Final scores of residents of Dey Krahom slum were cleared by bulldozers from the slum this morning. There were negotiations on compensation between the remaining resident the 7NG company who has purchased the land, but the deal have never been made so far. Without prior notice, this morning the remaining families were evicted by force.
Actually at about 9AM, I saw scores of police blocking the road to Dey Krahom while I was on my moving on my bike, but I did not have time to check it out as I had an errand to do. As 7NG has showed intention to clear the area recently, I guessed that it probably their final day have come. Sadly it is true.
Click here to read more from The Phnom Penh Post
The above photo was taken on December 21, 2008 from the roof of Building slum. Now these houses are no longer standing there. They were leveled off for development plan, urban beautification or whatever.
A PHOTO DIARY 
Such a hot issue of land dispute, isn’t it? Winners are always the rich (and/or powerful), while losers are often not well compensated or even taken benefit of… Hmmm…
I believe they were well informed and properly compensated. But it’s more likely that they refused to take it and asking for more than what they deserve. On top of that, they are not the owner of the land. The rightful owner shall take back their land for the sake of a country development. I’m talking with my past experience to the similar case only. Pardon me if this is different.
I guess in a sense it’s possible to say that “they … [were] asking for more than they deserve.” and that “they are not the owner of the land.” But then what is social justice here? Why didn’t anyone prevent them from occupying the land in the first place? And what is all the “sake of development” when the majority of the population is in acute poverty?
Regardless of who’s right or wrong, there shouldn’t have been violence. By the way, how do you define “properly compensated”? A cash payment of $20,000 or a new residence some km from PP? Do you think they deserve only this much in regard to the actual land value? Should the country’s development be pro-poor or merely pro-growth? However, I’m not opposing the plan of “urban beautification”.
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Pro-poor development? I have heard about it oftentimes, but isn’t what we are seeing more pro-rich enough? Sorry if I am wrong, as it is just what I am seeing basing on nothing concrete.
[…] commenting on the blog A Photo Diary, has a different view: “I believe they were well informed and properly compensated. But it’s more likely that they […]
Ah… big discussion and the target is on me @_@ HELP!!! Hehe…
I’m not saying that what they are doing is right but I believe, everything happen for a reason. I was not taking side also. It seems to me that the blame usually on the rich and the poor always be the victim. We just gotta understand why is that.
Samphor, why do you think the blame is always on the rich? Could it be because they are usually/always to blame since they have more power and are supported by those in government to do whatever they want. They run people over in their fancy cars and are not brought to justice because there is no such thing in this country.
You write that the people living in Dey Krahom were not the rightful owners of the land… but if you check the facts, the community was granted rights to the land as a Social Land Concession. It was corrupt village chiefs who illegally sold the land in 2005. The community has been fighting to nullify this sale, using legal measures, since then, but the company, run by rich Cambodians, has the legal system on its side and they had no chance.
Everything happens for a reason? Yes, that reason in Cambodia is that the poor have no access to justice and the rich can ride all over them. A Hummer full of rich Cambodian kids drove through the site early in the afternoon so that the occupants of the vehicle could have a look at the destruction. Do you think their thoughts were in sympathy with the plight of those affected that day???
Hum… if you meant to say to me, it’s Samphors. Well, I’m sorry if my word hurts anyone, as said, I was talking with my past experience. Again, pardon me for it’s a different case. I have no further comment on this.
Happy Chinese New Year!
Well this topic is really hot. I don’t know what to say too but Samphors might be right partly as these people (living at Dey Krahom) don’t belong to that land. In other words, they are not the owners thus they can’t claim anything from the rich. However, the rich should be kind to find proper place for them to live.
Dated back in mid 60’s and early 70’s, Dey Krahom used to be a strip of road and garden.
Development has always had problems – the normal pro and con, but develpment shall carry out if the city want to attract more tourists and other potential occupants of units or shops who would move in the area when it would be developped. By saying this is not meant to say that people who are living there shall just move out without any compensation at all. Again, compensation shall be subjectd to a reasonable value or price. Everyone know that price of land and property in Cambodia is fuelled purely by expectation and inflated price as one would think fit and NOT the real market price.
Is there any conclusion from the owner of this blog? Or anyone? I wanna hear more. hehehehe ….
Oh you demand for conclusion phong sis!
I agree that some residents did ask for relatively high compensation. But I am not favour to the development plan from the first place. Instead I think the government should make the slum a better place for them to live. You cannot eliminate slums by evicting them. Their workplaces are in the city, so at the end they will end up to living at a new place nearby their workplaces, be it under the bridge or along the river.
Urban Poor Development Fund puts the population of slum dwellers in Phnom Penh 30% of her total population, thought I am not sure how accurate the statistic is.
Btw, it is again just my personal idea not conclusion.
You know who to blame? Well, not the rich, not the poor. In a society like this it is hard to decide who is right/wrong. It is because we are not in a nation that adapt full rule of laws. This is why.
For political reason some time the poor wins, because they have more vote power than the rich. Not because they are right, but it is the politician tend to do whatever that give time advantage in election. If we apply all rules and regulation, without giving too much power to politicians. Justice will be served.
For some reason, the rich wins, because they have money to bribes politicians, at the time when election is not so important. It is not because the rule of law that the rich wins, it is because of corruption.
So who to blame? blame all of us for undermine the rules of law. Oh my god, this country is in deep shit, there is no quick fix solution for the situation.
Though some people were illegally settle in this area, but POLICE should not use violence and a way of brutal to them. TALK and FIND SOLUTIONs
are the best way to do instead.
There is no HUMAN RIGHT in Cambodia throught what i watch this video clip:
http://www.licadhocanada.com/media_room_section.html
“Stop stealing from the poors and give to the richs”
In Cambodia, HUMAN RIGHT = HUMAN RUN
emm… informative.
Great Post.
Thanks for the information.