Thursday, August 30, 2007

Pailin city


Pailin is a city (krong) in the west of Cambodia near the border of Thailand. Pailin was a major Khmer Rouge strongpoint and resource center. It was the last remaing stronghold of the Khmer Rouge until the death of Pol Pot in 1998. After the death of Pol Pot most of the remaining Khmer Rouge went into hiding in fear of punishment for their crimes. Although it is said that 70 percent of the areas older men were fighters for the Khmer Rouge, none have yet been brought to justice. The surrounding area was rich in a
variety of gemstones which were mined almost clean to support the Khmer Rouge. They also logged the area to create personal wealth with no regard for the effect on their environment. Now all you can find is low-quality, cheap, hand-faceted gemstones at the market in downtown Pailin. After the depletion of the natural resources available, the
Khmer Rouge put their money into the Casinos around Palin. Pailin is located in the most
heavily mined area in the world. Travelers are cautioned to stay on marked roads. There is a demining operation in the city, which brings in some of the few foreigners that the locals encounter. Citizens of Pailin will accept Baht, Riels and US dollars, though US dollars are preferred. Until 2001 Pailin was part of the Battambang Province, but was then elevated to
city status and thus became a province and autonomous zone of its own. The province is divided into two districts,Salakrao and Pailin. Both districts devided into eigth communes including
Pailin, Otawao, Toulavea,Salakrao,Boryakha,Stoeng kach,O orndoung, and Stoeng trang commune. And these communes are devided into seventy nine villages.

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