Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
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
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
Thursday, 15 January 2009
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.
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.
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
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
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
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
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
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.
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
Monday, 12 January 2009
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.
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
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
Sunday, 11 January 2009
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.
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.
--
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