The side entrance to the high school during the morning of the demonstration. Lycée Descartes was a school frequented by children of Cambodian elite. Queen-Mother, Ranariddh and Sihamoni, as well as a few of Hun Sen's close subordinates (Cham Prasidh and Prak Sokhon) used to attend this school, but obviously, none of the above have stood up for the plight of poor Cambodians threatened by eviction. (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)09 April 2009
By Maxime Revol
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
About 50 students from Lycée Descartes, a French high school in Phnom Penh, held a demonstration this morning in front of their school. They wish to see the families occupying the fourth floor of the school building – who are threatened with eviction – be treated with dignity.
“Blockade” and “Freedom? Equality? Fraternity?” can be read on the banners blocking the access to the French high school in Phnom Penh. About 50 high school students have decided to go on strike. They fear that the Cambodian families living on the fourth floor of Building C in the high school would be evicted without dignity and without proper compensation. “There is a risk of eviction, and we know that here [in Cambodia], it is never done right. We are mobilizing ourselves so that the families receive a fair compensation and that all violence will be avoided” Timothée, a senior high school student, explained. He believes that all the families would agree to leave but the compensation amount offered by the city is not enough. “A meeting was recently held between the student parents and a representative of the [French] embassy, but there is no progress. The students want to see a good departure of the families, should they have to leave. Most of all, they should be fairly compensated,” said Nina, another senior student.
The students wrote an open letter to the French embassy, the Phnom Penh city hall and the school principal to explain their strike. They consider that an eviction under the present condition would violate human rights: “We ask that Lycée Descartes and the French embassy intervene to insure that the rights and the dignity of the residents on the fourth floor of Building C be respected, and that a sufficient compensation be given to them so that they can pursue their life in dignity. $10,000 in compensation and a small plot of land – far from the city center and in an area prone to flooding – are not acceptable.” A new discussion on this issue should take place this afternoon.
“Blockade” and “Freedom? Equality? Fraternity?” can be read on the banners blocking the access to the French high school in Phnom Penh. About 50 high school students have decided to go on strike. They fear that the Cambodian families living on the fourth floor of Building C in the high school would be evicted without dignity and without proper compensation. “There is a risk of eviction, and we know that here [in Cambodia], it is never done right. We are mobilizing ourselves so that the families receive a fair compensation and that all violence will be avoided” Timothée, a senior high school student, explained. He believes that all the families would agree to leave but the compensation amount offered by the city is not enough. “A meeting was recently held between the student parents and a representative of the [French] embassy, but there is no progress. The students want to see a good departure of the families, should they have to leave. Most of all, they should be fairly compensated,” said Nina, another senior student.
The students wrote an open letter to the French embassy, the Phnom Penh city hall and the school principal to explain their strike. They consider that an eviction under the present condition would violate human rights: “We ask that Lycée Descartes and the French embassy intervene to insure that the rights and the dignity of the residents on the fourth floor of Building C be respected, and that a sufficient compensation be given to them so that they can pursue their life in dignity. $10,000 in compensation and a small plot of land – far from the city center and in an area prone to flooding – are not acceptable.” A new discussion on this issue should take place this afternoon.
4 comments:
It's good to know that there are students in Cambodia who have the intelligence, humility and determination to lead Cambodia to its proper course in the next few decades. When they see that their government isn't handling the country properly, they stand up for what is right and proper and not let tyrants and idiot government officials treat the Cambodian public like garbage.
Thank goodness, not all students in Cambodia are going to grow up to be ignorant, thuggish, and self-serving like ah pleur Hun Sen and the rest of the corrupted and outdated Hun Sen clan & the CPP individuals.
Must be children of intelligent parents of the opposition parties. A great portion of children of the CPP and the police/military generals are too busy driving recklessly on the roads, endangering lives with their drunkenness and pistols, bribing their professors, threatening classmates and acting like sluts.
6:27
Wow, what an ignorant assumption. Where are your children and what are they doing? I hope they are helping the rebuilding process of Cambodia. Oh wait, they are just kicking air. Please stop all this great bullshit about the opposition party. While your children are attending inner city schools and community colleges, Sam Rainsy send his daughter to Yale. As an international student (and I know) there is limited financial aid. How can you afford a 50k tuition without being corrupt yourself?
10:42AM Rainsy was a succesful man in Franc before he came to help Cambodia!
My question is about ah hu Xen children who go to Developed Counties for education and all failt exept one!
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