Kampot / Kep: End of day one

This evening we met Ling and Luc who live next to the Vanna bungalows
and have an amazing 180 degree panoramic view of the Kep seascape.
Astounding!

They have a partnership of some kind with OMF but are not
missionaries. They are building a retreat centre on the mountain /
hill behind their house.

Not that we are looking to move to Kep, but they gave us the low down
on the local church, which is that it is minimal. There is one 'home
group' of about 20 older farming folk, who we will visit tomorrow
afternoon. And a smattering of Christian families near their house.
There are only a Dey foreigners in Kep. Their was at one stage a
Quaker couple but it sounds as though they are gone now. Most of the
Christian community is based in Kampot and Chuuk.

There are several Cham fishing villages along the coast and according
to Ling are doing pretty well. No resource conflicts that she is aware
of.

At dinner there was a young foreign woman, seemingly on her own, but
later joined by an eager looking group of young khmer men, all
drinking beer. She spoke reasonable khmer and i couldn't tell if she
was a journalist or tourist or someone practising her khmer with the
locals. Don't know why I mention this. It just looked a little
strange, is all.

Well, i'm looking forward to a good night's sleep with no
interruptions from young kids early in the morning.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Kampot survey trip

Heap and I are sitting on the bus waiting to leave the station - it's
taking quite a while for some reason.

We have a good trip planned now. As is usual it's come together at the
last minute. And we're still trying to arrange meetings.

Our plan is to meet two couples in the sea-side resort town of Kep.
Both run retreat centers and can hopefully explain some of the
situation in the church. We will then go on to Kampot town itself and
meet NGO contacts there. Hallam and Katie from STT and possibly staff
from CLEC and Licadho. On monday or tuesday we will meet two community
leaders from a Cham (muslim) community. Following that we will meet a
pastor in Chuuk, which is kind of the Christian Mecca of Cambodia.
Although not without it's problems and scandals. This pastor
supposedly knows a lot of people and is well connected to the pulse of
the Christian community.

Both Heap and I are starting this journey tired. I confess to coming
close to postponing it for when i feel more energetic. But when will
that ever be? Both Heap and I have attended to several crises this
week - me with the Dey Krahom eviction, and Heap with staff in
Treasures.

But leaving now i feel more energized and expectant.

Trying to decide where we'll move as a team is getting hard. Each
place has great merits to them. It will come down to a choice between
three good options I feel. Though I'm thinking Snuol in Kratie
province would be most strategic in that there are few NGO's there,
but a number of healthy communities that would be great to partner
with. Kampot is beautiful and the whole team would be happy to move
there tomorrow. But already is well served by NGO's. Mondulkiri also
has NGO's and is less interesting given it's population is so small.
Each area has opportunities for working with ethnic minority groups,
so that is a plus.

I will also visit Chenda on wednesday on the way home, who just had a baby girl.

If you are reading this, take some time to pray for Heap and I on this
trip, as well as the whole team in these decisions.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Peace-and-justice-cambodia website

I'm been encouraged a lot this week over the
peace-and-justice-cambodia website where i'm collecting news articles
on land, natural resources, evictions and investment related issues
here in Cambodia. I then map these on a monthly basis using google
earth and google maps. Its a visually effective way to describe how
all-pervasive these issues are.

I want to expand this project to include more information coming
directly from communities themselves. I don't expect this to be a
complete covering of all that is being done, but an attempt at
real-time mapping of actions taken by communities in response to the
effects of investment, land concessions and encroachment.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Dey Krahorm

Dear friends,

 

Please find attached recent photos, statements and briefing paper about the violent eviction that took place in Dey Krahorm on Saturday at 6:00 AM. The series of photos attached was compiled by one of my Cambodian colleagues who found a way to express his sorrow and sadness. More information, DVD, photos are also posted at www.licadho-cambodia.org

 

Let me know if you do not wish to receive any more information about DK as I understand you receive many other emails and documents too.

 

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and your friends who have dropped off used clothing, toys, shoes and money to our office in the past few days. The response from individuals, families, schools, churches and NGOs has been overwhelming, we have received thousands of much needed items for babies, children and adults from DK and a few offers to house villagers temporarily. Many thanks to those who have dropped by to see DK villagers in our office to listen to their stories, comfort their pains and sorrows with kindness and try to assist individual families cope from day to day. Also, thank you to individuals and ICF in enabling NGO workers and volunteers to obtain professional counseling to cope with their own pains and sorrows. Many thanks to individuals who are working in different ways to continue lobbying for justice to DK families who are still fighting for justice and compensation and to the hundreds of DK families who are living in misery in the new dumping site.

 

Humanitarian distribution in this new dumping site (Dangkao district which is located about 16-20 km from PP) will take place this Sunday, email me or text me at 012 803 650 if you wish to join groups of NGOs and volunteers to distribute items, I will know more details including time of distribution by noon today.

 

All your support, caring, efforts, work and generosity is giving back the dignity and hope to DK families who were stripped of their possession and identity. We are committed to continue helping people who have been violated but it is the support of all of you that gives us the strength and clarity to continue working in such a violent and uncertain environment. Thank you again!

 

Naly/LICADHO

Engaging and Integrating Faith and Justice

It's not as easy as I thought. And this week I've experienced a good
amount of dislocation as well as integration.

Often i'm living in one world or the other. But occasionally the two
come together. A lunch appointment had me discussing possible justice
oriented actions by Christians. And my own organisation has been very
responsive to the situation at Dey Krahom. But i still desire a more
integrated vocabulary for myself where faith meets justice more
harmoniously. To talk of prayer in a human rights meeting may seem
crazy, but is a fundamentally human act, as well as inviting the Human
One into the process.

The peace-building world seems most conducive to integrating these,
but I'm yet to collaborate closely with peace builders on a day to day
basis. I'd like that to change and I want my own perception of myself
and work to be more influenced and nuanced by peacebuilding concepts
and practices.

A year ago I sought to apprentice myself to a human rights group. I've
done that, not quite as I expected, but through partnership. I now
want to complement that with the peace movement. Why? Because it is
more wholistic and open to faith expression, as well as looking for
interventions in conflict systems that are less finger-pointing and
blaming and more about facilitating connections between currently
warring or fighting factions. And this is what I see as a gap in
Cambodia. There is little space for communities, authorities and
companies to dialogue. Often for obvious reasons, such as companies
seem and act so insular, having little vision for mutually bendicial
arrangements with a community.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Dey Krahom - reflections

After talking with friends from Dey Krahom tonight I realise I have
been disengaged from my feelings quite a bit since Saturday - the day
of the eviction. Each day the eviction kind of fades a little, even as
Dey Krahom members continue to be homeless - or worse. I heard tonight
that 7NG do food distributions to the people dumped on the side of the
road. Yet some still miss out. Those who get food and those who don't
is based entirely of the say-so of the original community leaders -
the ones who originally sold out Dey Krahom to 7NG in the first place.
Talk about re-traumatizing victims.

So i am feeling my anger and sadness and desire to support other
communities who are at risk of the same fate, yet have much less
support.

The family, Heap and I are going to Kampot on Saturday to meet
community leaders and survey the area for a potential Innerchange team
there. But I have done little preparation for it. It's been
over-shadowed by Dey Krahom's eviction.

DK is fighting on, however. Despite this huge loss, leaders are
determined to fight for compensation. I hope that they will help
prepare other communities, too.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

The perks of being relocated (evicted) by 7NG - take note Boueng Kak

Whoever thought being evicted from their homes of 20 years or so was
hard luck should think again. The privatisation of the eviction
industry has taken the next step by offering a multi-layered
compensation package for the privileged few.

Those lucky enough to be evicted by 7NG will find themselves happily
housed in the privately owned 7NG village a mere 20 kilometers, or 40
minute, drive from central Phnom Penh.

This location is highly sought after by clientele hankering for a
simpler age, devoid of unnecessary mod-cons such as fresh running
water, electricity, sanitation, health care, education facilities and
work opportunities.

Did I say work opportunities? I speak amiss. For 7NG will kindly let
you rent a spacious market stall at the privately owned 7NG market.
And if you don't want to work there you can pay for the luxurious bus
service now in operation, and privately owned by, 7NG to Phnom Penh.

For those eager to know what promotional opportunities there are
within the 7NG philanthropic enterprise, a lucky few (hundred) may
well be chosen for the next community eviction as demolition experts,
recieving a generous daily stipend and all travel expenses paid.

If anyone thought that being evicted by 7NG was a dead-end they can be
sure that 7NG has their long-term future well taken care of.

That no community has ever asked to be evicted - nor even agree to
sell their land - be dislocated from family, friends, work, and school
should not matter. Nor even the mob-ish identity, or lack there of, of
7NG and company officers. Nor even that there is no street address to
send correspondence to, or protest in front of. We should not be
concerned that no reasonable attempt was made by the company or city
officials to sit down and listen to residents concern, nor accept
reasonable compensation demands. Any mediation and negotiations
efforts were top-down one-way affairs. And the rash of arrests,
intimidations, threats, court cases against residents. Not one case
brought by residents against 7NG has ever been heard.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Counterpoint: New life

After a week of bad news and destruction of people's lives, I was
heartened to hear of our friend, Chenda, who gave birth to her fourth
child today, at 8am, to a healthy 3.3kg baby girl named Donna.

As we are planning to visit Kampot this weekend as part of the team
survey, we will be able to visit on the way home. Chhuk is on the road
to Kampot.

Sadly, this is a bitter sweat celebration for Chenda and her family of
four kids as her husband recently left her for another woman. A whole
nother story of it's own.

But it is worth celebrating times such as these. And new life brings
with it so much hope, possibility and newness. Who can't be happy?

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Jan 27 update

Dear all, please find links to updated headlines and newspaper scans to Tuesday Jan 27.

Articles:
http://picasaweb.google.com/peaceandjustice.cambodia/January262009#

Land Event Map:
http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com/2009_01January_Map.html

Land in the Headlines:

Tuesday, Jan 27

click here to view articles
Bassac residents fear further relocations. PPP (1-2) | Dey Krahom
FMs agree to scale back troops. PPP (1) | Border Dispute
Real estate market gets lift. PPP (1) | Investment
Evictees, city official meet after relocation. PPP (2) | Evictions
Fears mount for future of iconic Bassac apartments. PPP (2) | Evictions
Koh Puos chairman gives date for bridge. PPP (3) | Investment
Police release fishermen, detain employers in raid on illegal nets. PPP (4) | KChhnang
The grand theft of Dey Krahorm. PPP (6) | Letters
Real estate sector applauds lifting of 15pc loan cap. PPP (13) | Investment
RCAF Chief Fired Over Land: F'pec Official. CD (1-2) | Land Disputes
Few Results, but Minsitry Probe To Continue. CD (26) | Land Titles; Prey Veng; Kandal
Dey Krahorm Evictees File Complaint With NA. CD (26) | Dey Krahom
M'kiri Villagers Clash With Developers in Dispute. CD (26) | Land Grab
R'kiri Judge Summons 5 Over Burning Incident. CD (28) | Solidarity Groups

Monday, Jan 26

Relocated residents find homes, water lacking. PPP (1) | Dey Krahom; Evictions
Evictees request 7NG money. PPP (1) | Dey Krahom; Evictions
We have no homes, say evictees. PPP (2) | Dey Krahom; Evictions
Developing old battlefields key to national security: PM. PPP (4) | Investment; Defence
Villagers fight villagers, district chief, over farms. PPP (4) | Land Dispute; Siem Reap - Chi Kraeng & Anlong Samnor
Officials Forcibley Evict Dey Krahorm Holdouts. CD (1-2;34-35) | Dey Krahom
2008 Human Rights Violations Increase by 25%, Group Says. CD (33) | Licadho
Council of Ministers OKs Kuwait Agreement. CD (36) | Investment

Saturday-Sunday, Jan 24-25

Hundreds Released After Arrests Over Alleged Illegal Fishing. CD (11) | Tonle Sap; KChhnang

Peace,
Chris Baker Evens
InnerCHANGE Cambodia

Fwd: strength

A quote sent from Canada to DK, LICADHO and LC:
 
Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow.
 
- Dorothy Thompson

 Keep on keeping on.

Khmai twer baap Khmai

Translates as: Khmer treat each other with violence and evil. The
inference is that Khmer are somehow broken as a people and are the
only ones who do despicable things to their own people.

While it's true that some Khmer do treat other Khmer horribly, it is a
lie that this is the case only of Khmer.

I have heard this saying repeated over and over by the former
residents of Dey Krahom. And each time my response is: this is true of
all people, it is the way people treat each other, and the point is
that evil, and good, is a choice. We can choose the road to peace or
the road to violence. And its not just a choice for Khmer to make, but
Australian, American, Nepali, and every other nationality and
ethnicity.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Dey Krahom

Tonight I was called out to observe while Dey Krahom residents sleep
in front of the National Assembly. By the time I'd arrived the police,
with very large guns, had forced the residents to leave. They left
looking tired and dispirited and unsure what tomorrow will bring.

This came after the community held a press conference at the same
spot, which is of course over the road from the now deserted and
demolished remains of Dey Krahom itself.

Earlier in the day I joined a group of around 100 community members
who gathered from many different provinces to discuss how best to
protect their land from being grabbed by investors or 'other
interests'.

I also learned that of the 150 families who lived in Dey Krahom 300 of
them now live at the 'official' relocation site. Yes, 300. It turns
out that around 182 families who lived permanently at Dey Krahom were
not considered residents. They were market stall owners and never made
it in the official statistics. The relocation site is less than basic
- lacking water, electricity, housing, schools, health care, etc.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Amnesty International Press Release - Cambodia: Hundreds left homeless after forced eviction

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE

Date 26 January 2009

Cambodia: Hundreds left homeless after forced eviction

The Cambodian authorities must stop denying people the right to housing and ensure adequate compensation and restitution for over 150 poor urban families who were forcibly evicted from central Phnom Penh at the weekend, Amnesty International said today.

Cambodian security forces and demolition workers forcibly evicted 152 families from Dey Kraham community in the early hours of 24 January 2009, leaving the vast majority of them homeless. At around 3 am, an estimated 250 police, military police and workers hired by the company claiming to own the land blocked access to the community before dispersing the population with tear gas and threats of violence. At 6 am excavators moved in and levelled the village. Some of the families were not able to retrieve belongings from their homes before the demolition. Officials from Phnom Penh municipality were present during the destruction.

"The most urgent task now is for the government to immediately address the humanitarian needs of these people, who have lost their homes and face imminent food and water shortages," said Brittis Edman, Cambodia researcher.  "They will also need assistance for a long time to come."

Cambodia is a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and has an obligation to protect the population against forced evictions.  Saturday's events show all too clearly how little respect Cambodian authorities have for these requirements.  

The Phnom Penh municipality has provided less than 30 of the 152 families with shelter at a designated resettlement site at Cham Chao commune in Dangkor district, some 16 kilometres from the city centre. Most of the other structures at the site are still under construction and lack roofs. There is no clean water, no electricity, sewage or basic services. Earlier, most of the affected community rejected being resettled there because it was too far from Phnom Penh, where they work, mostly as street vendors.

Since the forced eviction, the Dey Kraham community has been told that the company, which has allegedly purchased the land, has withdrawn earlier offers of compensation, leaving families who have been living in uncertainty and insecurity for more than two years, now faced with rebuilding their lives with nothing.

Local authority representatives sold the land to the company, 7NG, in 2005 without the knowledge, participation or consultation with the affected community. Some 300 families were coerced into moving amid threats, harassment and intimidation, while 152 families continued to dispute the validity of the sale and refused to give up the land without compensation.

Just over a week before the forced eviction, the affected community told the authorities and the company that they were willing to move if they received adequate compensation for the land, where many of them have lived, uncontested, for decades and to which they have strong claims under the 2001 Land Law. The company then increased the offer of compensation, but the two sides had not yet reached an agreement.

"It is an outrage that the Cambodian authorities went ahead with the forced eviction, when progress was being made towards a mutual settlement. Now hundreds of children, women and men are left homeless", said Edman.

Background
Forced evictions are one of the most widespread human rights violations in Cambodia, and those affected are almost exclusively marginalised people living in poverty, in both urban and rural areas. In 2008, at least 27 forced evictions affecting over 20,000 people were reported in the media and by local organisations.

Hundreds of land activists are facing spurious charges, and dozens have been imprisoned, as the rich and powerful are increasingly abusing the criminal justice system to acquire land and evict those living there. At least nine community representatives from Dey Kraham have been charged for criminal offences as a result of their peaceful defence of their right to housing.

As a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Cambodia is obliged to ensure, before any planned evictions, that all alternatives are explored in consultation with those affected by the eviction. Evictions may only occur in accordance with the law and in conformity with international standards, including genuine consultation with those affected; adequate notice and information on the proposed eviction; and provisions of legal remedies for those affected. Evictions may only occur if they do not render individuals homeless or vulnerable to the violation of other human rights.

In May 2009, the Committee Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will consider Cambodia's first and considerably delayed report on its compliance with the treaty.

END/

Public Document
****************************************

For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5871 or email: carina.trimingham@amnesty.org

International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW, UK www.amnesty.org


Janice Beanland
Southeast Asia Team
Amnesty International
International Secretariat
1 Easton Street, London
WC1X ODW, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7413 5660

Working to protect human rights worldwide

DISCLAIMER

Internet communications are not secure and therefore Amnesty International Ltd does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose or rely on the information in this e-mail. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Amnesty International Ltd unless specifically stated. Electronic communications including email might be monitored by Amnesty International Ltd. for operational or business reasons.

This message has been scanned for viruses by Postini.

www.postini.com

Dey Krahorm eviction

Dear friends and colleagues,

 

As you might know, an eviction took place in Dey Krahorm (DK) at 6:00 AM on Saturday January 24, 2008  after approximately 250  mixed police including military police blocked entry/exist  to/from DK starting at approximately 2:00 AM.

 

By 4:30 AM, more than five hundred 7 NG company workers wearing red, blue and green t shirts were trucked in near the entrance and back of DK. At 6:00 AM, military police armed with electrical batons, steel batons, wooden sticks, tear gas and guns moved towards the remaining DK families, most who own their land and some who rented houses, to the front, sides and back of DK.

 

Tear gas, sticks, water trucks and arms shooting rubber bullets were used against communities, media, foreign volunteers and NGO workers on site.  This was followed by exactors and tractors that were used to destroy the houses along with company workers.  Approximately 38 DK families are living in our offices, 213 DK villagers and relatives are also coming for meals, medical care, legal advice, photocopies and material assistance since Saturday. Hundreds of others, many of them who were DK renters, were dumped shortly after the eviction along the road to the new site or on the new "resettlement site" 16 km from PP at Damnak Trayoeng, Chum Chao, Dangkao district.

 

Humanitarian NGOs and several LICADHO staff have gone to see the new site, the houses are unfinished, there are no roofs, toilets or kitchens. The site has no basic infrastructure, lacks drinking water and no schools, health clinics or markets are nearby.  Only about 27 families have been able to acquire houses.

 

The DK families living in our offices are attempting to continue negotiating with the municipality and 7NG company to obtain adequate compensation as they do not want to move to the new "resettlement site".  There have also been groups coming in during the weekend that are sleeping on the streets of PP.

 

Please find attached slideshow of images for your information, other images, videos and information are available http://blip.tv/file/1703016/  [www.licadhocanada.blip.tv],  http://hub.witness.org/en/node/11909, http://johnvink.com/story.php?title=Cambodia_Quest_for_Land_Dey_Krohom,  http://ka-set.info/actualites/k7-media.html, http://cambodia.ka-set.info/k7-media/, http://picasaweb.google.com/peaceandjustice.cambodia/TimelineOfAForcedEviction#

 and http://licadho-cambodia.org/album/view_photo.php?cat=43  

 

Please also note media statement from NGOs below.

 

Thanks,

Naly

 

Naly Pilorge

Director of LICADHO

012 803 650

www.licadho-cambodia.org

 

 

 

 

Saturday 24 January, 2009

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS STRONGLY CONDEMN ILLEGAL EVICTION OF DEY KRAHORM
Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

 

 

 

We strongly condemn the forced eviction of Dey
Krahorm residents which began at 6 a.m. on Saturday 24 January, 2009.
This was carried out by over 300 police officers and up to 500 breakers
hired by the private company 7NG. It is yet another example of the
violent evictions taking place across Cambodia which are in danger of
destabilizing the country.

 

Today's eviction was marked by excessive use of force endangering the
lives of Dey Krahorm residents, and resulting in over 18 injuries ‐ 5 of
which were serious. It also saw the systematic destruction of private
property, while the police and breakers hired by 7NG blocked attempts
by human rights observers and the press to monitor and report on the
event.

 

Further, the Dey Krahorm forced eviction resulted from an improper
land transaction between so‐called "community representatives" and
7NG. The forced eviction therefore had no proper or clear legal basis,
and has violated the possession rights of Dey Krahorm residents which
are guaranteed by the Constitution of Cambodia and Land Law 2001.

We urge the government to ensure that:

 

* affected families are given immediate humanitarian assistance,
including adequate food, water, shelter, sanitation, and medical
care;

* affected families are given just and fair compensation for the loss
of their property;
the illegal activities surrounding the eviction are properly
investigated and those responsible are held accountable;

*and
the trend of aggressive private interests overriding human rights
is immediately stopped.

 

Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF); ADHOC;
LICADHO;
CCHR;
CLEC;
Bridges Across Borders South East Asia (BABSEA); and
Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE)

 

Timeline of a Forced Eviction

Special:
Timeline of a Forced Eviction. A photo-essay
By 8.45am on January 24 Dey Krahom was completely demolished by crews of 'breakers' (hired thugs from previous eviction communities), 7NG employees, and military police. Here is a moment-by-moment view of Dey Krahom's final hours. enter here

or cut/paste this link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/peaceandjustice.cambodia/TimelineOfAForcedEviction#

Peace,

Chris

Fwd: Fw: appeal for humanitarian assistance for the residents evicted from Dey Krahom.

Dear Patty, Esther, and Ali (Ali are you the right ICA contact?), As a member of the Christian's for Social Justice (CSJ) network, I would like to appeal to the wider international Christian body in Phnom Penh to support LICADO financially (and otherwise) as they support those evicted forcibly last Saturday. As you will be aware, the Dey Krahom community was forcibly evicted in the early hours of Saturday morning - by hundreds of police/troops and hired demolition workers armed with axes and crowbars. The eviction began with the storming of the community using tear gas and riot sheilds, with bulldozers and diggers plowing into the houses. It is incredible that no body was killed in the fear, panic and violence that was created by the company (7NG) and the police/PM's. I personally witnessed houses being aggressively bulldozed while folk were still trying to retreive precious possessions, with the bull dozer operateor refusing to back off. One of the really disgusting aspects of this display of 'naked power' was that the residents of Dey Krahom (reasonably) beleived they were still in the middle of 'good faith' negotiations over compensation, and therefore that no forced eviction would be thinkable at this point. Last Friday, the Muncipality of Phnom Penh facilitated a meeting between the Dey Krahom residents and the company (7NG), in which residents were asked to submit their ownership documents and how much compensation they were seeking, to 7NG for consideration. The inference (if not promise) was that no 'action' would take place till these had been fairly considered. It now appears that this was no more than an elaborate rouse to catch the community off guard. The blitzgreig style storming of DK began with the village being surrounded and sealed of at 2.20 am saturday morning, with the actual storming of the community beginning at approximately 6.15 am with the tear gas barrage. Our friends at LICADHO are coordinating the emergency response in terms of emergency food supplies and shelter for the hundreds of people displaced, whose homes have been bulldozed (the relocation site 'prepared' by the Govt and 7NG at Chum Chao is of course grossly unprepared with inadequate shelter, water, power etc). As a member of the Christian's for Social Justice (CSJ) network, I would like to appeal to the wider international Christian body in Phnom Penh to support LICADO financially as they support those evicted forcibly last Saturday. I have talked with Naly Pilorge, and she informs me that they have sufficient emergency funds for this week, but will need extra funds by next week (they have been sheltering dozens of people in their offices since saturday). They are also appealing for donations of used clothing (baby child and adult) as soon as possible (as of course residents lost all possessions to the bulldozers). Please do consider what funding etc your fellowships could make available to help with this humanitarian situation. Please contact Naly directly at director@licadho. Donations can be dropped off at the LICADHO office, #16 St 99. God Bless Kristin Jack (Servants to Asia's Urban Poor and member of CSJ)

Dey Krahom Eviction - Unfiltered video and pics

Shocking video shot by human rights defenders inside Dey Krahorm during the eviction. Produced by PLATAPUS/LICADHO/LICADHO Canada:

http://blip.tv/file/1703016/  [www.licadhocanada.blip.tv] 

New site for news articles and pictures of Dey Krahorm eviction:

 http://hub.witness.org/en/node/11909

Lee

Re: update on Dey Krahom

Dear friends, family, colleagues,
i last wrote you a hasty update early this morning around 5am Cambodia
time. I still held out hope for Dey Krahom yet because a year ago the
community was blockaded for several days and the crisis abated. But by
8.30am Dey Krahom was a pile of rubble, stunned faces, and broken
dreams.

It took 2 excavators, 2 bull dozers, 200 hired demolition 'workers',
and 200 police around two and a half hours to demolish 150 homes and
the lives of those who lived in them.

The good news is that no one was killed, and there could have been far
more violence. But there was still plenty. Several people were rushed
to hospital.

Thank you for your prayers, expressions of support, and sending of
appeal letters. While it may seem a useless task now, i still believe
it worthwhile. It provides another layer of accountability that is
lacking. And may well influence the next community in line for
eviction - Boueng Kak, a community of 4000 families.

At this stage Dey Krahom residents are likely to recieve no
compensation, and there has been no relocation plans put in place.
People are at the mercy of relatives and NGO's.

I Should note here that this is not an anomaly. Communities are
evicted regularly throughout Cambodia. Dey Krahom benefitted from it's
central position in Phnom Penh, and has stood as a symbol for other
less well documented, and more ruthless, evictions.

I will make this the last mass email, but you can follow my
reflections and further updates on my blog: bakerevens@blogspot.com
and web site: http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com.

Your prayers for peace in Cambodia are still very much coveted.

Peace. Chris.

On 1/23/09, Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear all, police have blockaded Dey krahom. We are concerned special
> intervention forces are being deployed, who are more prone to violence
> than regular police. Please pray. Myself and other friends are
> observing. Most likely they will wait for morning light to do
> anything. Peace. Chris.
>
> On 1/20/09, Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Dear all,
>>
>> thank you for your concern and prayers for the Dey Krahom community.
>>
>> Here is a brief re-cap and update.
>>
>> The situation changes daily. Recently the municipality (re)ordered the
>> eviction of Dey Krahom, just after Christmas. The community rallied and
>> the
>> date came and went and nothing happened (no eviction), but the community
>> has
>> been very agitated, scared and angry.
>>
>> Later the company and municipality offered to meet and negotiate a deal
>> with
>> the residents, but backed out at the last minute. In response the
>> residents
>> went down to city hall themselves and demanded to meet the deputy
>> governor,
>> Man Chouen. He met and suggested a figure of $20,000 per house or to
>> prepare
>> individual requests.
>>
>> $20,000 is much lower than the figure the community are demanding - about
>> $50,000, so that they can afford to purchase property within the city.
>> The
>> company is offereing to relocate them a long way outside of the city.
>>
>> Two high profile residents who are masters of Cambodian traditional
>> music,
>> who are also disabled, were given $50,000 just last week, plus an extra
>> $8000. I think the community would agree to something like that.
>>
>> Peace,
>> Chris
>>
>
> --
> Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com
>

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

8:34am

Re: update on Dey Krahom

Dear all, police have blockaded Dey krahom. We are concerned special
intervention forces are being deployed, who are more prone to violence
than regular police. Please pray. Myself and other friends are
observing. Most likely they will wait for morning light to do
anything. Peace. Chris.

On 1/20/09, Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> thank you for your concern and prayers for the Dey Krahom community.
>
> Here is a brief re-cap and update.
>
> The situation changes daily. Recently the municipality (re)ordered the
> eviction of Dey Krahom, just after Christmas. The community rallied and the
> date came and went and nothing happened (no eviction), but the community
> has
> been very agitated, scared and angry.
>
> Later the company and municipality offered to meet and negotiate a deal
> with
> the residents, but backed out at the last minute. In response the residents
> went down to city hall themselves and demanded to meet the deputy governor,
> Man Chouen. He met and suggested a figure of $20,000 per house or to
> prepare
> individual requests.
>
> $20,000 is much lower than the figure the community are demanding - about
> $50,000, so that they can afford to purchase property within the city. The
> company is offereing to relocate them a long way outside of the city.
>
> Two high profile residents who are masters of Cambodian traditional music,
> who are also disabled, were given $50,000 just last week, plus an extra
> $8000. I think the community would agree to something like that.
>
> Peace,
> Chris
>

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Fwd: DK update - January 23

"Do not go gentle into that great night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." Dylan Thomas

This quote passes my mind a lot these days and for me, it really sums up Dey Krahorm and their struggle. As powerful individuals/authorities circle in on Dey Krahorm, and 'realistically' no hope remains, the rage at injustice and violence  against our loved ones gives the power needed to maintain hope and determination, especially after an almost 4-year struggle.

One of the definitions of 'rage' as a noun is 'a vehement desire or passion'. As a verb, rage can describe 'to continue with great force'.  Rage helps us tap into determination and creativity to overcome the odds.

There is always hope until the last second, Dey Krahorm continues to be proof and they will rage on with various forms of creative non-violent resistant until it is indeed the end.

"It is not enough merely to call for democracy, freedom and human rights. There has to be a united determination to persevere in the struggle, to make sacrifices in the name of enduring truths, to resist the corrupting influences of desire, ill-will, ignorance and fear... "  Aung San Suu Kyi

Solidarity in and around Dey Krahorm continues to grow. An average morning in Dey Krahorm sees many journalists and students sitting with village leaders asking questions and drinking coffee. All around are homemade signs calling for peace and justice interspersed with 'stop evictions' flags and banners of the document that proves their land rights.

Khmer and foreign monitors stop by throughout the day as a gesture of friendship but more so as a deterrent. And we have a regular team the rotates monitoring the nights. 

The Urgent Action Appeal for Dey Krahorm sent out the other day is also applying some serious pressure. Ruth wrote yesterday to say two of the government's email boxes were full. Dateline and Channel 4 [UK Unreported World] are both also documenting Dey Krahorm, the latter is staked out at the hotel on the corner next to the village.

Vichet, Dey Krahorm village spokesperson, just wrote a new song in response the Municipalities final compensation offer to Dey Krahorm. [$20,000/house, an average of around $60,000 LESS than market price] The title is 'DO NOT ACCEPT' and explains why $20,000 will not allow them to survive. The villagers love it and want to sing again and again. Even the foreigners are learning the words to sing along. Our Danish friends play the music for the song; 2 guitars, 1 floor base, 1 violin. It's so wonderful to hear and clap along, to see the smiles on everyone's faces. Vichet will give it to the radio stations as soon as it's recorded. It will most likely piss the Municipality off but for regular Cambodians, they will be instantly addicted. [that's my own projection]

Saving the best news for last, yesterday, village leader Lor Seyha was released from prison on appeal! He was unlawfully convicted on trumped up charges in August of 2008. Seyha paid his way out on appeal and returned to Dey Krahorm to find a ceremony prepared in this honor. The monks cleansed Seyha from any evil that was clinging to him and then blessed all. Seyha's return raised the energy of the village considerably. Seyha himself seems a bit overwhelmed. When he went to prison, Dey Krahorm didn't have media support, international support, nor had they produced an activist CD, nor did they have business cards. Seyha was key in getting the villagers through the first few years and because he led them, he was eventually targeted and imprisoned.  He was also the man that worked closely with Gen and I on the Dey Krahorm report. We've shared laughter, tears, heck he's even yelled at us in frustration. It was heart breaking to see him imprisoned and for us to be powerless to help for months. But he's BACK!

The Dey Krahorm villagers and friends who stand with them are taking one day at a time. The municipality has been very quiet these last days and noone knows what is up their sleeves.  Until we know, we will keep on singing…..

On behalf of the whole Dey Krahorm family, thank you to everyone who sends prayers, lights incense, write letters or sends love to the team. All together, the solidarity is keeping the violence and eviction at bay while strengthening those on the front lines.

 

In Peace and Solidarity

Lee

 

 

 

---

Reclaim your name @ymail.com or @rocketmail.com. Get your new email address now!

Appeal for Dey Krahorm

Dear friends, family, colleagues,

I am passing this on to you in the hope that you will support a key InnerCHANGE partnership here in Cambodia.

You possibly get emails like this from time to time, and hit DELETE, today I urge you to read on.

For some of you the Dey Krahom community is a familiar name. For others you may just now be hearing of it. The attached document gives you a very good overview.

Also included in the document is a very practical and HELPFUL way for you to be part of our ministry - especially since you likely don't live in Cambodia.

I urge you to at least send an email to the suggested addresses. A follow-up hard copy letter will add power, and will only take 10 days or so to reach Cambodia by mail. A well spent postage stamp!

Making clear to those in positions of influence and power that the world is watching will do much to promote peace in this tense situation at Dey Krahom.

Peace. Chris Baker Evens.



Urgent Action Appeal:

Please keep the pressure on the Cambodian government and authorities to NOT use violence against the villagers of Dey Krahorm. Show them the International community is WATCHING!

Media pressure is helping to keep authorities away from Dey Krahorm and forcing them to renew negotiations. Now we need the international community - that's YOU - to do their part.

See Urgent Action Appeal for Dey Krahorm Community.

In Solidarity,
Lee

A strange flower grows in the gardens of Sen Monorom

Patrick, Davy and Reaksmy playing follow the leader at Sovannakiri restaurant in Sen Monorom last week.

update on Dey Krahom

Dear all,

thank you for your concern and prayers for the Dey Krahom community.

Here is a brief re-cap and update.

The situation changes daily. Recently the municipality (re)ordered the eviction of Dey Krahom, just after Christmas. The community rallied and the date came and went and nothing happened (no eviction), but the community has been very agitated, scared and angry.

Later the company and municipality offered to meet and negotiate a deal with the residents, but backed out at the last minute. In response the residents went down to city hall themselves and demanded to meet the deputy governor, Man Chouen. He met and suggested a figure of $20,000 per house or to prepare individual requests.

$20,000 is much lower than the figure the community are demanding - about $50,000, so that they can afford to purchase property within the city. The company is offereing to relocate them a long way outside of the city.

Two high profile residents who are masters of Cambodian traditional music, who are also disabled, were given $50,000 just last week, plus an extra $8000. I think the community would agree to something like that.

Peace,
Chris

Kratie

Today we left Sen Monorom. All of us are tired from the trip so far,
Sam is tired and Patrick has been vomiting since last night. And
others are on slow mode, too.
The good news is that we've met a lot of people and gained some extra
insight into the province. Particularly the lifestyle issues for
families. I don't know that we learned a whole lot of new information
pertaining to the Bunong, but seeing it first-hand is helpful. We now
know what we are looking at in terms of people places and the COLD.
Each family and team member have their own desires and needs. We've
yet to sit down and put all the information together. That will
probably happen in a week or so.
We met with WWF today who have us extra leads to follow up. In terms
of place, Kratie is a charming town, quite similar to Kampot. A very
wide river, lots of tourists - both foreign and khmer. The town creeps
up on the unwary traveller, disturbing the fairly monotonous rural
landscape of agriculture and deserted highways. The locals are
friendly, and happy to chat to a rare foreigner who speaks passable
Khmer. I missed some opportunities to talk informally at the market in
Sen Monorom, so am trying to rectify that error here. So far its been
worthwhile from a social point of view, and to get some local info.
Such as the river not flooding for several years now, since '96 and
that many people pass through Kratie on their way to Ratanakiri.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Re: Pray for Dey Krahom

Dear friends, thank you for your prayers for Dey Krahom. As i
understand the situation, the municipality has now agreed to meet with
the community to discuss compensation for the evictees. Your prayers
for the negotiation are important. The good news is that the community
was not evicted today and the city is engaging in negotiations. We now
hope for the city - working on behalf of the company - will offer fair
and reasonable compensation, and that the community will continue to
hold together in this process, but also be willing to listen to
reasonable offers. This is a long term conflict and both sides have
invested much in their causes. It will be hard to know when to stay
firm and when to compromise.
Currently observers from the christian community and NGO's are
monitoring the situation on the ground.
Peace. Chris.

On 1/14/09, Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com> wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:39:03 -0700
> Subject: Pray for Dey Krahom
> To: Chris.bakerevens@gmail.com
>
> Dear friends, over the past year i have sought to aid and encourage
> the Dey Krahom community stave off eviction. There have been many
> twists and turns in their journey. Every now and then rumors of
> imminent eviction surface, but no action by the company or authorities
> to carry out the threat. Though the community have been threatened,
> cajoled, manipulated, harassed, bad mouthed, imprisoned and extorted.
> Many outstanding persons have stood up on behalf of the community and
> from within the community.
>
> Over the last few days events have transpired that make it likely the
> entire community will be evicted tomorrow - thursday in cambodia,
> wednesday in the us. I ask for your prayers of intercession over this
> community, that God would change the hearts and minds of those with
> power and authority to stop the eviction.
> Peace. Chris.
>
> --
> Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com
>

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Pray for Dey Krahom

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:39:03 -0700
Subject: Pray for Dey Krahom
To: Chris.bakerevens@gmail.com

Dear friends, over the past year i have sought to aid and encourage
the Dey Krahom community stave off eviction. There have been many
twists and turns in their journey. Every now and then rumors of
imminent eviction surface, but no action by the company or authorities
to carry out the threat. Though the community have been threatened,
cajoled, manipulated, harassed, bad mouthed, imprisoned and extorted.
Many outstanding persons have stood up on behalf of the community and
from within the community.

Over the last few days events have transpired that make it likely the
entire community will be evicted tomorrow - thursday in cambodia,
wednesday in the us. I ask for your prayers of intercession over this
community, that God would change the hearts and minds of those with
power and authority to stop the eviction.
Peace. Chris.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

I walked 10km

Yesterday we spent the day walking around Sen Monorom town. Young was
a great guide and showed us the market and them walked the ring road
which leads to his house. He has a great place with an amazing view of
the valley. I'll post a photo later. After eating a pretty good lunch,
most of us went back to the hotel for a rest. Hayden, Dara, Darit and
i decided to a bit more investigating. We spoke to a few eco tourism
places, then set off to find the Sen Monorom waterfalls. They turn out
to be a beautifully secluded spot with an impressive falls, even
though water levels look low. I confess to being extremely sore by the
time we walked back to the hotel that night.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Road from Snuol to Sen Monorom

First morning

As we expected, it's cold. The internet says 16C. I don't remember
that cold so i can't say if it's accurate or not.

This morning we will wall around Sen Monorom to see what is there,
what it's like, where to buy food and likely items we'd need, and
what's readily available and what we'd need to truck in.

One or two of the Hims kids were expressing reservations about moving
here, worsh about people they wouldn't be able to see any more.

It's going to be the line of note where we all lord ready access to
our friends, but have the opportunity for making new friends. It's
unclear how many foreigners live here, but i see that as a plus, and
many of us have expressed the desire to work in under resourced areas,
which means fewer foreigners. Kampot will be different in that regard.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Fwd: Arrived in Sen Monorom

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chris Bakerevens <chris.bakerevens@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:40:56 -0700
Subject: Arrived in Sen Monorom
To: Chris.bakerevens.ijournal@gmail.com

The drive from Snuol to Sen Monorom was over red earth gravel.
Obviously a lot of recent work, as the road was very wide and much
road work going on at different points. We travelled much slower, but
wasn't anywhere near the horror stories i've heard.
I'm really impressed how well everyone travelled - esp the kids. Sam
and Heather felt pretty sick by the end of it.
We wound through beautiful forests and rose up into the Mondulkiri
mountains. I believe they reach 1000m in places.
Patrick really enjoys the scenery and sang his favourite Collin
Buchanan song along the way - Every mountain. Every river, Every
waterfall, the one and only God, the one and only God, the one and
only God made it all. He sings quite well for a not yet four year old.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

On the way

We've eaten lunch at a truck stop an hour from Kampong Cham. We are
now now on the dirt track to Mondulkiri, turning away from Kratie and
Stung Treng. The road is a little rough. We'll see how it feels after
three more hours.

Fortunately the signal is still strong enough for internet.
We have passed plantations of rubber, cassava, cashew, and pepper.
There are many large plantations i'm assuming are ELC's. Economic Land
Concessions. But i'd need to check on it.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

The journey begins

As usual getting everyone to meet on time, at the same time is nigh
impossible. But we're only a half hour late.
I'm now riding on the back of a Tuk Tuk with all our bags and luggage
- 15 foreigners carry a lot of stuff. I'm told the road to Mondulkiri
is much improved from it's glory days of pitted dirt tracks and
impossible mud bogs. Fortunately for us we are travelling in the dry
season, so travel in and out of the area is possible. I'm not sure
about now, but just a few years ago, M. Was all but unreachable during
the wet reason. In addition, the area has only recently been re
electrified, after six months straight without. Now the area is hooked
up to hydro power from Viet Nam - much more reliable.

Cambodia has plans to build many many hydro power dams in the future.
It seems unrealistic to me - Cambodia is mostly plains and river delta
with very little elevation to aid a hydro power scheme. The costs are
high - Chinese companies with unreliable environmental credentials,
flooding that will disturb population of indigenous folk who are
already marginalised without the loss of vital and sacred land, as
well as the massive disruption to river ecosystems with the potential
to hinder the breeding migrations of fish that many Cambodians rely on
for protein, habitat of the near extinct freshwater dolphins of the
Mekong river, and huge tracks of land. I have read of one dam project
that would stretch for 10 kilometers at a height of 50 meters and
submerge nearly 900 square km of land. Cambodia is not a big place to
start with.

Dam projects were vigorously promoted by the World Bank for many
years, but are now realizing they rarely produce the intended benefits
and more often cause massive environmental degradation and social and
health woes. Arundhati Roy writes vigorously about the many gone-wrong
dam projects in India. The most affected by there projects are the
ones most marginalised and powerless, further diminishing their
ability to achieve happiness and wholeness, let alone political
equity.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

It's FREEZING!

The last two mornings i've woken up to 18 degrees C. All four of us
are huddled together try to stay warm and failing miserably. And today
we're off to Mondulkiri where it's even colder. The upside is it will
be far more beautiful there.

Our main goal is to see how we could live sustainably there, or in
Kratie. We're all pretty sure we could live in Kampot without much
effort. The crazy thing is that Cambodia is quite beautiful - you just
need to get out of Phnom Penh.

Mondulkiri has the Bou Sra waterfalls and mountains, Kratie has the
Mekong river and freshwater dolphins, and Kampot has a river,
waterfalls, mountains AND is very close to the beach. Sounds like a
hard life!

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

"There is no way to peace; peace is the way." A.J. Muste Fellowship of
Reconciliation

Chris Baker Evens
Country Director
InnerCHANGE, Cambodia
+855 12 359 143
chris.bakerevens@gmail.com
http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com/

Team Scout Trip

Starting this Sunday the team (all 15 of us - adults and kids alike) will travel to Mondulkiri and Kratie to check out what is going on there and how we as a team could work there.

Over the next few months we will be checking out at least 3 sites: Mondulkiri, Kratie and Kampot. All of us have visited Kampot at one time or another and really wouldn't take much to get us to move there - it's beautiful, along the river in the cradle of the mountains and near the beach. What else could we want?

Oh, yes, and plenty of work opportunities. There are many poor communities in Kampot that could do with support and leadership development.

Test post

This is a test. . .

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

"There is no way to peace; peace is the way." A.J. Muste Fellowship of
Reconciliation

Chris Baker Evens
Country Director
InnerCHANGE, Cambodia
+855 12 359 143
chris.bakerevens@gmail.com
http://peace-and-justice-cambodia.awardspace.com/