Cambodia: Borei Keila Settlement

January 12, 2012 – In early 2003, Phnom Penh’s Borei Keila settlement became a test case for a new model on relocation of Cambodia’s urban poor. At least 1,770 families lived on prime land near the city center, which authorities wanted to redevelop. The residents did not want to leave their homes.

As part of a compromise, the parties came to a “land-sharing” agreement, with the construction corporation, Phan Imex, to build 10 buildings to host all of Borei Keila residents in exchange for being allowed to commercially develop the remaining 2.6 hectares of land.

In April 2010, Phan Imex unilaterally reneged on the agreement, having only constructed eight buildings, leaving roughly 300 Borei Keila families excluded from the original agreement. On January 3, 2012, Phan Imex proceeded to destroy these homes with the help of armed state forces.

On 11 January, 30 women and children in Cambodia were arrested in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh, for protesting against this forced eviction.

Boeung Kak Lake

In 2007, almost 4,000 families living near Boeung Kak Lake were stripped of their housing rights. After women-led groups conducted intensive lobbying, the municipality agreed to give land to some families, but arbitrarily left others homeless. Developer Shukaku Inc. has now torn down the remaining homes to start development. LICADHO released this video at our Asia Pacific Regional Consultation on “Women’s Right to Development” with UN Special Procedure Mandate Holders in October.  It looks at three incidents showing the impact on women within communities affected by forced evictions. These abuses are perpetrated in the name of “development”.

21 January 2012: Further violence as military shoots land protesters in Northeastern Cambodia: Click here for more information

25 January 2012: The Phnom Penh Post:  Evictees unite for anniversary