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
