People affected by land disputes have gathered in Dey Krahorm on 08 March 2009 to appeal for an end to forced evictions (Photo: Ouk Savborey, RFA)Victims of land disputes pray for an end to eviction
08 March 2009
By Ouk Savborey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
About 150 people coming from communities where land dispute communities are taking place, and who are about to leave or on the verge of leaving their homes, gathered near the large Boddhi tree located in Dey Krahorm commune, Tonle Bassac district, Phnom Penh, during the 99th International Women’s Day celebrated on 08 March 2009. The people gathered to pray for an end to evictions that saw people being chased out of their homes.
A woman representing the Dey Krahorm community said that women and children are hurt by their forced eviction from their homes on the morning of 24 January 2009: “Please, spirits protecting the land and water of Dey Krahorm, prevent those who grabbed the land from the people from being able to do anything, let them vanish to naught soon, immediately, let their children, wives, grandchildren and all their lineage die, those who grabbed the Dey Krahorm land.”
Another woman representing families who are about to leave their homes in Boeung Kak Lake, added that she prayed so that the eviction that took place in Dey Krahorm does not happen in her community: “I say, for all of us women, if there is an eviction like Dey Krahorm taking place, we will suffer, because as women, we have extremely heavy charge, because in the future, our group will also face the same fate as them.”
Another man from Beoung Kak Lake community said: “Our goal is to obtain freedom, and a voice so that we will not be faced with eviction like Dey Krahorm, we don’t want any violence like this anymore.”
A representative from Group 78 (Tonle Bassac) claimed that those who want to take the land under the pretext of development, as well as the city hall, are forcing people to leave their lands without any negotiation, they hurt all the people, young and old: “If they want to take the people out of the city, they must resolve the money issue first, then they can take the people out, they should not do like Dey Krahorm or Sambok Chap. Now, the people can no longer accept that.”
Representatives from communities in various provinces claimed that any development without prior negotiation to provide proper compensation (for the people affected) will lead to an increase in poverty and it will lead to further destructions of forest, animals and the environment.
Van Sophat, a NGO representative who is observing the land dispute situation under the pretext of government development, indicated that the 150 people who came to pray at this ceremony are from the Dey Krahorm community, the Phnom Penh Thmei community, the Boeung Kak community, the Sambok Chap community, as well as other communities in Cambodia who suffer from eviction without proper compensation. They all came to ask the Cambodian government (led by Hun Sen) to respect the 2001 land law which guarantees the home ownership for the people.
Following a blessing by 5 Buddhist monks, balloons bearing slogans were released asking for an end to eviction in order to support women, for the right of women to have access to proper housing, and for supporting women as it also means supporting the country.
The ceremony took place outside the gate of the 7NG company, no company employees or police officers came to disrupt the ceremony held by these victims of land disputes.
A woman representing the Dey Krahorm community said that women and children are hurt by their forced eviction from their homes on the morning of 24 January 2009: “Please, spirits protecting the land and water of Dey Krahorm, prevent those who grabbed the land from the people from being able to do anything, let them vanish to naught soon, immediately, let their children, wives, grandchildren and all their lineage die, those who grabbed the Dey Krahorm land.”
Another woman representing families who are about to leave their homes in Boeung Kak Lake, added that she prayed so that the eviction that took place in Dey Krahorm does not happen in her community: “I say, for all of us women, if there is an eviction like Dey Krahorm taking place, we will suffer, because as women, we have extremely heavy charge, because in the future, our group will also face the same fate as them.”
Another man from Beoung Kak Lake community said: “Our goal is to obtain freedom, and a voice so that we will not be faced with eviction like Dey Krahorm, we don’t want any violence like this anymore.”
A representative from Group 78 (Tonle Bassac) claimed that those who want to take the land under the pretext of development, as well as the city hall, are forcing people to leave their lands without any negotiation, they hurt all the people, young and old: “If they want to take the people out of the city, they must resolve the money issue first, then they can take the people out, they should not do like Dey Krahorm or Sambok Chap. Now, the people can no longer accept that.”
Representatives from communities in various provinces claimed that any development without prior negotiation to provide proper compensation (for the people affected) will lead to an increase in poverty and it will lead to further destructions of forest, animals and the environment.
Van Sophat, a NGO representative who is observing the land dispute situation under the pretext of government development, indicated that the 150 people who came to pray at this ceremony are from the Dey Krahorm community, the Phnom Penh Thmei community, the Boeung Kak community, the Sambok Chap community, as well as other communities in Cambodia who suffer from eviction without proper compensation. They all came to ask the Cambodian government (led by Hun Sen) to respect the 2001 land law which guarantees the home ownership for the people.
Following a blessing by 5 Buddhist monks, balloons bearing slogans were released asking for an end to eviction in order to support women, for the right of women to have access to proper housing, and for supporting women as it also means supporting the country.
The ceremony took place outside the gate of the 7NG company, no company employees or police officers came to disrupt the ceremony held by these victims of land disputes.
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