Social, Economic Discrimination Chasing Poorest Out Of Capital: Sam Rainsy

Sam Rainsy's letter as published in
The Cambodia Daily, August 3, 2009

SOCIAL, ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION CHASING POOREST OUT OF CAPITAL

On July 29, three separate articles published in The Cambodia Daily (“Controversial Social Affairs Site To Expand” (page 1), “Former Dey Krahorm Residents Deny Preah Vihear Relocation Reports” and “International Groups, Individuals Condemn Relocation Site Conditions” (page 27)) actually reflected one common issue: economic and social discrimination that tends to chase the poorest citizens out of the booming capital city of Phnom Penh.

In today’s Cambodia, more and more people who are resourceless, jobless, homeless and connectionless are falling victims to brutal evictions and forceful transfers conducted by the authorities to purportedly implement city “development programs” or “beautification schemes”. Those destitute second-class citizens are simply expelled from downtown Phnom Penh to be dumped in remote makeshift relocation sites that lack job opportunities and basic necessities. They are actually internal refugees condemned to hopelessly survive in squalid conditions on a day-to-day basis.

The recent evictions and population transfers to the controversial relocation sites through coercion obviously represent expediencies and temporary solutions as part of a piecemeal approach to the pressing issues of urban planning, land speculation and population housing. Such important issues require a comprehensive and consistent approach based on clear vision and sound principles. Any urban policy must be assessed through its geographic, demographic, economic, political, social, cultural and environmental impact on communities that are being created for living, work and play.

What kind of city do we want Phnom Penh to become? A city developed and essentially reserved for the relatively wealthy, or a socially inclusive city where all segments of the population -- the rich, the poor and the in-between -- can live together? A city where any development programs are always left to private companies operating on a purely commercial basis, or a city where the public authorities would promote social housing programs for low-income citizens to ensure a balanced mix of the city population? A city nearly exclusively made up of blocks of cement and concrete buildings, where all newly available plots of land continue to be reserved for profit-based constructions, or a city with an increasing share of available land reserved for public parks, gardens and playgrounds along with sport, social and cultural facilities? A city whose anarchic development is solely based on the rule of profit, or a city whose planners and managers would give more consideration to social integration, equal opportunity, the environment and quality of life?

On the basis of fundamental principles, the Sam Rainsy Party would like to propose the following change in government urban policy.

Each time the city authorities can legally, fairly and peacefully clear any piece of land considered as state asset available for “development”, they should refrain from selling it or leasing it right away to any private company. They should instead divide up the land into three roughly equal parts. One third of the land space could be attributed to a private company for commercial development through an open and transparent public bidding with clearly defined terms of reference. The second third of the land space should be allocated to the construction of social dwellings receiving public subsidies derived from government profits from the commercial development. The final portion of the land should be reserved for the creation or extension of public gardens, playgrounds, libraries, sport and other social and cultural facilities.

It goes without saying that serious economic, social and environmental studies must be conducted before deciding on such a scheme. Furthermore, all concerned people, especially local residents to be re-housed in social dwellings to be constructed on the spot, must be consulted before the implementation of such a multi-faceted project. The SRP is confident that a more transparent and democratic approach to urban management will enjoy broad popular support and will contribute to the country’s equitable and sustainable development.

Sam Rainsy
SRP President
Member of Parliament