Forced evictions in Cambodia: Group 78
In the early hours of Friday morning 17 July 2009 authorities moved in and began the forced eviction of Group 78. Video by Sarin Prom.
Media presentation by Nick Axelrod 17 July 2009.
Media presentation by Nick Axelrod 5 July 2009.
The forced eviction of the remaining families living in the community known as Group 78 in central Phnom Penh ended 3:00 PM (local time) on 17 July 2009.
This web page brings together how the situation unfolded.
Over the previous 36 hours, after more coercive meetings at the Phnom Penh municipality, most of the families living in the community known as Group 78 decided to leave and accept the inadequate cash compensation offered, dismantling their own homes and leaving the site. They felt hopeless and left with no choice.
Over the past 18 hours, a team of Amnesty International staff have been working with the community themselves and other organisations to monitor and capture the situation.
8:00 PM Thursday 16 July (Melbourne, Australia)
Amnesty International Australia begin a planned response to the forced eviction of the remaining families living in the community known as Group 78
Amensty International staff based in London, Stockholm, Sydney and Melbourne have been on standby. The following 18 hours are spent working with the Group 78 community and other people and organisations to break the news internationally and monitor the situation.
10:00 PM Thursday 16 July
Most families evicted today
After more coersive meetings, most of the 60 families have decided to leave today. It wasn't until 24 hours later that the exact figure of 53 families was able to be established.
Thursday 16 July
Development Partners Call for Halt to Evictions of Cambodia's Urban Poor
Development Partners are calling upon the Royal Government of Cambodia to stop forced evictions from disputed areas in Phnom Penh and elsewhere in the country until a fair and transparent mechanism for resolving land disputes is put in place and a comprehensive resettlement policy is developed. Embassy of Australia is a signatory.
Read the World Bank press release
12:00 AM Friday 17 July 2009
Families reject compensation package
Seven of the families have withdrawn their acceptance of the compensation offer. They are remaining in their homes, and human rights monitors are staying with them overnight. Journalists are on site. Eviction is expected in the next few hours.
3:00 AM Friday 17 July 2009
Amnesty International sections coordinate their response
Amnesty International sections, including United Kingdom and Germany, are coordinating their responses to the imminent forced eviction with the International Secretariat in London.
6:00 AM Friday 17 July 2009
Security forces block off area
Before dawn, at least 70 security forces, some armed with guns and electronic batons, moved in and blocked off the area. Dozens of hired workers dressed in red shirts demolished what was left of the already dismantled houses. Within hours, the resisting families had agreed to go.
10:00 AM Friday 17 July
Phnom Penh: Eviction of Group 78 families has begun
The latest news on the plight of Group 78 families in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is not good.
Read the web statement
1:00 PM Friday 17 July
Amnesty International condemns forced eviction of Cambodian families
The forced eviction of 60 low-income families in central Phnom Penh on Thursday and Friday has been strongly condemned by Amnesty International.
Read the media release
4:00 PM Friday 17 July
Forced eviction should never happen again
All Amnesty International Australia supporters who took online action for the community are notified of the forced eviction.
Read the letter to our supporters
6:00 PM Friday 17 July
No time left for the final few families
The remaining families have until 3:00 PM Phnom Penh time (6:00 PM Melbourne time) to dismantle their homes and leave the area know as Group 78.
12:00 AM Saturday 18 July
More details emerges
We have now learnt that 53 families were evicted on Thursday, and that seven families remained until Friday. In situations that involve such extreme trauma, details may not emerge until later.
1:00 AM Saturday 18 July
Condemn the forced eviction of Group 78 families
The letter writing action update for the community of Group 78 issued by the International Secretariat in London. People were able to download the latest pdf document or take online action.
Amnesty International has been campaiging against forced evictions in Cambodia and for the community known as Group 78 as part of our Demand Dignity campaign. Learn more about Human Rights and Poverty. The case of Group 78 has featured in our Individuals at Risk Program of campaigning. Find out what you can do for Individuals at Risk.
Comments
Rebecca Clark | Posted on 19 July 2009, 09:29AM | Report comment
So sad!!
Rita Julie Schaffer | Posted on 18 July 2009, 07:49PM | Report comment
Certainly, it must be an exceptionally stressful life to not know from one day to the next if they will have a roof over their heads or how they will be able to live & cope if their world as they know it, comes to an abrupt end with a forced eviction.
Every facet of their life would be in turmoil & that in the context of living in perpetual fear. I say that we must always do our best for people in these situations. Not just because they are marginalized and lack the skills & education to uphold and defend their rights but also because they become physically & mentally exhausted from their predicament & long standing suffering.
Rose Kulak | Posted on 18 July 2009, 04:46PM | Report comment
Hi Pauline, thanks for your support. There’s now a bit more information and further action you can take.
Rose Kulak | Posted on 18 July 2009, 04:44PM | Report comment
Hi Dianne, what you are suggesting is exactly what Amnesty International does - work for cases of human rights abuses, like the community of Group 78, but also tackles the systemic issues, such as laws (and the lack of rule of law) that lead to human rights abuses. Housing doesn’t have one size that fits all, and there are people and organisations on the ground around the world that work on such issues. Amnesty International, were appropriate and where a value add can be given, works with such organisations.
Dianne Mullin | Posted on 18 July 2009, 09:03AM | Report comment
I was shocked by the throwaway line about Amnesty in “Slumdog Millionaire”. Admittedly it was said while torture was being routinely applied. Can Amnesty work with Municipal, regional and federal governments throughout the world to educate lawmakers and enforcers about human rights? Can we encourage alternative housing that would be a model for groups such as these displaced Cambodians?
Pauline Kennedy | Posted on 17 July 2009, 07:41PM | Report comment
Hi Rose, Keep up the good work.Let’s hope Group 78 get a fairer deal. These situations don’t always hit the media, so your efforts help to inform.