Friday, September 12, 2008 Cambodia’s ‘phantom citizens’
Andong (Photo: Carole Vann)Human Rights Tribune 12 September 08 - With cheap manpower and generalized corruption, Cambodia is a Garden of Eden for Asian companies. Several thousand citizens have been forcibly expelled to make room for gigantic commercial centers or casinos. Carole Vann/Human Rights Tribune – In front of the shed lies an old metal bedframe, completely rusted. On top, a hodgepodge of pots and pans, clothes, plastic cups and plates, some knives and spoons. Further on, a hammock has been nailed to a wall. ‘We must take the essentials if they set fire to the neighborhood,’ explains Malai, a lovely woman in a sarong, who lives nearby with her husband and three children. ‘They’ are the Cambodian authorities.On the banks of Boeng Kak lake, in the suburbs of Phnom Penh, the neighborhood is poor, there is no sanitation, everything flows into the lake.Homes are wooden huts attached to each other with beaten earth for floors. Here 4,250 families have lived for years in a sort of eviction repreive. They know that one day, very soon, they will be expelled by force. An improvement project will fill in the lake and transformer the place into a gigantic commercial zone with deluxe appartments. One and a half years ago, the municipality of Phnom Penh granted a 99 year least to a South Korean company (Shukaku) for the entire lake and its banks.‘They have offered us several thousand dollars if we leave voluntarily, explained Malia. But the price of land is exorbitant. Rents also. It’s not enough to relocate us.’ Malai is a seamstress working at home, her husband unemployed. Like all their neighbors, they are refusing to leave.Malai, her family and the inhabitants of Bang Kak are among 70,000 Cambodians – of 150,000 across the country acording to Amnesty International – threatened with forced eviction. ‘If they refuse to leave, the authorities come and set fire to their homes, beat the inhabitants and arrest those who protest,’ said Kek Galabru, founder of LICADHO, one of two main organizations (along with ADHOC ) defending human rights in Cambodia. Last year, in Sihanoukvile (a southern port city), the military police arrived at dawn with automatic rifles, electric prods and bulldozers. They set fire to the houses and brutalized the inhabitants.’The events in Sihanoukville shocked the Cambodian press [?], so violent was the repression. ‘The men were detained and forced to sign release papers before being freed’ added Kek Galabru.This Khmer, married to a Frenchman, is a figurehead in the Cambodian human rights movement. She is one of the rare persons who has dated, at the risk of her life, to denounce the disfunctions in her country.According to her, the problem with forced evictions is that it is a delayed bomb for the country. The problem is linked to the modern history of the country. At the end of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, people returned to their villages. They settled on their small plots of land and refused to budge. In 2001 a tax law came into force that stipulated that anyone living on a piece of land, uncontested by others, for five years, would become a landowner. But to get a deed to the property proved an unending battle. A multitude of officials had to be appeased, something most people could not afford.The tax law also stated that the state could requisition land for ‘community development’. But the government plays with these terms. Luxury commercial centers, unaffordable to the majority of Kmers, are thus labeled in the public interest, to the point that the public wants to hear no more about ‘development’.Kek Galabru and Thoun Saray, the President of ADHOC, were in Geneva last week to bring their story to the 9th session of the Human Rights Council. Amnesty International and the Geneva based NGO, COHRE (Center on Housing Rights and Evictions) consider that forcing evictions and confiscating land is high on the list of current problems in Cambodia.More than 100,000 people were dislodged in the capital over the past ten years. The conditions in which they were rehoused are also tragic. Families find themselves parachuted miles from their villages onto vast open spaces. In February, 100 families were transferred by force from Sabok Tchap, a quarter in Phnbom Penh, to Andong, a no-man’s land located 30 kilometers from the capital. Each family received a 12x5 meter parcel of land, no water, no electricity, no sewers. When it rained the terrain was transformed into mud and filth.No work, no schools, no medical centers and no transport. And no property deed either. The state can retake this land at any moment. Isolated from everything, the relocated people have become ‘phantom citizens’, deprived of all elementary rights, according to Thoun Saray.Translated from French by Pamela Taylor-----------UN complaints, government denials There has been no love lost between Cambodia and the Secretary General’s human rights representatives for a long time. Whether the current Rapporteur, Yash Ghai, or his predecessors, the government of Hun Sen has always reluctantly received this arm of the UN that was negotiated during the Paris accords of 1991.During the current session of the Human Rights Council, at the demand of Cambodia, the mandate of the UN expert will replaced by that of a Special Rapporteur for Cambodia. The difference ? The first is nominated by the Secretary General who submits his report to the General Assembly in New York while the second is appointed by member states of the Human Rights Council and reported to Geneva.This change increases concerns among human rights defenders who fear that reports delivered in Geneva don’t have the same impact as those destined for New York.The main Khmer NGOs have come in force to Geneva to demand support from member states that the mandate of the Special Rapporteur not be modified. Japan (a main supporter) is shuttling between the Khmer Mission and the militants to reach a resolution acceptable to both sides.‘We want the resolution to mention the necessity for strict cooperation between the Special Rapporteur and the government and that the government agrees to implement the recommendations of the Rapporteur’, said Kek Galabru.Carole Vann/HRT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: WHEN THE KHMER KING BECOMES A KING OF THIEVES TO PRESIDE A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF VIET INVADERSDate: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:33:16 -0700 LOOK TO THE KHMER SUFFERINGS WHEN THE KHMER KING BECOMES A KING OF THIEVES .®sþIeQµaHKg; sar:m erobrab;BIkareXIjGBÖÚtehtu ¬rUbft vnßa¦ IN CAMBODIA OCCUPIED BY VIETNAM 1979-2008 ? CAMBODIA OCCUPIED BY VIETNAM 1979-2008 in violations of the UN charter and 10 UN resolutions And here we have this :AKP/01 Cambodian King Convenes the First Meeting of Parliamentary Members Phnom Penh, September 10, 2008 AKP -- His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni has officially convened 123 newly-elected parliamentary members to hold the first meeting of the fourth-ever National Assembly as scheduled on Sept. 24.2008 Kingʼs invitation letters were recently sent to all the political parties, which have the National Assemblyʼs seats. The king shall convene 123 newly-elected members of the parliament to hold the first meeting of the fourth-ever National Assembly, said Cheam Yeap, a member of parliament from the Cambodian Peopleʼs Party (CPP), referring to an article 76 of the Kingdomʼs Constitution. If any parliamentary members from the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party boycott the parliament gathering, they will have to take responsibility for themselves, he said. According to the Kingdomʼs Constitution, following the fourth meeting of the National Assembly chaired by His Majesty the King, the National Assembly will proceed to conduct a meeting under the presidency of the oldest Member of Parliament, who is expected to be Chea South from CPP, aged more than 80, with a support by five youngest members of the National Assembly, served as secretaries. According to the final official results of the National Election Committee (NEC), the Cambodian Peopleʼs Party (CPP) won 90 seats, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) 26, the Human Rights Party (HRP) 3, the Funcinpec Party 2, and the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) 2 seats. --AKP (By Mr. THOU Peou) THE FACTS IGNORED BY KING SIHAMONI .1. Cheam Yeap,( VIETNAMESE ) a member of parliament from the Cambodian Peopleʼs Party (CPP), referring to an article 76 of the Kingdomʼs Constitution. HOW MANY VIETNAMESE LIKE CHEAM YEAP , WEARING THE CPP "CAMBODIAN " LABEL as Parliamentary Members that this King ignores ?2. this similar wrong view expressed by a US senator as follows : Dear Mr. Keo:"As you probably know, Prime Minister Hun Sen was declared the winner of Cambodiaʼs recent elections, and the ruling Cambodian Peopleʼs Party (CCP) won a total of 90 out of 123 possible seats. This yearʼs elections were monitored by international observers, including 47 teams from the U.S. embassy. As you mentioned in your letter, observers identified problems involving CCP domination over the airwaves, particularly among private television stations, and over voter access to polling stations. However, observers also reported considerable improvements compared to previous elections in Cambodia, and they commended efforts to reconcile local election complaints by the National Election Committee and to eliminate hundreds of thousands of "ghost voters" from the voter registration list. I believe that the U.S. should continue to do what it can to ensure that any unresolved problems with the Cambodian elections are addressed, and I will continue to support policies that keep Cambodia on a steady path toward improving transparency and accountability in government, strengthening civil society, and reducing corruption.Thank you again for keeping me advised of your views. Letʼs stay in touch.Sincerely,Sheldon" THE US SENATOR SEEMS TO OMIT RAISING THIS ISSUE ?THAT PRESENTLY CAMBODIA REMAINS OCCUPIED BY VIETNAM against 10 UN resolutions calling Vietnam to cease her occupation of Cambodia. Brief history :Jan. 11, 1979 The UN Security Council agreed, over the objections of the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia, to let Prince Norodom Sihanouk present a demand for the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces from Cambodia. Oct. 21, 1986 The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/41/6, by vote of 116-21 with 13 abstentions, calling for a withdrawal of Vietnamese forces from Cambodia. THE US SENATOR FORGETS TO READ THIS FROM THE US CONGRESS RECORDS ?US congress : Aug. 8, 1988 U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution H.J.RES.602 declaring that all parties seeking a settlement of the conflict in Cambodia, including the U.S., should have among their highest priorities the restoration of an independent Cambodia and the protection of the Cambodian people from a return to power by the Khmer Rouge. Calls on Vietnam to withdraw its forces from Cambodia and deny haven to the Khmer Rouge. Declare that the U.S. and the international community should use all means available to prevent a return to power of Pol Pot. Oct. 6, 1988 U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution H.CON.RES.303, among others, urging the Vietnamese government to cease its occupation of Cambodia.. US President Oct. 11, 1988 President Ronald Reagan met with Prince Sihanouk at the White House. Nov. 3, 1988 The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/43/19 reiterating its call for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cambodia. 10 UN RESOLUTIONS, (1979-1988) VOTED BY 116 UN MEMBER COUNTRIES ,CALL VIETNAM TO CEASE HER OCCUPATION OF CAMBODIA & REMOVE ALL HER TROOPS FROM THE COUNTRY ARE NOT RESPECTED. America calls Vietnam to restore Cambodia Independence .President Reagan's address to the 43d Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, New York . September 26, 1988. "Mr. Secretary-General, there are new hopes for Cambodia, a nation whose freedom and independence we seek just as avidly as we sought thefreedom and independence of Afghanistan. We urge the rapid removal of all Vietnamese troops ...." KING SIHAMONIʼS BETRAYAL ACTS, WHILE FAILING TO HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE , THE KING OF CAMBODIA SHOWS THAT HE IS BECOMING THE REAL VIETNAMESE PUPPET FROM FATHER TO SON . WORSE HE IS BECOMING THE PARTNER IN CRIMES WITH THE VIETNAMESE INVADERS OF HIS NATION IN VIOLATION OF THE UN CHARTER . THE KING'S ACTS HERE ARE PURE FRAUD . AT RF INTERVIEW MR. SAM RAINSY CALLED THIS 4TH LEGISLATURE IN CAMBODIA AS THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THIEVES, OF DEAD VOTERS, VIETNAMESE INVADERS OR in Cambodian language "roath sophea chor, roath sophea khmoch, roth sophea Yuon" When King Sihamoni comes to proside it on September 24 , 2008, the King will become THE KING OF THIEVES, KING OG DEAD VOTERS, OF VIETNAMESE INVADERS? BURY </html_________________________________________________________________ See how Windows Mobile brings your life together—at home, work, or on the go. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093182mrt/direct/01/ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
