Victoria’s young australian of the year 2009 condemns cambodian forced eviction

[BB-Leo]

MEDIA RELEASE

27th January, 2009

VICTORIA’S YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2009 CONDEMNS CAMBODIAN FORCED EVICTION

Charity Founder and Young Australian of the Year 2009 for Victoria, Leigh Mathews condemns the violent forced eviction of residents of Dey Krahorm, a village in inner-city Phnom Penh, Cambodia who lost a four-year battle early Saturday morning (Jan 24th). The eviction was marked by excessive use of force, endangering the lives of residents, journalists, and human rights monitors – resulting in 18 injuries, 5 of which were serious. Riot Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at residents attempting to defend their homes. Hundreds of residents trucked out to the relocation site are squatting in fields without access to clean water or electricity. The site is woefully u
nprepared to absorb evictees, with no jobs, schools, healthcare and no access to water, or transport. Food and water shortages are predicted, and many residents will sink into extreme poverty. Leigh stated “Future Cambodia Fund is especially concerned for the large number of children who have experienced eviction, and for witnessing such extreme violence and the destruction of their community. Displacement carries significant trauma for children, the effects of which are long-lasting, and renders them vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking and abuse”� ‚. The eviction evokes memories of the June 2006 eviction of approximately 8000 residents of Sambok Chab village, adjacent to Dey Krahorm, to Andong Relocation site, in which Future Cambodia Fund works. Over two years later, Andong’s residents are still in dire poverty, without adequate housing, access to healthcare, sanitation, clean water, employment, or land tenure.