’s an invaluable national treasure that we have; we must love and protect it as it brings benefits like environmental tourism.”

Similarly, Ly Panha a grade 12 student of Toul Tompong High School, shared that the film taught him important new concepts. “ I had never heard of Anlong Veng until today. I was impressed when I saw monks operating the excavator. They are monks but they chose to live in the forest and to protect it. Taking this [ Monk Community Forest] as an example, all of us should start taking action to protect Cambodia’s other forests as well.”

“I wish to share the film with my family and friends. Having a beautiful forest like this, we should love and cherish it. The film also made me want to learn more of the people living near the forest and whether they share the monk’s passion. Thank you for the film,” said Rayuth, a 14 years old student at Liger Leadership Academy in Phnom Penh.

Traveling all the way from Kandal province, the venerable Hengchantrea said that he was touched to see that monks can do so much more than just staying inside the pagoda. He said “I’m grateful

“JUNGLE GUARD” �5

to all the monks who patiently continue to protect our forest despite facing many threats. I hope that everyone will follow the monks’ lead to protect our forests.”

“I feel very proud of the venerable Saluth’ s effort. He is the first monk I know who has shown the courage to give up a comfortable life to protect our forest. I hope the film will be shown at schools throughout the country, and on TV or radio”, said the venerable Kim Houn from Ounaloum pagoda.

Sokha, a sophomore at National Institute of Education, made an important suggestion. “The film is really good. I like how it started, but I wanted to see more. I think it would be even better if the producer can include more pictures of wildlife and footage of the monks’ activities. I think it will attract more youth to the film”.

A glimpse of insight into the filmmaking

In an interview with reporter Michelle Vachon, film director Makara Ouch of the Sleuk Rith Motion Picture explained how he first learned of the venerable Bun Saluth while working in Anlong Veng Peace Center. He said “I heard about him and decided I wanted to know and understand more about his important work to protect commune forest. That is why I got the idea of doing something about it.” For a year, he and his team went back and forth between Phnom Penh and the forest, each time staying at least five days. “For some trips, especially the first few, we did not follow any

“JUNGLE GUARD” �6

plan. We simply went to capture pictures, to first observe, and then to appreciate the monk’s work. We wanted the audience to feel the sincerity and the authenticity of the documentary, so the shootings were all natural without script.” Makara also mentioned that trying to capture a whole view of the forest was a challenge to the team, something for which they were not fully equipped. However, the production team was able to capture images and footage that do justice to the splendid view of the forest and deliver to the audiences the images of the precious resources that we all should protect.

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Conclusion

With warm support from the audience, guests, Wat Lanka pagoda and donors, the first screening of Jungle Guard documentary film concluded successfully. The warm temperature in the screening room was a reminder for all of us of the effect of climate change due to deforestation and other transboundary environmental problems. Jungle Guard ended with the positive note that persistent efforts to pursue environmental protection begins at the grassroots level. The screening of the documentary film will start off its province tour in June 2019, beginning in Anlong Veng district of Oddar Meanchey province. For more information, https://www.sleukrithmotionpicture.com/jungle-guard.html

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Appendix

2019-03-01 knv-info.com

!"#$%ព æខ)*ពយន-æដលជ1យ

œលœកស67យកiច:;រ=រធន?នធមABតi http://knv-info.com/archives/119582

2019-03-28 CTV8HD

ផលiតករ!"#$%ព រEពyង HកIHញ នiង

ជ#រuញឲeកAងជ#NនIO%;យ %សPញI

ធន?ន ធមABតi / Enews/

CTV8HD https://youtu.be/m6NG91q0qhc

2019-05-11 VOA Khmer

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ស%UបI អបIរE ពលរដW XY ត#បនI ZចI

%ស[ល

https://khmer.voanews.com/a/ouch-makara-film-

making-as-resilient-way-to-create-conversation-on-

genocide/4912420.html?

fbclid=IwAR3ZidybvdQi82hxuYYKvuzzjwmW8-9lhWTG

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2019-05-11 រសA\កម]uB

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2019-05-10 Fresh News

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ផ-លIដ#Ode%fយថA\http://www.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/en/

localnews/121663-2019-05-1

2019-05-10 Fresh News

Documentation Centre of

Cambodia to Screen "Jungle

Guard", 20 May

http://en.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/en/localnews/

13968-2019-05-10-11-43-35.html

2019-05-15 RFI Khmer

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makara-15-05-2019

2019-05-11Cambodia Expat online

Documentation Centre of

Cambodia to Screen "Jungle

Guard", 20 May, 2019

https://cambodiaexpatsonline.com/cambodian-culture-

and-language/free-screening-documentary-jungle-guard-

phnom-penh-t28832.html

2019-05-12CambodgeMag

Documentaire – Jungle

Guard : Le moine qui

protégeait la forêt

https://cambodgemag.com/2019/05/documentaire-

jungle-guard-le-moine-qui-protegeait-la-foret.html

“JUNGLE GUARD” �9

2019-05-08

UNDP Cambodia Facebook Page

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2019-05-08

USAID Cambodia Facebook Page

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Trailer

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vb.447461668782921/799917447062341/?type=2&theater

2019-05-10Phnom Penh Post YouTube

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“JUNGLE GUARD” �10

2019-05-20Phnom Penh Khmer

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2019-05-20Thmey Thmey English

The Monks Community

Forest -- a battlefield jungle

turned nature preserve

https://en.thmeythmey.com/article/the-monks-

community-forest-a-battlefield-jungle-turned-nature-

preserve

2019-05-20Prim Houn TV %គ� បRuន fល1ត (!"#$%ព) https://youtu.be/Xg4MrnzRrZE

2019-05-20Prim Houn TV

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2019-05-15Baykdang.com

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!"#$%ព https://youtu.be/qJSGUsyY0Kg

2019-05-21 Khmer TimesNew film showcases monk’s efforts to save forests

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50606128/new-film-

showcases-monks-efforts-to-save-forests/

2019-05-23 Khmer TimesThe untold story of Jungle Guard

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50607002/the-untold-

story-of-jungle-guard/

“JUNGLE GUARD” �11

2019-05-21 Scandasia

Swedish Ambassador attended first screening of “Jungle Guard”

https://scandasia.com/swedish-ambassador-attended-

first-screening-of-jungle-guard/

2019-05-21Phnom Penh Post

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2019-05-25 Thmey Thmey

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“JUNGLE GUARD” �13

2019-05-24 sinema.sg

News: Cambodian Filmmaker tells the untold story of Jungle Guard

http://www.sinema.sg/2019/05/24/news-cambodian-

filmmaker-tells-the-untold-story-of-jungle-guard/

2019-05-27Cambodia Daily

The Monks Community

Forest — a battlefield jungle

turned nature preserve

https://www.cambodiadaily.com/environment/the-

monks-community-forest-a-battlefield-jungle-turned-

nature-preserve-149563/

“JUNGLE GUARD” �14