People in Dey Kraham living in the street after the houses they rented were demolished.By Guy De Launey
BBC News, Phnom Penh
2006/08/20
Human rights groups in Cambodia have criticised the increasing number of evictions from slum communities in the capital, Phnom Penh.
The authorities have moved thousands of families from city centre land over recent weeks.
Rights workers say conditions at the relocation sites are poor.
But the municipal government says many of the slum dwellers are squatters and that development and modernisation make the moves necessary.
Hard choice
Phnom Penh has seen evictions before - but on nothing like this scale.
Since May, the authorities have cleared several well-established slum communities.
More than 3,000 families have had to leave their homes - and thousands more are set to follow.
On Wednesday, police moved into one slum community during the night and dismantled dozens of dwellings.
The action has continued into the weekend.
Most of the displaced residents have been offered plots of land on relocation sites up to 30km (19 miles) away from their former homes.
But transport costs mean that travelling to work in the city is unviable for most.
That leaves residents with a choice between unemployment or squatting at a new location in Phnom Penh.
Rights workers say access to running water, sewage and electricity at the relocation sites is limited or non-existent.
And the downpours of the rainy season mean the situation is getting worse.
The municipal authorities say that many of the slum-dwellers have no legal right to occupy the land.
One official said the evictions would allow the "beautification" of the city.
Property developers plan to build luxury apartments and shopping centres on the sites of the slums.
Click here to view a recent video of the living condition in Dey Kraham
The authorities have moved thousands of families from city centre land over recent weeks.
Rights workers say conditions at the relocation sites are poor.
But the municipal government says many of the slum dwellers are squatters and that development and modernisation make the moves necessary.
Hard choice
Phnom Penh has seen evictions before - but on nothing like this scale.
Since May, the authorities have cleared several well-established slum communities.
More than 3,000 families have had to leave their homes - and thousands more are set to follow.
On Wednesday, police moved into one slum community during the night and dismantled dozens of dwellings.
The action has continued into the weekend.
Most of the displaced residents have been offered plots of land on relocation sites up to 30km (19 miles) away from their former homes.
But transport costs mean that travelling to work in the city is unviable for most.
That leaves residents with a choice between unemployment or squatting at a new location in Phnom Penh.
Rights workers say access to running water, sewage and electricity at the relocation sites is limited or non-existent.
And the downpours of the rainy season mean the situation is getting worse.
The municipal authorities say that many of the slum-dwellers have no legal right to occupy the land.
One official said the evictions would allow the "beautification" of the city.
Property developers plan to build luxury apartments and shopping centres on the sites of the slums.
Click here to view a recent video of the living condition in Dey Kraham
4 comments:
In the name of progress, the poor Cambodian people must suffer!
Extremely extremely poor planing Mr. Phnom Pehn Governor!
Sure! you are getting paid to beautify the city, but cann't you think any better than The Khmer Rouge?
Our people's safety, security and well being is in your very hand MR!
and where are the The Cambodian Red Cross Ladies? Mrs. Bunrany or Princess Marie, if I was you , I would go out there right now and do whatever I can to help our very poor and unfurtunately people to the best of my ability.
Please don't suggest to us that Mrs. Toulong Samoura should be the honorary lady instead. We know that she could be your first runner up and I wouldn't doubt that Mrs. Sam Rainsy could do a much better job than you! Now get out there and save our people!
To 2:33p.m
You are one true ape of the east!
To 5:30PM
Sorry it is a poor choice of words! What I meant to say is "Why Cambodian people have to suffer in the name of progress!"
Talking about ape? There are great apes! There are ape like creatures! There are big foot!
I am more of a big foot! People can get a glimpse of me from time to time but they will never get the hold of the real me!
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