Homes razed, lives in ruins in Cambodia
- Published on 13/02/2008
Forced evictions are one of the most widespread human rights violations affecting Cambodians in both rural and urban areas. At least 150,000 Cambodians across the country are known to live at risk of being forcibly evicted in the wake of land disputes, land grabbing and development projects.
In sharp contrast to the rhetoric of the government's pro-poor policies - and in breach of international human rights laws and standards - thousands of people, particularly those living in poverty, have been forcibly evicted from their homes and lands, we reveal in our new report, Rights Razed - Forced evictions in Cambodia.
The Cambodian authorities are not only failing to protect - in law and practice - the population against forced evictions, but are actively involved in these unlawful practices.
The authorities have been instrumental in demolishing villages, setting homes ablaze and making poor people homeless without due process and at the behest of those who wield economic and political power. It is clear that relevant laws are seldom and arbitrarily applied, and the authorities have not protected the human rights of people affected by forced evictions.
Rights Razed shows how affected groups have had no opportunity for genuine consultation before eviction, received little or no information on planned evictions, and had no access to adequate alternative housing. In addition, they have been left with no recourse to justice.
Unless the Cambodian government takes immediate and effective steps to ensure its population, particularly those living in poverty, is protected against forced evictions, its poverty reduction agenda rings hollow. Cambodia urgently needs to end all forced evictions.
Click here to read the full report. Or click here to read about the consequences for villagers whose homes were burned to the ground in the coastal Cambodian town of Sihanoukville last April.
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