Photos © John Brown All Rights Reserved
Back on Friday, May 15th, 2009 when I posted Photographs Of Cambodia's Housing And Horrendous Living Conditions, I had no idea that just a few days later a story related to this issue would appear in the May 21st, 2009 edition of the Phnom Penh Post.
In the article, an official of the Hun Sen led government would claim that people such as those depicted in my photographs are defrauding money from wealthy land development companies in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Last month, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told an audience in Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.A "the squatters always demand money. When they get the money, they go build another hut to live in, then demand money again. They are professional squatters", according to media reports.
Why were these comments made in Lowell MA, of all places? Lowell is home to roughly 30,000 expatriated Cambodians, many of whom monitor political and social developments in their homeland.
Further, on May 21st, 2009 Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Mann Chhoeun told the Post that many squatters are not legitimate residents of the neighborhoods they claim to live in. "There are some professional squatters in Phnom Penh, and these squatters get compensation ... and then return to grab other land in order to seek other compensation," he claimed.
Now you have to hand it to these two government officials. Obviously they know how to conduct a coordinated media campaign designed to win the "hearts and minds" of Cambodians no matter where they live. Since the term "professional squatters" was used by both men, it's apparent neither slept through any of their "Propaganda 101" classes.
How about your own heart and mind, or those of housing rights advocates? Is the Cambodian government winning the "War On Squatters"? In the words of rights advocates the answer seems to be no.
Thun Saray, president of the Cambodian rights group Adhoc was quoted in the Phnom Penh Post article, saying, "The government's "professional squatters" are usually victims of inadequate relocation packages that give them little choice but to move on to places slated for development." Thun Saray continued, "When the government sends them to the outskirts, they cannot find a job," Thun Saray said. "They come back to Phnom Penh and try to find a place to live downtown, and then the government calls them ‘professional squatters'."
Other rights groups acknowledge that there are a few people who try to take advantage of eviction payouts, but that residents and NGOs refuse to help them. Dan Nicholson, the coordinator of the Center on Housing Rights Evictions' (COHRE) Asia and Pacific program, said in the Post article that contrary to Mann Chhoeun's comments, communities do not depend on NGOs.
"In all of the communities we have worked with, the driving force in the defense of people's rights has been the community itself," he said. Rachana Bunn at the Housing Rights Task Force said there might be a few opportunists but that Mann Chhoeun and Hor Namhong's comments are meant to distract attention away from the real victims.
"To state it like this is really inappropriate," she said. "The majority of people are real victims.... And in some cases, people who have a right to compensation don't receive compensation."
Residents of the Rik Reay community facing eviction say there were a small number of eviction speculators, but they were unsuccessful. Kong Sophea, a Rik Reay resident, said, "There were a few people who bought land and built a house in the location, thinking they would get compensation," adding that these people were "influential", but that they were unable to receive any money.
The Cambodian government is not alone in its criticisms of communities facing evictions. Hor Namhong and Mann Chhoeun's comments are similar to ones made by governments across Southeast Asia, according to Nicholson.
"Across the Asian region, it's not unusual for the government to vilify communities as professional squatters." No one was able to mention a specific case where a "professional squatter" received compensation.
So who is telling the truth here, the professional hut builders who use foraged plywood, plastic, paint cans, empty cement sacks and blankets to build their homes or the builders of large hotels, casinos, resorts and residential complexes who utilize exotic tropical wood, concrete, steel and glass?
All I can suggest is look at the photographs and my May 15th, 2009 post and decide who has captured your heart and mind for yourself.
John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
My Mondo Library Photography
My Photoshelter Photography Archive Homepage
In the article, an official of the Hun Sen led government would claim that people such as those depicted in my photographs are defrauding money from wealthy land development companies in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Last month, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told an audience in Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.A "the squatters always demand money. When they get the money, they go build another hut to live in, then demand money again. They are professional squatters", according to media reports.
Why were these comments made in Lowell MA, of all places? Lowell is home to roughly 30,000 expatriated Cambodians, many of whom monitor political and social developments in their homeland.
Further, on May 21st, 2009 Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Mann Chhoeun told the Post that many squatters are not legitimate residents of the neighborhoods they claim to live in. "There are some professional squatters in Phnom Penh, and these squatters get compensation ... and then return to grab other land in order to seek other compensation," he claimed.
Now you have to hand it to these two government officials. Obviously they know how to conduct a coordinated media campaign designed to win the "hearts and minds" of Cambodians no matter where they live. Since the term "professional squatters" was used by both men, it's apparent neither slept through any of their "Propaganda 101" classes.
How about your own heart and mind, or those of housing rights advocates? Is the Cambodian government winning the "War On Squatters"? In the words of rights advocates the answer seems to be no.
Thun Saray, president of the Cambodian rights group Adhoc was quoted in the Phnom Penh Post article, saying, "The government's "professional squatters" are usually victims of inadequate relocation packages that give them little choice but to move on to places slated for development." Thun Saray continued, "When the government sends them to the outskirts, they cannot find a job," Thun Saray said. "They come back to Phnom Penh and try to find a place to live downtown, and then the government calls them ‘professional squatters'."
Other rights groups acknowledge that there are a few people who try to take advantage of eviction payouts, but that residents and NGOs refuse to help them. Dan Nicholson, the coordinator of the Center on Housing Rights Evictions' (COHRE) Asia and Pacific program, said in the Post article that contrary to Mann Chhoeun's comments, communities do not depend on NGOs.
"In all of the communities we have worked with, the driving force in the defense of people's rights has been the community itself," he said. Rachana Bunn at the Housing Rights Task Force said there might be a few opportunists but that Mann Chhoeun and Hor Namhong's comments are meant to distract attention away from the real victims.
"To state it like this is really inappropriate," she said. "The majority of people are real victims.... And in some cases, people who have a right to compensation don't receive compensation."
Residents of the Rik Reay community facing eviction say there were a small number of eviction speculators, but they were unsuccessful. Kong Sophea, a Rik Reay resident, said, "There were a few people who bought land and built a house in the location, thinking they would get compensation," adding that these people were "influential", but that they were unable to receive any money.
The Cambodian government is not alone in its criticisms of communities facing evictions. Hor Namhong and Mann Chhoeun's comments are similar to ones made by governments across Southeast Asia, according to Nicholson.
"Across the Asian region, it's not unusual for the government to vilify communities as professional squatters." No one was able to mention a specific case where a "professional squatter" received compensation.
So who is telling the truth here, the professional hut builders who use foraged plywood, plastic, paint cans, empty cement sacks and blankets to build their homes or the builders of large hotels, casinos, resorts and residential complexes who utilize exotic tropical wood, concrete, steel and glass?
All I can suggest is look at the photographs and my May 15th, 2009 post and decide who has captured your heart and mind for yourself.
John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
My Mondo Library Photography
My Photoshelter Photography Archive Homepage
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