Project to develop city in Chroy Changvar [-Upcoming evictions in the work?]

FYI: Attached files are some information of the Chroy Chongvar new city development. Sorry, it is in Khmer version only.

We do not have resource to translate it to English, if any member/partners may volunteer to do it and share to our members and partners is very highly appreciated

Best Regards
Secretariat


http://www.box.com/s/ev4tbomghgptp026urz1

First eviction notice for residents living along National Road No. 5, Village 16, Sangkat Srah Chak

For Your Information

Attached is the first eviction notice for residents living un-settlement along National Road No. 5 (riverside), Village 16, Khan Daun Penh. The aim of the eviction is to build the new twin bridge of Chroy Changva. The deadline of eviction is 15 day, starting from the date of this signature (5 August 2011).

This eviction notice was signed by Mr. Sok Sam Bath, Daun Penh District Governor.

More information, please contact the community resident: 012 878 316

Attached file is the first eviction note from the Daun Penh Penh District

Community Federation for preventing the housing/land rights violation and forced evictions

As Cambodia clamors to develop, a favorite bar is left in the dust

Scenes from Snow Bar on the banks of the Tonle Sap in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Snow Bar was recently closed down to make way for a city "beautification project." (Photo by: Lauren Crothers)

Snow's got noticed overseas as well, featured on National Geographic and by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.

April 17, 2011

Tim Sturrock

GlobalPost

“It's a kick in the head, you know what I mean? It happens to a lot of people in Cambodia.”   - Anthony "Snow" Woodford, bar owner

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Two decades ago Ian “Snow” Woodford, an Australian, came to Cambodia on a whim and has been watching the country recover from isolated madness ever since. He’s gotten an eyeful.

He saw firefights on the streets in late 1990s as political factions battled for power, while Cambodia was gasping for air after the Khmer Rouge's murderous reign. Later he saw the destruction of French colonial buildings, and the mass evictions of locals to make room for one new modern development after another.

Now, as developers continue to clamor for space in Phnom Penh, Snow has witnessed the end of another era. His business, Maxine's Bar on the River, more often called Snow's, has seen its final days, at least for now.

Tucked into a quiet, remote location across the river from the bustle of the capital, it was the only expat-run bar on the east bank of the Tonle Sap, and hence the favored spot for unwinding with a Beer Lao and watching the sun set over the city. The New York Times touted its authentic feel and National Geographic and the celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain used it as a backdrop.

A “boat shelter” needs to be renovated

Thursday, February 28, 2008
By Philippe Escabasse
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

A “sala” just saw its roof fell down. This building, which was originally used to welcome visitors to the pagoda, dating from 1928, is used by teams of traditional race boat rowers to store their boats. Foreign expatriates living in Chroy Changvar district came to the help by collecting funds.

Wat Khto, located along National Road No. 6, at about 8-kilometer from the Chroy Changvar bridge (aka Japanese bridge), serves as a shelter for traditional boats used for racing during the yearly Water Festival. Four boats are stored here, one of which, the Puor Mean Chey which includes 46 rowers, holds a good score since its construction in 1993. This boat always earned the top three places among the winners in its class, during each of the races.

However, the roof of the boat shelter, which is commonly shared with 3 others racing boats, fell down at the beginning of 2008. The shelter which was built in 1928, as indicated in an inscription in Khmer, was in fact the former “sala” for the pagoda, and it was traditionally used to welcome visitors and pilgrims. Since 1993, the building was used by the teams of boat rowers to store their boats. Local residents are interested to renovate it, and to provide help to the rowers, one of the teams captain is now directing the renovation of the building. If the tiles were to be removed and sorted, the wooden structure, the supporting columns and the roof beams must be repaired. The same goes to the stucco ornaments. The entire structure is interesting because of the quality of the ornaments consisting of sculpted Nagas, stylized leaves covering the door and window jams, and the high columns.

Benjamin Nicolle, who lives in Chroy Changvar and works for Medecin Without Borders, as well as other nearby residents, are interested in the work undertaken by the Cambodian rowers. “Their problem is mainly the funding of the works. We estimated the minimum cost for materials to buy to be at $5,000. If we can recover 60% of the tiles, there is still a lot of work left to be done for the structure. With some neighbors, we were able to pay some of the initial cost, but we are still looking for support,” he said.

For more information on this volunteer work, or if you want to provide your support, please contact Benjamin Nicolle at 012-973-915, or by email at: benicolle@gmail.com. He is also interested in other shelters of this type, and is doing research on information available about them.