CPP Tycoon-Senator-cum-Land-grabber Lao Meng Khin
Filling of Boeng Kak Lake by Lao Meng Khin's company, Shukaku Inc.
Residents protesting the forced eviction from Boeng Kak Lake
Residents, adults and children alike, protest the forced eviction from Boeng Kak LakeTuesday, June 29, 2010
True story by Khmer Borann
I have a friend who lived in Beong Kak Lake community before he and his family was evicted by the Hun Sen’s authority to make way for a CPP tycoon to develop the area for the latter's own profit. My friend finished university with me and he is a diehard supporter of the CPP.
When the residents of Koh Pich were evicted from their land and their home, many NGOs had advocated the government to respect the land law and the human rights. The same as for the residents of Dey Kraham communtity when they were evicted from their land, NGOs have done the same thing to advocate for the rights of those people. My friend who is a diehard supporter of CPP has criticized NGOs for helping the victims of land grabbing. He said the NGOs were against the development and the government. He said the government brought investment and development but NGOs as well as the opposition political parties did nothing but to destroy the country.
I had tried many times to explain to him that NGOs have never wanted to oppose the development and the government; NGOs just wanted to help the people who have been evicted unjustly. Nevertheless, my friend had never listened to what I have explained to him nor took it into consideration. Instead, he accused me of being the opposition and that I just wanted to destroy the development and the country.
In early 2007, there was a rumor circulating that Boeng Kak Lake and the area surrounding it would be granted to a local company known as Shukaku Inc., owned by the CPP senator Lao Meng Khim, and that the people in the area would be evicted. My friend had approached me and asked if NGOs could do anything to help him. I introduced him to my boss who is a head of local NGOs working on land dispute. My boss told him that, if the rumor was true, the NGOs would help him and all people affected by the land concession.
Even with the effort by NGOs to help the people around Boeng Kak Lake, the Hun Sen government never listened to the NGOs nor the people living in Boeng Kak Lake area, most of whom voted for the CPP during the 2007 commune election and the 2008 parliament election. Eventually, all residents in Boeng Kak Lake area were evicted and the lake was filled. My friend, who lived in Boeng Kak community before, and his family were evicted by the Hun Sen’s authority to make way for the CPP tycoon to develop the area for the latter's personal profit. This happened to my friend who finished university with me and who was diehard CPP supporter. My friend and his family, who owned a large plot of land worth hundred of thousands of dollar, only received US$8,000 and 2 million riels (2 million riel = $500) in compensation, the same amount offered to other families who owned smaller plot of land than his.
Now, I have never seen my friend and do not know where he lives; I also tried to contact him by phone but he changed the telephone number. I just would like to tell the readers of KI-Media that when he learned that the eviction information was true, his face turned pale like that of a corpse. He cried every time he came to meet NGOs workers.
I have met a monk in Phnom Penh and told him about this story. The monk felt so sorry about what had happened to my friend. I asked the monk whether it is my friend’s karma and he replied that it is. The monk explained to me that my friend had committed sin and that’s why he was punished by his deed. He said my friend has supported the evils and has been happy at other people’s suffering (the evicted families of Koh Pich, Dey Kraham) and that’s why he deserves his karma. Is it my friend’s karma?
Khmer Borann
Phnom Penh
When the residents of Koh Pich were evicted from their land and their home, many NGOs had advocated the government to respect the land law and the human rights. The same as for the residents of Dey Kraham communtity when they were evicted from their land, NGOs have done the same thing to advocate for the rights of those people. My friend who is a diehard supporter of CPP has criticized NGOs for helping the victims of land grabbing. He said the NGOs were against the development and the government. He said the government brought investment and development but NGOs as well as the opposition political parties did nothing but to destroy the country.
I had tried many times to explain to him that NGOs have never wanted to oppose the development and the government; NGOs just wanted to help the people who have been evicted unjustly. Nevertheless, my friend had never listened to what I have explained to him nor took it into consideration. Instead, he accused me of being the opposition and that I just wanted to destroy the development and the country.
In early 2007, there was a rumor circulating that Boeng Kak Lake and the area surrounding it would be granted to a local company known as Shukaku Inc., owned by the CPP senator Lao Meng Khim, and that the people in the area would be evicted. My friend had approached me and asked if NGOs could do anything to help him. I introduced him to my boss who is a head of local NGOs working on land dispute. My boss told him that, if the rumor was true, the NGOs would help him and all people affected by the land concession.
Even with the effort by NGOs to help the people around Boeng Kak Lake, the Hun Sen government never listened to the NGOs nor the people living in Boeng Kak Lake area, most of whom voted for the CPP during the 2007 commune election and the 2008 parliament election. Eventually, all residents in Boeng Kak Lake area were evicted and the lake was filled. My friend, who lived in Boeng Kak community before, and his family were evicted by the Hun Sen’s authority to make way for the CPP tycoon to develop the area for the latter's personal profit. This happened to my friend who finished university with me and who was diehard CPP supporter. My friend and his family, who owned a large plot of land worth hundred of thousands of dollar, only received US$8,000 and 2 million riels (2 million riel = $500) in compensation, the same amount offered to other families who owned smaller plot of land than his.
Now, I have never seen my friend and do not know where he lives; I also tried to contact him by phone but he changed the telephone number. I just would like to tell the readers of KI-Media that when he learned that the eviction information was true, his face turned pale like that of a corpse. He cried every time he came to meet NGOs workers.
I have met a monk in Phnom Penh and told him about this story. The monk felt so sorry about what had happened to my friend. I asked the monk whether it is my friend’s karma and he replied that it is. The monk explained to me that my friend had committed sin and that’s why he was punished by his deed. He said my friend has supported the evils and has been happy at other people’s suffering (the evicted families of Koh Pich, Dey Kraham) and that’s why he deserves his karma. Is it my friend’s karma?
Khmer Borann
Phnom Penh
23 comments:
នេះគឹជារៀងប្រឌិតមួយដែលហាក់ដូចជាការពិត។
ពីព្រោះការភូតភរកុហកក៍ជាកម្មផលមួយដែរ។
IT IS NOT A FICTION, BUT SO TRUE TO MANY PEOPLE IN TODAY CAMBODIA.
It's possible a true story but I don't think KARMA has to do with this story or the community as a whole. This is because poor judgment on behalf of khmer people.
There are more greedy, ignorant people then good sound judgement people in khmer society. I live in PP and I know that most people care less about putting good people to represent them. Remember people in Dei Kraham threw stone at Sam Raingsey when he campaigning in 2003?
KI et al.,
It is a good idea to publish this kind of articles into Khmer and distribute it to Cambodian people everywhere so that ignorant Khmer know how to think and support.
At this time it´s very stupid to believe in the Karma. I can say that Buddist religion is really an OPIUM for the Khmer people.
A PP non religious resident
The author of this article is very skillful.
He created his friend who is never existed.
It is a sad story to Cambodian, though it is true or fault. And of course it is not his Karma to my understanding. When we put everything into Karma, it leads us to lose perseverance. In Cambodian society, people are not hurt when bad things do not happen on self. There are not many have similar story to your friend. They are the former diehard of supporting CPP. They don't even care of the victim cause by CPP officers such as Heng Pov, was the slave of CPP. He killed many people to please and serve CPP policy. He never complaint of CPP, but the time CPP dosen't need him her tried to escape to Malaysia. Unfortunately, under the strong action of Hok Lungdy, he return to Prey Sar. Heng pov used to praised to good reputation of Cambodian court. He lately complained that Cambodian court is not independent. I just want to show you that before suffering happen to him, he doesn't hurt. Also Ranaridh, when he was a good dog to Hun Sen he praised Hun Sen, court and government. Then, he was punished by Phon Penh court, he complained that the court is not independent. This is stick in most Cambodian brain. They do hurt when things bad happen to other, only to themselves. They do not know the characteristic of dictator. Look at the case of Phon Pheap, CPP gave him everything to destroy FUNCINPEC. But when CPP no longer needs him, they killed him. There are more, and next one maybe Nhek Bun Chhay.
How about Hun Sen and his cohorts' karma? Don't believe much in anything in this modern era. Life's full of deceiving and disappointments scenario, just try you best and street-smart. I don't feel much sympathy for the CPP supporters for loss their land through eviction, they deserve it for voting for an impunity regime to govern them over and again....
at a glance, i thought "karma" referred to the property developer.
what kind of good friend are you talk behind your friend's back like this??
Dear All ,
All land evictions are to evict Cambodian from their land and will be replaced by Vietnamese. These so called tycoons are indeed robbers and are representing vietnamese Government to steal Cambodian lands.
Look at Kg Chhnang, The Vietnamese government has paid $US10,000 for each plot of land for vietmanese citizen. They paid altogether 4000 families.
If you keep happy with moneys paid by vietnamese, Cambodia will be a land of strangers.
this filling was order by ah Hus Sen, uneducated prime minister dare to do anythings deatroying historical natural lanspae that can be much developed to beautify the capital. All poor cambodian please stand up,..
on the other hand under the name of development this bad government evicted people along national road n.6 without any pay. ah corrupt Chuttima, god will take you to rial. look at phnom penh city they just doing work to gain corrupt money inside the dense city. no infrastructure develpment outside the city
This is the perfect example that the CPP supporter are narrow minded, and selfish. Have no true love for fairness or justice. Nor does they see far into the future.
it's about doing the right thing, the lawful thing, that is! law is law, stop complaining about the law; it is there to govern unruly people and society in general. imagine like stupid KR era, hardly any rule of law, thus the chaos, the injustice, the killing spree, the brutality, etc, etc... why? were there any law in place to punish those responsible? now think about it!
8:28pm! THINK ABOUT LAWS GIVE BY AH kWACK HUIN XEN STINKY MOUTH????
hey, law is made by parliament members, why are you complain, here? go study law for a change, ok!
2:49 AM REALLY!
past: Hun Xen sold chickens!
present: Hun Xen sold lands!
why? you can't accept changes in khmer society? what are you? some kind of dictator dysnasty? god forbid you are the popular leader in cambodia?
ហេតុអ្វីប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា នៅតែកាន់រូបថត ពួកចោរ កុំសង្ឃឹមថា ពួកចោរជួយអ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នា ពួកវាមាន តែជាន់អ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នាថែម។
ពីគ្រូបង្រៀនម្នាក់
Now your friend know who is the bad guy. He should come before you and admit his stupidity.
1. I believe also that religion is the opiate of the masses. Makes people stop thinking for themselves.
2. There is nothing stupid in having a different opinion but only that we try to make sure that our opinion is informed; that we don't just accept anyone's belief as fact.
3. The law: legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity; "there is a law against kidnapping" OR / AND
a rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society
4. If this is a story, I'm sure it is true to an extent. Some CPP supporters would have been affected by the deal. Also, why not use your imagination to make a point - not much skill here. Plus, would any story mentioning a person, be talking about them behind their back.
5. Ultimately, the political education of the public is still low. Talk of war, temples, borders and the historical enemies (interestingly similar topics and worries to those over a hundred years ago) gains the attention and gets people worked up. However, none of the parties really electioneer on serious issues: schools, jobs, hospitals.
Think for yourself. What will make the country better 30 years from today?? It won't be a small temple on the border, a war with an economically more advanced nation, or the spending of billions on making a larger army.
In this light, I would say that the political parties have to start treating us, the electorate, as people and not children. They should start taking politics seriously and start worrying about the issues that affect us all: schools, jobs and hospitals.
Why do villagers insist on holding Hun Sen and his wife picture when they're the one that make policy which force the eviction. I am completely baffled by this picture. Or is it that the cambodian villagers so uneducated and not able to rationally thinking thing through. Please explain to me
ខ្ញុំគិតថា អ្វីដែលបានរៀបរាប់ជាសាច់រឿងមួយនោះ គឺជារឿងពិត ៨០% ឫ៩០% ព្រោះសង្គមរាល់ថៃ្ងនេះគឺមើលឃើញនឹងភ្នែកទាំងអស់គ្នាហើយ មិនចាំបាច់ថែ្លងច្រើនទេ។ អាខ្វាក់និងបក្សពួកវា ជាមេខ្លោងនៅពីក្រោយព្រឹត្តិការណ៏សព្វបែបយ៉ាង។ ពួកវាសហការគ្នាជាខ្សែសង្វាក់ ពីក្រោមឡើងលើ គឺមានន័យថា ពីថ្នាក់មូលដ្ឋានរហូតដល់ថ្នាក់កំពូល។ អាខ្វាក់ជាអ្នកនិពន្ធ ហើយអាម៊ីអាថោងជាអ្នកអនុវត្ត...........។ វាចំណេញទាំងសង្ខាង....បើវាចង់បានដីរបស់រាស្រ្ត វានឹងប្រើកូនចៅរបស់វា គ្រប់រូបភាពទាំងអស់ដើម្បីយកឲ្យវា (ចំណេញមួយ) តែបើធ្វើទៅបែរជាជួបការលំបាកវិញ ដូចជាប្រជាពលរដ្ឋមកតវ៉ាជាដើម....ពេលនោះបើវាសប្បាយចិត្ត វានឹងចេញមុខដោះស្រាយយកចំណេញនិងប្រជាប្រិយទៀត.......តែតាមការពិត វាអ្នកបង្កើតព្រឹត្តិការណ៏ទាំងអស់។
អ្នកភ្នំពេញ
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