Nightmare at Dey Krahorm: Forced Eviction in the Heart of Phnom Penh

The heavy machinery tearing down houses at Dey Krahorm, while police and 7NG workers look on

LICADHO
Published on February 8, 2009

In the early morning hours of Saturday January 24, 2009 approximately 500 demolition workers escorted by 300 mixed police in full riot gear surrounded the community of Dey Krahorm. Their mission, to forcibly evict the approximately 400 families that were living on the disputed land in the heart of Phnom Penh.

At 6am the police armed with electric and steel batons, wooden sticks, tear gas, water cannons and guns moved towards the remaining Dey Khrahorm families who had erected barricades and stood defiantly in front of their houses. The police were able to brake through the villagers' lines and disburse them with the use of tear gas, water cannons and rubber projectiles.

In a matter of hours the demolition workers completely destroyed the remaining houses and market stalls located in the community, in many cases bulldozing the personal belongings and documents of the residents into the ground, before the families were able to rescue them.At least 18 people were injured included 5 seriously during the forced eviction.

Testimonies of the Dey Krahorm villagers

"After they destroyed [our home], we only had the clothes on our body. We were brought by truck to Damnak Trayoeng [relocation site]. They dumped us in the field with no shelter. Some of us poor villagers do not have any money, not even 100 Riel (USD$0.02).

Some organizations wanted to donate the materials but the company [7NG] said that there was no need to interfere with their business - they can deal with it. In fact, yesterday the company [7NG] gave gifts but some people did not receive anything and in offensive language they said that they did not give to people who opposed [7NG]. They only gave to other people and their relatives in front of the TV cameras while the people were saying thank you. I am suffering and feel very miserable. All of you can go to the relocation site and you will see."

"I have been cruelly beaten up like an animal and kicked like a ball. The injuries on my body are the evidence. My wife is seven months pregnant. Now, we have no house and no possessions.

This land [concession] which was granted by Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2003, the Phnom Penh municipal also came and told us that the Prime Minister Hun Sen had granted the land to us, it is gold, it is diamond, do not get cheated by the company, do not get the diamond exchanged with stone. Now, the Phnom Penh municipal went back on their word and cooperated with the 7NG company getting excavators to dismantle villagers' houses and properties. They assaulted us, I myself am the evidence. They sprayed tear gas, we were prevented from putting our belongings on the truck instead the excavators destroyed them. It was even more cruel than Pol Pot."

"Yesterday, [at the relocation site] I asked for one rice card from the distributor, they said that I am rubbish and that I was to be thrown away. "You cannot come here today or tomorrow if you still come I won't give rice to you". I knelt in front of them, to please give me one rice card.I don't have rice to eat, my house has been completely demolished my house, and my belongings were damaged and my children dropped out from school.

Why do they harm residents like me? They dumped me in the field, in the sun, no roof, no tarpaulin, and no water, no nothing……I don't have rice in my stomach from Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday even 100 riel in my pocket. Please national and international guests and also Samdech Heng Samrin, Samdech Hun Sen, please help! help the Khmer people, Khmer Nation. Why do they kill Khmer people in the centre of Phnom Penh like this? In Pol Pot regime, they had beaten me once already and put me into a hole but now they still beat me again ... I am very suffering I haven't got anything not even hope."

Compensation and relocation

Having finally evicted all the Dey Krahorm residents, 7NG now refuses to provide any monetary compensation to the evicted house owners. Insisting that instead it will only provide apartments at the Damnak Trayeoung relocation site 16 kms outside of Phnom Penh. The apartments at the new site are still unfinished, with no roofs, toilets or kitchens. The site has no basic infrastructure, lacks drinking water and no school, health clinic or markets are nearby.

According to a survey by NGOs, there are at least 335 families, comprising 1,238 people, camped there. They include 488 children, 16 pregnant women and 19 women who are breastfeeding babies. Conditions at the site are extremely poor, with inadequate food, water, toilets and medical services. Many families do not have even a tarpaulin to protect themselves from the elements.

The evicted home owners who are still holding out for compensation are now asking for only $20,000 per house – the last offer that 7NG made to them but which it now refuses to give. "These people have lost homes and land worth $3,000 to $5,000 per square meter, at market rates, at Dey Krahorm - the very least the company can do now is to pay a fraction of that to them in compensation for the loss of their homes," said Naly Pilorge, Director of LICADHO.

Background

Dey Krahorm located in the riverside area of Tonle Bassac in Phnom Penh, was one of three Phnom Penh communities nominated for a social land concession in the lead-up to the national election in 2003. The two other communities were the Borei Keila and the Railway Site communities. These social land concessions were meant to grant ownership of the land partly to poor communities living on the land and partly to construction companies in exchange for their development of the entire land site.

Community representatives have been alleging that in 2004, village chiefs Kim Yen and Pan Narith, signed an agreement with 7NG, stating that villagers would relocate to Damnak Trayeung commune in Dangkor district, in exchange for 7NG's full rights to develop the entire Dey Krahorm area. Community representatives claim that the village chiefs had no authority to make the agreement as they did not have prior approval. However over the years the majority of Dey Krahorm's residents had relocated or accepted compensation and only the 400 families remained.

The lucrative Dey Krahorm land, which has an estimated value of more than US$44 million, is to be developed by 7NG into town houses and office space.

LICADHO reiterates its call for the government and 7NG to immediately ensure that the humanitarian needs of those currently living at the relocation site are urgently met.