![[1991_04_02_headshot.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ54Am_dG9n3lJuoZqnQKncHBqVxLUH7FzhTE_jL_m7bgl61zFk6A87FgPA5Vm6PvBLgPLlFsxcBd8oBuLn0R8tlB-pFreHEipxWm-YYPlaFLDEAI5QZKGs_QwMhuYo0I6RQ/s220/1991_04_02_headshot.jpg)
A picture of KJE as posted at his blog.
2nd February, 2009
Opinion by Khmerization
The inhuman evictions of the Dey Krohorm slum-dwellers have generated emotions and heated debates among Khmers who supported the Cambodian People’s Party on the one hand and Khmers who viewed the inhuman treatments and the injustices perpetrated toward these hapless people as human right abuses, on the other hand.
The media, the UN and local as well as international human right organisations have condemned these gross violations of human rights. Many sensible people, who highly appreciate human decency, are disgusted at the scenes and images of the evictions that splashed around the globe. The foreigners, especially the white people, abhorred the despicable actions perpetrated by Oknha Srey Sothea, a close associate of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
But the behaviours and the comments of a particular white man named KJE, or Klaus J. Engelhardt, have attracted my attention greatly. This gentleman, the self-described entrepreneur who, in his blog, has claimed to have owned many businesses and a rubber plantation in Cambodia, has not only condoned the actions of Oknha Srey Sothea, but has attacked the Dey Krohorm evictees as some sort of villains and greedy land-grabbers.
In his comments in Details Are Sketchy blog, KJE wrote:
“I am probably the only dissenting voice in this. These people were squatters - it was a slum, infested with criminals and prostitutes; I know for a fact that they had no title to the land. They were offered $30,000, a lot of money these people will probably never see again in their lifetimes. They wanted $4000/m2 each, for land they couldn’t even define. I don’t condone violence, and I believe the city government should have given them appropriate housing, but holding out until it was too late was clearly not good advice they had received.”
KJE's somewhat unconventional comments which described the Dey Krohorm dwellers as "criminals and prostitutes" deserved a very strong response which I gave below:
"I am disgusted to read KJE's comments above. These squatters, as KJE termed them, have settled in Dey Krohorm since before 2001, some even since 1979, when the land laws give title to anyone who settled on a particular plot of lands for more than five years. If these people do not have the titles then no one else has the land title, Hun Sen and Chea Sim included. The Khmer Rouge regime has annulled all property titles in Cambodia. After 1979, all the people just occupy any houses and lands they could and claimed as their own. Hun Sen occupied many houses belong to rich people from previous regimes. Chea Sim occupied Mr. Son Sann’s house who was a former govt. minister and resistance leaders. Immediately after 1979, no one has the titles. Titles were only issued later on to govt. officials and those fortunate enough to pay for them.
In fairness, the Dey Krohorm dwellers, who settled there since 1979 or before 2001, should be automatically entitled to own the lands because they cannot afford to get the titles. They are demanding $4000/m2 because that’s what the lands are worth. KJE is siding with this heartless entrepreneur named Srey Sothea because KJE himself is a plantation owner who is probably guilty of land-grabbing as well. One would wonder if he had come to Cambodia to help Cambodia or to exploit Cambodia and her people."
And in Ka-Set.info, KJE has further revealed his inner self with these comments:
“As deplorable as the fate of the evicted people is, Khmer, both at home and abroad, obviously don't care too much about this as this is something that doesn't happen in their backyard. Likewise the 'barangs' who don't really care too much about the plight of the poor in their own countries but who are so vociferous in their indignation about events in Cambodia. One of the most outspoken ones lately has been the director from Bridges Across Southeast Asia, David Pred. But one is left to wonder what these people really want to accomplish with their protests, or whether those public outcries only serve to further their own agenda, whatever that may be. BASA is such a small operation, effectively a two-man show, that they really can't hope to have much impact. This is not to say that there shouldn't be any protests and people should be resigned to these events, but one would hope for a little more local participation besides the affected evictees. Even the opposition parties more or less pay only lip service. Maybe the local population secretly think that Dey Krahom needed to be erased?”
KJE’s comments touched my nerves that prompted my somewhat irritated response below:
“Equally, it is deplorable to see a 'barang' such as KJE, Klaus J.Engelhardt to be exact, condemning those who condemned the inhuman evictions of the hapless Dey Krohorm dwellers. KJE, who described himself as a rubber plantation owner, is probably guilty of land-grabbing himself. He is a known supporter of the Cambodian People's Party as he is a beneficiary of its policy of robbing from the poor to give to the rich. He has gone as far as defending the corruption and human right abuses such as the evictions at Dey Krahorm. It is a shame really.
Most of barangs, KJE being the exception, are disgusted to see the hapless dwellers being inhumanly evicted by a heartless so-called entrepreneur the like of Srey Sothea. In the eyes of KJE, David Pred, Amnesty International and the UN are enemies of progress due to their oppositions to forced evictions. One would wonder if KJE, who owned businesses and plantation in Cambodia, has done a good service to Cambodia and her people or he has come to Cambodia to exploit Cambodia and her people. I think he falls into the latter category.”
As not to be outsmarted by my comments, KJE retorted by calling me an “ultra-nationalist” and a “revanchist” who knows nothing. He further attacked me and Ki-Media for distorting the truth and engaging in libelous slanders. Here is his angry response to my comments:
“Khmerization's comment is one fine example of how many overseas, arch-conservative Khmer, especially the ones represented on KI-Media, distort and slant their 'reports' and comments on the internet, even resorting to baseless and libelous accusations. Nothing is further from the truth than what is claimed in his comment. It is clear this ultra-nationalist (revanchist in old left wing 'politico speak') doesn't know reality from fiction. How can he, observing matters and events from 2,000 or 3,000 miles away? Objectivity is an unknown term to him. Questioning the veracity of certain NGOs is legitimate as experts consider 95% of them to be superfluous. Please refer the article in Asia Times Online of Nov. 14, 2008. Nobody questions the work of AI, Oxfam, TI, or other reputable organizations. What this Khmerization, however, fails to address is the fact that obviously homeland Khmer don't pay
much attention to these matters, which after all was the subject of my comment.”
KJE has accused my writings as lacking objectivity which is absent in his writings, as one can see in his blog. His last paragraph in the above statement has proved my arguments from all along that Cambodia is what it is today- poor and dictatorial - because the “homeland Khmer” - the present leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), including Prime Minister Hun Sen, never pay any attentions to any critiques or ideas. The egotistical and self-centred CPP leaders, abetted and supported by the likes of KJE, only care about their power, money and the rich and neglected the poor like the slum-dwellers of Dey Krohorm.
I, like many other justice lovers, am convinced that Dey Krohorm residents are the rightful owners of their lands and homes as some of them have settled there since 1979. The lands at Dey Krohorm is worth between $3,500-$4,000/m2. One would imagine that each family in Dey Krohorm would own from between 20-50 square metres. If they own 50m2, they should receive $200,000 (50m2*$4,000/m2) in compensation, not the pittance $15,000-$20,000 offered by 7NG. Now it appears that they will end up with nothing or just a house 16km outside of Phnom Penh that is worth around $3,000-$4,000 each. As a result the 7NG’s eviction of the Dey Krohorm slum-dwellers is the grand theft of the century.
2nd February, 2009
Opinion by Khmerization
“The 7NG’s eviction of the Dey Krohorm slum-dwellers is the grand theft of the century.”
The inhuman evictions of the Dey Krohorm slum-dwellers have generated emotions and heated debates among Khmers who supported the Cambodian People’s Party on the one hand and Khmers who viewed the inhuman treatments and the injustices perpetrated toward these hapless people as human right abuses, on the other hand.
The media, the UN and local as well as international human right organisations have condemned these gross violations of human rights. Many sensible people, who highly appreciate human decency, are disgusted at the scenes and images of the evictions that splashed around the globe. The foreigners, especially the white people, abhorred the despicable actions perpetrated by Oknha Srey Sothea, a close associate of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
But the behaviours and the comments of a particular white man named KJE, or Klaus J. Engelhardt, have attracted my attention greatly. This gentleman, the self-described entrepreneur who, in his blog, has claimed to have owned many businesses and a rubber plantation in Cambodia, has not only condoned the actions of Oknha Srey Sothea, but has attacked the Dey Krohorm evictees as some sort of villains and greedy land-grabbers.
In his comments in Details Are Sketchy blog, KJE wrote:
“I am probably the only dissenting voice in this. These people were squatters - it was a slum, infested with criminals and prostitutes; I know for a fact that they had no title to the land. They were offered $30,000, a lot of money these people will probably never see again in their lifetimes. They wanted $4000/m2 each, for land they couldn’t even define. I don’t condone violence, and I believe the city government should have given them appropriate housing, but holding out until it was too late was clearly not good advice they had received.”
KJE's somewhat unconventional comments which described the Dey Krohorm dwellers as "criminals and prostitutes" deserved a very strong response which I gave below:
"I am disgusted to read KJE's comments above. These squatters, as KJE termed them, have settled in Dey Krohorm since before 2001, some even since 1979, when the land laws give title to anyone who settled on a particular plot of lands for more than five years. If these people do not have the titles then no one else has the land title, Hun Sen and Chea Sim included. The Khmer Rouge regime has annulled all property titles in Cambodia. After 1979, all the people just occupy any houses and lands they could and claimed as their own. Hun Sen occupied many houses belong to rich people from previous regimes. Chea Sim occupied Mr. Son Sann’s house who was a former govt. minister and resistance leaders. Immediately after 1979, no one has the titles. Titles were only issued later on to govt. officials and those fortunate enough to pay for them.
In fairness, the Dey Krohorm dwellers, who settled there since 1979 or before 2001, should be automatically entitled to own the lands because they cannot afford to get the titles. They are demanding $4000/m2 because that’s what the lands are worth. KJE is siding with this heartless entrepreneur named Srey Sothea because KJE himself is a plantation owner who is probably guilty of land-grabbing as well. One would wonder if he had come to Cambodia to help Cambodia or to exploit Cambodia and her people."
And in Ka-Set.info, KJE has further revealed his inner self with these comments:
“As deplorable as the fate of the evicted people is, Khmer, both at home and abroad, obviously don't care too much about this as this is something that doesn't happen in their backyard. Likewise the 'barangs' who don't really care too much about the plight of the poor in their own countries but who are so vociferous in their indignation about events in Cambodia. One of the most outspoken ones lately has been the director from Bridges Across Southeast Asia, David Pred. But one is left to wonder what these people really want to accomplish with their protests, or whether those public outcries only serve to further their own agenda, whatever that may be. BASA is such a small operation, effectively a two-man show, that they really can't hope to have much impact. This is not to say that there shouldn't be any protests and people should be resigned to these events, but one would hope for a little more local participation besides the affected evictees. Even the opposition parties more or less pay only lip service. Maybe the local population secretly think that Dey Krahom needed to be erased?”
KJE’s comments touched my nerves that prompted my somewhat irritated response below:
“Equally, it is deplorable to see a 'barang' such as KJE, Klaus J.Engelhardt to be exact, condemning those who condemned the inhuman evictions of the hapless Dey Krohorm dwellers. KJE, who described himself as a rubber plantation owner, is probably guilty of land-grabbing himself. He is a known supporter of the Cambodian People's Party as he is a beneficiary of its policy of robbing from the poor to give to the rich. He has gone as far as defending the corruption and human right abuses such as the evictions at Dey Krahorm. It is a shame really.
Most of barangs, KJE being the exception, are disgusted to see the hapless dwellers being inhumanly evicted by a heartless so-called entrepreneur the like of Srey Sothea. In the eyes of KJE, David Pred, Amnesty International and the UN are enemies of progress due to their oppositions to forced evictions. One would wonder if KJE, who owned businesses and plantation in Cambodia, has done a good service to Cambodia and her people or he has come to Cambodia to exploit Cambodia and her people. I think he falls into the latter category.”
As not to be outsmarted by my comments, KJE retorted by calling me an “ultra-nationalist” and a “revanchist” who knows nothing. He further attacked me and Ki-Media for distorting the truth and engaging in libelous slanders. Here is his angry response to my comments:
“Khmerization's comment is one fine example of how many overseas, arch-conservative Khmer, especially the ones represented on KI-Media, distort and slant their 'reports' and comments on the internet, even resorting to baseless and libelous accusations. Nothing is further from the truth than what is claimed in his comment. It is clear this ultra-nationalist (revanchist in old left wing 'politico speak') doesn't know reality from fiction. How can he, observing matters and events from 2,000 or 3,000 miles away? Objectivity is an unknown term to him. Questioning the veracity of certain NGOs is legitimate as experts consider 95% of them to be superfluous. Please refer the article in Asia Times Online of Nov. 14, 2008. Nobody questions the work of AI, Oxfam, TI, or other reputable organizations. What this Khmerization, however, fails to address is the fact that obviously homeland Khmer don't pay
much attention to these matters, which after all was the subject of my comment.”
KJE has accused my writings as lacking objectivity which is absent in his writings, as one can see in his blog. His last paragraph in the above statement has proved my arguments from all along that Cambodia is what it is today- poor and dictatorial - because the “homeland Khmer” - the present leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), including Prime Minister Hun Sen, never pay any attentions to any critiques or ideas. The egotistical and self-centred CPP leaders, abetted and supported by the likes of KJE, only care about their power, money and the rich and neglected the poor like the slum-dwellers of Dey Krohorm.
I, like many other justice lovers, am convinced that Dey Krohorm residents are the rightful owners of their lands and homes as some of them have settled there since 1979. The lands at Dey Krohorm is worth between $3,500-$4,000/m2. One would imagine that each family in Dey Krohorm would own from between 20-50 square metres. If they own 50m2, they should receive $200,000 (50m2*$4,000/m2) in compensation, not the pittance $15,000-$20,000 offered by 7NG. Now it appears that they will end up with nothing or just a house 16km outside of Phnom Penh that is worth around $3,000-$4,000 each. As a result the 7NG’s eviction of the Dey Krohorm slum-dwellers is the grand theft of the century.
