Watch Part One here:
Watch Part Two here:
Al Jazeera TV
Last Modified: 28 Jun 2007
This week's People & Power examines allegations that officials in Cambodia have been profiting from illegal land seizures in the country.
Following the abolition of property rights by the Khmer Rouge, a law passed in 1992 stipulated that anyone who has occupied land legally for five years is the rightful owner.
Unfortunately it seems that Cambodia's prime minister, Hun Sen, is ignoring the law with huge parcels of land being seized and sold to developers.
Squalid camps are developing as more people are evicted from their homes, disease is rampant and in a country where 70 per cent of the population relies on land for subsistence farming, ordinary Cambodians now face an uncertain future.
Filmmaker Eric Campbell reveals the extent of the land grabs, the far-reaching nature of corruption and the impact it is having on a country that is still trying to recover from the damage inflicted by decades of conflict.
5 comments:
Thank you KI Media Team and Khmerization for posting these 2 saddening videos of the poor Cambodians suffering from the unjust, cruel and ruthless evictions of the residents of the Boeung Kak lake.
Cambodian people suffering has continued unabatedly from one regime to the next with no ending in sight.
Democracy and a government for the people and country have never taken any serious root in Cambodia. The Cambodian leaders are so far the same from Sihanouk to Lon Nol, to Pol Pot and now to Hun Sen. Everyone of them think of Cambodia as their personal property with no true regard for the people and land of Angkor.
Shame on all of them!
They were born as Khmers but they have no hesitation to serve the neighbours' interests or a superpower as long as the neighbours or a superpower can help them stay in power, eliminate their threats and guarantee their job till they are dead.
The injustices and suffering created by these regimes are only different in term of severity and duration. The regimes possess all similar characteristics of the leader-first and the people and Cambodia last mentality.
Cambodians are so unfortunate for at least 3 things:
1. Cambodia is situated between the Viets to the east and the Thais to the west. These 2 neighbours are always insatiable for Cambodian land and they will work with any Cambodian leader who want their help to stay in power and, in turn, turns a blind eye to their encroachments.
2. An army, military police and police who are not very well educated and disciplined to understand their roles as protectors of the laws of the land, her people and the country, itself. They are willing partners and obedient instruments of these leaders to inflict sufferings upon the poor Cambodian people from whom they originate not realizing clearly that the poor people's happiness is also theirs since the majority of them are the poor who happen to carry weapons. The weapons they carry have been used more to kill and destroy their own people and country than the ennemies.
3. The king who is supposed to provide a shade to his people has chosen to remain quiet on all issues affecting Cambodian society. What is the role of the king anyway if he cannot or even dare to work as a bridge to help these poor citizens of his. The king of the old day had to go to wars running a risk of losing his life and yet he seemed to not have any complaints whatsoever since he wanted to be a king. Our current king is so quiet and for that reason, his influence has seriously abated to almost none and it will only be the matter of time that our young people will be asking the questions among themselves the purpose of a roleless monarchy without being feaful of being accused by the government who uses the king of lese majeste. I am certainly quite disappointed with the king!
Mr. Ou Virak is very courageous man who is trying to help these poor people without worrying about the risk to his own safety. Looking at Mr. Ou Virak's work I have only admiration and praise for his courage and desire to help the poor and his country.
It is time for Cambodians to learn to unite as one to fight for their right to freedom and liberty.
Cambodians, the power is in your hand. You must be willing to vote Hun Sen and the CPP out for a change since under him injustice always prevails. Do not let him and his clan rule you for ever.
Anet Khmer
WHAT HEART WRENCHING TO WATCH THESE VIDEOS!!
I can only describe it as "criminal".
When it said "CAMBODIA IS FOR SALE"
Means that any things belong to any body are for sale.
Cambodian officials are just like greedy pigs who gorge them self to death.
Dear 7:27 AM ANET KHMER or LOK KHMUOY AH NET KHMAUCH VIETCONG and NORTH VITNAMESE .
Are you sure you are not KHMER anor living in the America
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The Young KHMER REPUBLIC
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