Residents of the Bassac apartment block go about their business on Monday. But Saturday’s forced eviction of the neighbouring Dey Krahorm community has cast a shadow over the community, with many now fearful their homes will be next to go. (Photo by: SEBASTIAN STRANGIO)
Former Dey Krahorm residents gather Monday outside the National Assembly building where they thumb-printed documents protesting their forced eviction Saturday. (Photo by: SOVANN PHILONG)Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Written by Sam Rith and Sebastian Strangio
The Phnom Penh Post
Bassac apartment residents say Dey Krahorm eviction has raised fresh concerns about prospects for their community
A QUESTION mark hangs over the future of Phnom Penh's iconic Bassac apartmentsfollowing the forced eviction and demolition of the Dey Krahorm community Saturday morning.
The grime-streaked apartment blocks directly overlook Dey Krahorm - now a vacant lot filled with rubbish and twisted metal - and residents say they are worried their community will soon face a similar fate.
"The people at Dey Krahorm were cruelly evicted," said Ly Vannak, 45, who lives in Village 2 at the south end of the building.
"I am worried because I see Dey Krahorm as an example. Phnom Penh municipality and [developer] 7NG might take this building just as they took Dey Krahorm."
Am Sophy, 43, who has been living in the apartments since 1985, said rumours of the building's sale had died down since the 1990s, but that the Dey Krahorm eviction had again raised concerns in the community.
"I am concerned, especially seeing the people at Dey Krahorm evicted. I am concerned that we might be offered such a low price that we could not buy a new house," she said.
Iconic building
Designed in the early 1960s by former municipal town planning director Lu Ban Hap as part of a low-cost social housing project, the 300-metre-long apartment complex is now home to a diverse community of around 2,500 people, many of whom have lived there since settling in the abandoned building as refugees in the 1980s.
But housing rights advocates are also worried that after Saturday's eviction, which brought an end to the long standoff between residents and 7NG, the Bassac residents will be the next to go.
"I'm feeling that after all the forced evictions, many other places are vulnerable," said Yang Virak, executive director of the Community Legal Education Centre.
"My analysis is that in line with the repeated statements of the municipality about the beautification of the city ... they will evict [more] people. That has been their justification to date, so I am worried for these people."
David Pred, country director of rights group Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia, could not comment on the status of the building, but said that even if an eviction were to be attempted, residents would enjoy protection under the Land Law.
"People have lived and owned those apartments for decades ... and they have land rights like everyone else," he said.
Srey Sothea, the 7NG chairman, said the company had plans to build a "modern commercial centre including hotels and supermarkets" at Dey Krahorm, and had its eye on acquiring the Bassac apartments as a precursor to the development of the now-vacant land. But he added that no plans had yet been set in motion.
"We are also interested in the Bassac apartments, but we have not yet started researching whether the people there are interested in moving to live in another proper place or not," he said.
However, the success of any bid for the buildings will hinge on the legal status of the residents and the land that they occupy. No sources contacted by the Post could confirm whether the building sits on private, state private or state public land, but local authorities are confident the occupation of the buildings is legal.
"[Bassac residents] have no land titles, but they have family books to identify where they legally live," said Village 2 chief Nhem Sovann.
"They live in a legal building, not anarchic buildings like at Dey Krahorm."
Khat Narith, Tonle Bassac commune chief, said that land titles were never issued because the people live in a "community building", and said all residents would have to be paid a fair price for their homes.
"They are not like Dey Krahorm's residents," he said.
"If any company would like to buy [the buildings], that company has to offer people market prices."
A QUESTION mark hangs over the future of Phnom Penh's iconic Bassac apartmentsfollowing the forced eviction and demolition of the Dey Krahorm community Saturday morning.
The grime-streaked apartment blocks directly overlook Dey Krahorm - now a vacant lot filled with rubbish and twisted metal - and residents say they are worried their community will soon face a similar fate.
"The people at Dey Krahorm were cruelly evicted," said Ly Vannak, 45, who lives in Village 2 at the south end of the building.
"I am worried because I see Dey Krahorm as an example. Phnom Penh municipality and [developer] 7NG might take this building just as they took Dey Krahorm."
Am Sophy, 43, who has been living in the apartments since 1985, said rumours of the building's sale had died down since the 1990s, but that the Dey Krahorm eviction had again raised concerns in the community.
"I am concerned, especially seeing the people at Dey Krahorm evicted. I am concerned that we might be offered such a low price that we could not buy a new house," she said.
Iconic building
Designed in the early 1960s by former municipal town planning director Lu Ban Hap as part of a low-cost social housing project, the 300-metre-long apartment complex is now home to a diverse community of around 2,500 people, many of whom have lived there since settling in the abandoned building as refugees in the 1980s.
But housing rights advocates are also worried that after Saturday's eviction, which brought an end to the long standoff between residents and 7NG, the Bassac residents will be the next to go.
"I'm feeling that after all the forced evictions, many other places are vulnerable," said Yang Virak, executive director of the Community Legal Education Centre.
"My analysis is that in line with the repeated statements of the municipality about the beautification of the city ... they will evict [more] people. That has been their justification to date, so I am worried for these people."
David Pred, country director of rights group Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia, could not comment on the status of the building, but said that even if an eviction were to be attempted, residents would enjoy protection under the Land Law.
"People have lived and owned those apartments for decades ... and they have land rights like everyone else," he said.
Srey Sothea, the 7NG chairman, said the company had plans to build a "modern commercial centre including hotels and supermarkets" at Dey Krahorm, and had its eye on acquiring the Bassac apartments as a precursor to the development of the now-vacant land. But he added that no plans had yet been set in motion.
"We are also interested in the Bassac apartments, but we have not yet started researching whether the people there are interested in moving to live in another proper place or not," he said.
However, the success of any bid for the buildings will hinge on the legal status of the residents and the land that they occupy. No sources contacted by the Post could confirm whether the building sits on private, state private or state public land, but local authorities are confident the occupation of the buildings is legal.
"[Bassac residents] have no land titles, but they have family books to identify where they legally live," said Village 2 chief Nhem Sovann.
"They live in a legal building, not anarchic buildings like at Dey Krahorm."
Khat Narith, Tonle Bassac commune chief, said that land titles were never issued because the people live in a "community building", and said all residents would have to be paid a fair price for their homes.
"They are not like Dey Krahorm's residents," he said.
"If any company would like to buy [the buildings], that company has to offer people market prices."
15 comments:
They should go to take refuge in the national assembly building.
the hun blind national assembly full of Youn whore
then fuck the Yuons out!
Look at the shape of that building, and they want millions for it, hahaha, LOL, hahaha ...
Get lost Ah potato diggers!
Hi, 10:28PM the potato-head; how are you? I am a potato digger, and I think being a potato digger is much better than you a potato-head!
These poor people, they are just lazy and tired of working anymore. They just want to become millionaires instantly... really greedy people.
10:28,
And it is not even their buiding...
hahahahahha
Iconic my ass! These ugly run-down buildings should be torn down and redeveloped too.
Each family at Dey Krahorm was offered about $20,000 to $25,000 to leave the land that they did not own in the first place. But some became greedy and wanted $50,000 or more. That's why the authorities had to move in and do the dirty work.
In Cambodia you can do a lot with $20,000 if you're a decent person. You can buy a piece of land in the rural area and plant rice, or use the money to start a business.
Only lazy people try to live off $50,000 for the rest of their lives.
That's why you see a lot of Khmer people on welfare in the U.S. They're lazy and they think they're entitled to other people's money.
Fuck the biased Western media! They don't want to see progress in our motherland. The white people just want to keep Cambodians poor so they can come and fuck our women and children whenever they want. The fuckin' overseas Khmer men are doing this too, just like their white masters.
Yep, and like I have been saying all along, if you listen to losers, you will become a loser just like them.
My beloved 12:05AM!
Ya're unhumanly and repeatedly whining about these miserable evictees greedily not accepting 20,000 to 25,000 US dollars. How do ya confidently sure they will directly or publicly get those money from CPP or 7NG? A yar family one of these miserable evictees? Even a fool will financially understand that 2G can build a simple new life in Srok Khmer. In Short, ya'll can only convince any person who has never visited nor lived in Srok Khmer!
Listen up, Ah Potato diggers, if you own an old car, house, or boat, no law on this planet will compensate you more than old car, house, or boat. You got that?
SOME DAY WE SHOULD GET THE HOUSES GET IT LEGALLY BY AH HUN XEN'S FAMILY! MPTHER FUCKER BELONG TO THE JUNGLE!!!!
2:10aM YOU STUPID HEAD THAT WILL HIT BY LIGHTNING SOON!
WHAT THE FUCK WITH YOU???? WE DO NOT WANT TO SELL OUR OLD HOUSES TO THE YOURFUKING VIETNAMESE!!!
GO TO FUCK YOUR MOTHER AND LEAVE US ALONE!!!!
MAY LIGHTNING STRIKE THE ROBERS!!!!
2:10 AM HUN SEN WILL RAPE YOUR UNDERAGE DAUGHTER THEN YOUR WIFE , AND HE WILL WHINNING THAT YOUR WIFE PUSSY ARE BIGGER THEN YOUR UNDERAGE DAUGHTER .. HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT .. YOU DON'T DESERVE ANY RESPECT SO TAKE THIS .. AH YOUN
ohhhhhhhhh
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