John Vink Tumbles

Free the 15

Boeung Kak Lake is not deterred in its resistance. Backed by Human Rights NGO’s and individuals, it staged a demonstration in front of the National Assembly. The demonstration was cautiously observed from the sidewalk by Venerable Luon Sovath despite the risks of him being arrested.

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 28/05/2012: Venerable Luon Sovath, a buddhist monk advocating Human Rights issues who was threatened to be defrocked by his superiors, at Boeung Kak Lake residents demonstrating in front of the National Assembly for the release of 15 of them arrested and condemned to 2 1/2 years of imprisonment a few days earlier.

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 28/05/2012: Boeung Kak Lake residents at a demonstration in front of the National Assembly for the release of 15 of them arrested and condemned to 2 1/2years of imprisonment a few days earlier.

Phenix befriends Naga

The Naga from Boeung Kak Lake was smothered but Phenix raises from its ashes again…

The Boeung Kak Lake community was hit hard by yesterdays convictions at the Municipal Court of Phnom Penh but today the community was restructuring again, discussing the replacement for the imprisoned representatives, organising a visit to Prey Sar prison…

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 25/05/2012: Boeung Kak Lake residents meeting to discuss further action after 13 of them were sent to prison.

Yesterday I wrote:

‘Yet another very bad blow for the Human Rights record of Cambodia.

Venerable Luon Sovath, the infatigable Human Rights monitor, present on all the major land evictions the past years, was invited by fellow monks to accompany them while he was monitoring a demonstration by Boeung Kak Lake residents at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, supporting 13 fellows arrested on May 22nd. Against his will, he was then forcibly dragged into a white SUV by plainclothes and uniformed policemen an whisked away…’

It seems it was not enough and that the authorities decided to try and break the perseverance of the Boeung Kak Lake residents in their protest about the development project of Shukaku Inc.. As far as I know 13 of them were sentenced to 2 1/2 years of imprisonment for trespassing public property and disorderly conduct. The 13 were arrrested on May 22nd during a peacefull protest.

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Venerable LUON Sovath, buddhist monk involved in monitoring land issues, being taken away by fellow monks and police during demonstration of Boeung Kak Lake residents supporting their 13 fellows arrested on May 22nd.

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Police controlling demonstration in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court by Boeung Kak Lake residents supporting their 13 fellows arrested on May 22nd.

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 24/05/2012: Boeung Kak Lake residents distressed after hearing the verdict for 13 of them arrested two days before for trespassing on public land and disorderly conduct: 2 1/2 years of imprisonment.

And a reminder: ‘Quest for Land’, 11 years of land issues in Cambodia for the iPad is available on iTunes… Here is the Youtube teaser…

Arrest Aftermath

The aftermath of yesterday’s 13 arrests is waiting. Waiting for hours in front of the Municipal Court of Phnom Penh, hoping for the release of the fellow Boeung Kak residents. Waiting for a phone call from the lawyer. Waiting for news. Waiting for something to happen.

I left too early…

It is something I should have learned by now… Never leave a demonstration before everyone is back home… It seems 13 Boeung Kak Lake residents were arrested after a protest where they tried to rebuild a home on the sand of the now filled lake. And I had left already.

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 22/05/2012: Members of the Boeung Kak Lake community trying to rebuild a house on the sand of the filled-in lake.

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 22/05/2012: Riot police moving in to prevent members of the Boeung Kak Lake community to rebuild a house on the sand of the filled-in lake.

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 22/05/2012: Security guards carrying away timber members of the Boeung Kak Lake community were going to use to rebuild a house on the sand of the filled-in lake.

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 22/05/2012: Evicted owner of a house at the Boeung Kak Lake community lying on the ground as a protest because he was prevented to rebuild a house on the sand of the filled-in lake.

(Source: johnvink.com)

Same Questions Over And Again…

The Boeung Kak Lake residents were at it again: asking the Municipality what’s happening with the delimitation of the promised 12,44ha for their on-site development. This time with umbrellas against the blistering heat and with food to sustain the siege…

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 21/05/2012: Members from the evicted Borei Keila community joining Boeung Kak Lake residents demonstrating again in front of the Phnom Penh Municipality about the delimitation of the land allotted to them for an on-site development next to the Shukaku Inc. concession which filled the Boeung Kak Lake.

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 21/05/2012: A tired TEP Vanny and fellow Boeung Kak Lake residents demonstrating again in front of the Phnom Penh Municipality about the delimitation of the land allotted to them for an on-site development next to the Shukaku Inc. concession which filled the Boeung Kak Lake.

And a reminder: ‘Quest for Land’, 11 years of land issues in Cambodia for the iPad is available on iTunes… Here is the Youtube teaser…

Back in 1989 it was called ‘Hatred Day’ (see this and the following 5 pictures). Today I don’t know for sure… But it takes place still. The surroundings have changed in 23 years, and now the parking lot is filled with big SUV’s. The trees have grown. The pits are shallower.

Initiated in 1984 by a regime seeking legitimacy, ‘Hatred Day’ (or ‘Anger Day’ today?)  commemorates the directive of collectivism declared by Pol Pot in 1975 during a meeting with all the CPK cadres in Phnom Penh. It was the day the nightmare began… The commemoration was stopped after the 1991 Paris Peace accords but was still attended to in the provinces. Phnom Penh reinstated it in 1999. It is the occasion for the ruling CPP (Cambodian People’s Party) to remind Cambodians that the party claims the victory over the Khmer Rouge, particularly now that the Communal Election campaign is under way.

CAMBODIA. Choeung Ek(Phnom Penh). 20/05/2012: Actors impersonating Khmer Rouge victims during ‘Hatred Day’ or ‘Anger Day’ commemoration by the ruling CPP (Cambodian People’s Party) at the ‘Killing Fields’ memorial of Choeung Ek.

CAMBODIA. Choeung Ek(Phnom Penh). 20/05/2012: Actors impersonating Khmer Rouge soldiers during ‘Hatred Day’ or ‘Anger Day’ commemoration by the ruling CPP (Cambodian People’s Party) at the ‘Killing Fields’ memorial of Choeung Ek.

CAMBODIA. Choeung Ek(Phnom Penh). 20/05/2012: KEP Chuktema, Governor of Phnom Penh, praying during ‘Hatred Day’ or ‘Anger Day’ commemoration by the ruling CPP (Cambodian People’s Party) at the ‘Killing Fields’ memorial of Choeung Ek.

CAMBODIA. Choeung Ek(Phnom Penh). 20/05/2012: Officials praying during ‘Hatred Day’ or ‘Anger Day’ commemoration by the ruling CPP (Cambodian People’s Party) at the ‘Killing Fields’ memorial of Choeung Ek.

The road to the ballots is open…

Well… hopefully it is for everyone.

Victory is going to be easy for some, difficult for others. Cambodia legally is still a democracy. Fine. But what is at stake is how not to be arrogant towards the loser…

CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 18/05/2012: First election campaign parades in Phnom Penh.

(Source: johnvink.com)

‘Quest for Land’ is available on iTunes… It has been a long 11-year road, but there it is, ready to be scrutinised by your eyes…The dice have rolled, the story doesn’t belong to me only anymore.

Here are a few mock-ups of what you can expect…

And here is a Youtube movie showing you how it works…