Armed force burns down the homes of poor villagers to forcibly evict them from the area

(Amnesty International) Around 100 soldiers, police, military police and Forestry Administration officials forcibly evicted around 300 families in Ta Ken commune, Chhuk District in the province of Kampot on 17 and 18 November.

November 17th around 130 houses in a village in Kampot Province were burnt down by the mixed force. The next day they returned and burnt down the remaining 170 houses.

The villagers did not receive any prior notification of the eviction, which appears to have taken place without any legal eviction order. The families living in the village are poor farmers, some have now lost all their belongings in the fires. Representatives of the authorities have said the village lies within a protected area of forest, but observers say the boundaries of that area are unclear. The land is very fertile and attractive for business interest.

As a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and other international human rights treaties which prohibit forced eviction and related human rights violations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Cambodia has an obligation to stop forced evictions and to protect the population from forced evictions.

Tens of thousands Cambodians have already been forcibly evicted in recent years, many left homeless, others relocated to inadequate resettlement sites with poor infrastructure, lacking basic amenities including sanitation, and with limited access to work opportunities. Individuals and groups with political or economic power are allowed to act with impunity in arbitrarily expropriating land.

Send immediate appeals to Cambodian ministers. Write your own or use my letter:

Dear Minister,

It has come to my knowledge that 300 poor families from Anlong Krom village was forcibly evicted on the 17-18 November. I am very concerned at the eviction and the destruction of their homes, and urge You to immediately provide emergency relief, including adequate shelter, food, clean water and medical assistance.

I further call on You to proceed with concrete steps to ensure they receive adequate reparation, including adequate alternative accommodation and compensation, and urge You to undertake a full, effective and independent inquiry into the legality of the forced eviction and the violence by members of the mixed force, following which those responsible should be brought to justice.

I finally call on the authorities to end all forced evictions and declare and enforce a moratorium for all mass evictions until legislative and policy measures are in place to ensure that evictions are conducted only in full compliance with international human rights laws and standards.

As a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and other international human rights treaties which prohibit forced eviction and related human rights violations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Cambodia has an obligation to stop forced evictions and to protect the population from forced evictions.

Respectfully and sincerely,

Name, Address

Addresses to the ministers are to be found here.

Placebo concert at Angkor Wat

AFP reports that British rock band Placebo will headline a concert at Angkor Wat December 7. The gig is a part of the anti-trafficking MTV Exit campaign.

Phnom Penh Post reports that the MTV Exit Campaign will kick off on Saturday in Sihanoukville. After the last gig in Cambodia, on December 12, the tour will continue on to other Asian countries.


Other blogposts (in Swedish) about Kambodja, Placebo, MTV Exit Campaign

Gunnar in the living hell

The Swedish former maoist Gunnar Bergström returns to Cambodia for the first time since 1978 when he was one of four in a Swedish delegation from the Sweden-Kampuchea Friendship Association invited to visit Cambodia. At the time he believed that Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge was on their way to transform Cambodia into a fairer society benefiting the poor. Radio Australia reports that "he also saw things which caused him disquiet. It took him six months to talk about them and thirty years before he could return to the country and fully face his mistake". Radio Australia also publishes an interview with Bergström. He returns to Cambodia to apologize and also to donate his archives from the 1978 trip. The photos that he took will be exhibited in the exhibition "Gunnar in the living hell". According to Inter Press Service the exhibition will be shown in different cities in Cambodia and is planned to be on display in Stockholm in September next year.


Another blogpost about the exhibition: Livin Hell.

Other blogposts (in Swedish) about Kambodja, Gunnar Bergström, Vänskapsföreningen Sverige-Kampuchea

Thailand and Cambodia marking out border

BBC News reports that Thailand and Cambodia have started to marking out their common border near the Preah Vihear temple. After the meeting between the foreign ministers they seemed very relaxed. According to BBC News both foreign ministers expressed great satisfaction with their achievements.

However, BBC News added, that all they actually agreed on was to start to work for a deal in the border, and to scale down the armed force around the temple.

Other blogposts about the conflict.


Other blogposts (in Swedish) about: Kambodja, Preah Vihear,

Festival creates challenges for the capital

Phnom Penh Post reports how the great number of people coming to Phnom Penh for the Waterfestival will create challenges for the city.

Close ally to Hun Sen killed

(AFP) Police Chief Hok Lundy, who was a close ally to Hun Sen, was killed in a chopper crash Sunday Evening. The crash was caused by bad weather according to ministry of interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak.

Hok Lundy was accused of involvement in drug trafficking, trafficking prostitutes and politically motivated killings, and internationally critised for alleged human rights abuses and corruption. Last year Human Rights Watch said Hok Lundy "represents the absolute worst that Cambodia has to offer".


Other blogposts (in Swedish) about Kambodja, Hok Lundy

Water Festival might lead to gross abuses of human rights

Radio Australia reports that human rights group LICHADO is worried that the upcoming Water Festival, Bon Oum Tuk might see a surge of illegal detentions and abuses for homeless people and sex workers in Phnom Penh. LICADHO'S director, Naly Pilorge states that during public holidays and particularly during Bon Oum Tuk, the Cambodian Government "wishes to maintain its image of the 'Kingdom of Wonder' and therefore the government continues to detain people who they believe contradict that image".

According to LICHADO there are several camps in Cambodia, which the government claims are volontary "Social Rehabilitation Centres", that in reality are illegal prisons that keep the poorest off the street. LICHADO has interviewed former detainees who have described the terrible situation at the camps. Naly Pilorge, says "We have allegations of gang rapes and sexual abuse. We also have information about beatings, very severe beatings leading to the death of people" reports Radio Australia.


Other blogposts (in Swedish) about Kambodja, Water Festival, Bon Oum Tuk, LICHADO, human rights


But last week LICADHO monitors gained access to a facility in Kampong Speu province.

New border talks somewhat successful

Phnom Penh Post reports that troops have withdrawn from the disputed temple area at Preah Vihear. AFP reports that a new meeting between the Cambodian and Thai officials was successful in moving forward towards a solution of the border conflict, according to Va Kimhong, head of Cambodia's border committee. He told reporters that agreements about how to move forward had been made, reports AFP. The countries foreign ministers are scheduled to meet on Wednesday.


Other blogposts about the conflict.


Other blogposts (in Swedish) about: Kambodja, Preah Vihear,

Unesco to Preah Vihear

According to Phnom Penh Post a Unesco delegation will begin marking out the boundary of the Preah Vihear temple. Cambodian military officials have said that they will protect the Unesco team, and that the security is good.

Other blogposts about the conflict.


Other blogposts (in Swedish) about: Kambodja, Preah Vihear,