World City Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 with the aim of improving the lives of urban dwellers and finding ways to improve cities. Cambodia has committed to the 17 sustainable development goals, with a particular focus on sustainable cities and communities. In line with Cambodia’s commitment, the objectives of City Day 2023 are as follows:
– Encouraging public participation, especially in marginalized communities affected by development projects, in the urban development process.
– Ensuring that urban policymakers, planners, and other stakeholders systematically and strategically involve the public, community, civil society, and others in creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly city, with mechanisms for implementation and monitoring.
On the 38th World Habitat Day, we, the people from the land and housing communities in Phnom Penh and the provinces, are facing insecurity regarding land and housing due to inadequate development. We are concerned about forced evictions and insufficient compensation, as we have historically endured such hardships. The Cambodian Constitution, specifically Article 44, guarantees the right to own property and proper housing for all citizens. Additionally, international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, guarantees the right to adequate housing.
During the week of October 1-7, 2023, in commemoration of World Habitat Day, over 1,000 community members, youth, and local authorities from 16 communities in Phnom Penh and other affected provinces gathered under the theme of “Housing Justice and Inclusive Development.” This event aimed to address the violations of land and housing rights.
On World Habitat Day 2023, we urge the government to take the following actions:
– The Royal Government should respect and protect the rights of impoverished individuals to live with decency and dignity, in line with other citizens.
– The Royal Government must effectively enforce the law and cease forced evictions, violence, and judicial oppression, particularly targeting land and housing activists.
– The Royal Government, along with authorities at all levels, should prioritize the right to adequate housing for comprehensive development.
– All development projects should conduct assessments of their social, economic, and environmental impacts, paying special attention to vulnerable populations.
– Local authorities should expedite the issuance of residence cards, family books, and equity cards to land community members lacking access to social services.
– Phnom Penh Capital Hall should provide infrastructure and improved services in impoverished residential areas, including drainage, garbage collection, and connection to state water and electricity networks.
– Relevant government authorities must ensure that all development processes adhere to the principles of the rule of law, including openness, transparency, accountability, and stakeholder involvement. Affected individuals, in particular, should have a voice in discussing concerns and potential resolutions for the benefit of all parties involved.
Here is a photo gallery showcasing impoverished communities in Phnom Penh and various provinces. These communities celebrated World Habitat Day from October 1 to 7, 2023. Over 1,000 individuals, including community members, young people, and local authorities, took part in the celebrations. Some of the communities involved were Stoeung Kambot, Pongro Sen Chey, Reaksmey Samaki, Plov Rathpleung, Smor San, Chhmar Oeut, Satrey Klahan, Veal Sbov, Russey Sros, Kao Pi, Meanchey (Svay Rieng province), Veal Entre, Pong Rok, Thlan 100, Prey Peay (Kampot), and Lor Peang (Kampong Chhnang province).
The main activities included community banner rallies, environmental clean-ups, and raising awareness regarding the right to affordable housing by creating slogans. The main message revolved around “Clean Environment, Clean Community, Affordable Housing”.
This report is a continuation of STT’s previous study on the state of Phnom Penh’s urban poor settlements published in 2017. It aims to update data on urban poor settlements, such as information on evictions, land titling, and socio-economic conditions. The survey was conducted in Phnom Penh from July 2022 to December of 2022 followed by data analysis and report formatting from January 2023 onwards. The report includes 191 settlements that are considered urban poor in the final analysis. These settlements represent 19,539 families, or 89,879 people, which equates to 3.94% of the total population of Phnom Penh. STT also looked at secondary data, including NGO reports, government reports, academic papers, media articles and other open-source data. The report contains key findings:
The number of urban poor settlements in the city has been declining from 277 in 2017 to 191 in 2023, with some locations being dissolved due to the conditions, they are no longer classified as urban poor settlements, while others have gone entirely, often due to eviction. Meanwhile, there is also an increase in communities receiving land titles. Namely, 19 communities claimed to have received land titles since 2017.
A third of 191 settlements are likely to be located on state land while nearly two thirds of all settlements do not have written documentation indicating the status of the land they live on. This means that those settlements are facing risks of eviction and forced eviction because of a failure of the state in providing clarity and security of tenure to these settlements.
Over a quarter of the 191 settlements are claiming to being pressured into forced evictions. At least 9 settlements were also forcibly evicted during Covid-19. A woman living in Banteay Sloek community behind Sovanna Supermarket and was forcibly evicted due to 7NG in Kandal Province on 11 July 2020. She said, “it is a cold-blooded eviction.” After the authorities came to demolish the community’s homes, they claimed that the community had already agreed to the relocation.
Access to drainage and ID Poor is still lacking in many settlements; however, connection to government public services such water, electricity and waste collection have improved since 2017.
Finally, 26 of the 191 urban poor settlements are in debt. Some reported selling their homes due to loans. This is something that STT and other human rights organizations believe may have been done reluctantly. Falling into such debt traps has exposed settlement members to a variety of other potential human rights abuses such as land loss, homelessness, forced migration, debt bondage, child labor, and having less access to other basic needs. ” I can’t afford to pay until we sell the house,” said one interviewer.
You can find out more about our report, which can be accessed at You can download the report as a PDF file here! Khmer – English
For further information please contact:
Mr. Soeung Saran, Executive Director of Sahmakum Teang Tnaut. Signal: 089 666 013
Email: director@teangtnaut.org
Mr. Ronan Kemp, Advisor at Sahmakum Teang Tnaut. Signal: 081 262 799 Email: advisor@teantnaut.org
As of July 2023, Boeung Tamok or Boeung Kob Srov, a lake that was designated as public state property by Sub-Decree No. 20 on February 3, 2016 and had a total area of 3,239.7 hectares, has been transferred as private state property and handed over to private individuals and other institutions 70 times, covering a total area of 2,369.8913 hectares. This large number has made the cutting of the lake deviate from the master plan and the area of Boeung Tamok Lake is almost fully gone.
While the Law land and Law on Control, Usage and Management of State Asset state that public state property cannot be sold, exchanged, given, or conceded, the use of sub-decrees to convert public state land to private state land and hand it over to private individuals and other institutions seems to be ambiguous. The implementation of the law lacks transparency and does not provide any justification for the public.
According to the 2035 Master Plan of Phnom Penh Municipality, Boeung Tamok, was originally set to be preserved for about 2,140 hectares.
You can find out more about our report, which can be accessed at
You can download the report as a PDF file here! Khmer – English
For further information please contact: Mr. Soeung Saran, Executive Director of Sahmakum Teang Tnaut.
Signal: 089 666 013 Email: director@teangtnaut.org
Mrs. Prak Sotheary, Research Advocacy Advisor at Sahmakum Teang Tnaut.
Signal: 012 464 500 Email: Advisor1@teantnaut.org
7th July 2023, Phnom Penh. Congratulations to the opposing team for winning the first prize in the debate competition on “Is Inclusive City Development Really Appropriate for the Cambodian Context?” organized by STT with 50 participants from urban communities and young people from various universities.
1.The event aimed to provide young people with opportunities to participate in topics related to human rights, urban development, and environmental issues in Cambodia.
2.It also encouraged youths to engage in dialogue, raise issues, and propose solutions that promote a transparent, peaceful, and just development process.
We, the undersigned, call for the baseless charges of incitement against 10 land activists from three communities in Koh Kong province to be immediately dropped, and for their unconditional release. These activists did nothing but peacefully raise concerns and speak out in defence of their land and fellow community members, but have been harassed and imprisoned for doing so.
The 10 activists were arrested and charged with incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code on 29 June 2023. Nine of them are currently in pre-trial detention in Koh Kong provincial prison; one was released on bail with restrictive conditions. The charges followed their attempt to peacefully travel to Phnom Penh to submit a petition to the Ministry of Justice. If convicted, each activist faces up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 4 million riel (about US$1000).
The 10 activists are Ms. Phav Nheung; Ms. Det Huor; Ms. Yi Kunthea; Mr. Sok Chey; Mr. Heng Chey; Ms. Tin Tang; Mr. Lang Cheav; Ms. Seng Lin; Mr. Yoeut Khmao; and Ms. Soung Theng. Theng is the only activist released on bail with restrictive conditions. The other nine activists (together with Nheung’s 18-month-old baby) remain in Koh Kong prison. The prison is horrendously overcrowded and was at nearly 300% capacity last month. Furthermore, the activists were only granted access to legal representation on 3 July, after spending three days in pre-trial detention.
The activists were taken into custody after police blocked community members’ vans in Sre Ambel district and prevented them from travelling to Phnom Penh to deliver the petition on 29 June. The petition requested that Minister of Justice Koeut Rith intervene and for the prosecution to drop the charges against 30 land activists from across five communities.
Police also threatened around 20 other community members with arrest when they gathered in front of the provincial police station on 30 June to support their representatives. Community members were similarly prevented from gathering outside the Koh Kong provincial court.
The activists have endured numerous disputes dating back as far as 2006, after companies linked to tycoons Ly Yong Phat and Heng Huy established sugar plantations on community land. However, the activists’ efforts to protect their land have been continually met with authority-led harassment.
We call for an immediate end to this harassment of Cambodia’s land activists, including for the charges of incitement against them to be dropped, and their immediate and unconditional release from pre-trial detention.
This joint statement is endorsed by:
197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
243 Families of Pro Lean Land Community (Koh Kong)
Am Leang Community (Kampong Speu)
Andong Trabek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
Bos Snor Community (Tbong Khmum)
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM)
Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
Cambodian Tourism Workers Union Federation (CTWUF)
Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
Community to Protect Nature (Pursat)
Dak Por Community (Kampong Speu)
Equitable Cambodia (EC)
Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC)
Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
Kamprers Community (Tboung Khmum)
Kleang Toek 78 Community (Siem Reap)
Kouy Indigenous Community (Preah Vihear)
Labour Right Supported Union Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U)
Lor Peang Community (Kampong Chhnang)
Mean Chey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC)
Ou Vor Preng Community (Battambang)
Pailin Land Community
People Center for Development and Peace (PDP)
Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
Prey Chher Pech Changvar Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chhnang)
Prey Lang Community (Kampong Thom)
Prey Peay Land Community (Kampot)
Rattanak Rokha Forestry Community (Oddar Meanchey)
Reaksmei Sameakki Community (Kampong Speu)
Samaki Romeas Haek Community (Svay Rieng)
Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
Social Action for Community and Development (SACD)
Sre Prang Community (Tboung Khmum)
Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource (Kampong Chhnang)
Skun Community (Siem Reap)
Ta Ni Land Community (Siem Reap)
Ta Pen Community (Siem Reap)
The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW)
The Messenger Band Cambodia (MB)
Tonlung Community (Tboung Khmum)
Transparency International Cambodia (TIC)
Trapeang Chan Forestry Community (Kampong Chhnang)
The arrest of three staffers from the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC) and the unfounded charges of incitement and plotting against the nation marks yet another case of Cambodian authorities imprisoning human rights defenders for their peaceful activism.
We, the undersigned groups, demand an end to the persecution of human rights defenders, and call for the three CCFC staffers to be immediately and unconditionally released, so they can continue their work.
On the morning of 18 May, police formally arrested Theng Savoeun, CCFC president; Nhel Pheap, a senior organizing officer; and Thann Hach, who works as a community facilitator. They were first detained in Kratie province on the way to Phnom Penh on 17 May while they were travelling with dozens of people following an event in Ratanakiri province, and later transferred to Ratanakiri Police Commissariat.
Their lawyer was only able to speak with Savoeun in Ratanakiri Police Commissariat after his arrest in Kratie on 19 May and before his transfer to Ratanakiri provincial court. On 22 May, their lawyer was again permitted to meet with Savoeun during his questioning at the Ratanakiri Provincial Court, and to briefly speak with Hach.
During the afternoon of 22 May, Investigating Judge Say Kouhav charged Savoeun, Pheap, and Hach with plotting under Article 453 and incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. The three men face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 4 million Riel (around US$1,000) if convicted. Based on a statement from the Ratanakiri court, Chan Vibol, an academic, has also been charged with the same offences.
These charges are baseless. CCFC is a farmer’s association founded in 2011 that works with more than 70 communities across 10 provinces, assisting farmers facing forced evictions and helping to promote land rights where it is needed most. The association supports local communities to stand up for their rights, and advocates for better livelihoods and land rights for rural farmers across Cambodia.
The work of human rights activists must not be equated to criminal incitement or plotting against the nation. Arresting CCFC staffers will not resolve the long-running land conflicts faced by its members. It will not silence the voices of the community leaders and representatives who demand justice for their neighbours, friends and families.
The arrests have sparked days of protests by land communities across the country, who know that these charges are an attempt to suppress their activism, and will ultimately hinder a resolution to their land conflicts.
Savoeun, Pheap and Hach need to be immediately freed, and the charges against them must be dropped. Community organising is not a crime. Releasing these activists is a crucial step towards achieving true peace and justice in Cambodia.
197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
243 Families of Pro Lean Village Land Community (Koh Kong)
955 land community (Koh Kong)
Am Leang Community (Kampong Speu)
Andong Trabek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
Bos Snor Community (Tbong Khmum)
Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM)
Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
Cambodian Labor Confederation (CLC)
Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
Cambodian Tourism Workers Union Federation (CTWUF)
Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
Charay Indigenous Community (Ratanak Kiri)
Chi Kha Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
Chi Kha Leu Land Community (Koh Kong)
Choam Kravien Community (Tboung Khmum)
Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC)
Community to Protect Nature (Pursat)
Dak Por Community (Kampong Speu)
Equitable Cambodia (EC)
Federation of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC)
Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC)
Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
Indigenous Community in Prame Commune (Preah Vihear)
Khmum Srakarthlork Community (Kampong Thom)
Klaing Toek 78 Community (Siemreap)
Kouy Indigenous Community (Preah Vihear)
Labour Right Supported Union Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U)
Land Community (Pailin)
Mean Chey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
Peam Ros Community (Kampong Speu)
People Center for Development and Peace (PDP-Center)
Phnom Krom Community (Siemreap)
Phnom Tor Toeung Community (Kampot)
Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
Prek Ksach Land Community (Koh Kong)
Prey Chher Pech Changvar Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chhnang)
Prey Lang Community (Preah Vihear)
Prey Peay Land Community (Kampot)
Rattanak Rokha Forestry Community (Oddar Meanchey)
Reaksmei Sameakki Community (Kampong Speu)
Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
Samaki Chek Meas Community (Svay Rieng)
Samaki Romeas Haek Community (Svay Rieng)
Samaki Sangkae Pir Mean Rith (Preah Vihear)
Sre Prang Community (Tboung Khmum)
Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource (Kampong Chhnang)
Ta Ni Land Community (Siemreap)
Ta Noun Land Community (Koh Kong)
The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW)
The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
We, a group of civil society organizations (CSOs) including unions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and associations working for promoting women’s rights and gender equality in Cambodia, such as the Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF), Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), Cambodian Alliance of Trade Union (CATU), Cambodian Tourism Workers Union Federation (BWTUC), Labour Right Supported Union (LRSU), Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), Cambodian Youth Network Association (CYN), Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP), Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), Sahmakum Teang Tnaut Organization (STT), Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), Klahaan Organization, and Equitable Cambodia (EC), have the honor to inform the general public, and national and international journalists that we are going to celebrate the 112th anniversary of the International Women’s Day . The topic for the 2023 commemoration is “Protecting Women and Girls for Inclusive Justice”.
The purpose of this celebration is to recognize the hard work and efforts made by women, girls, and women human rights defenders (WHRDs) from all sectors, to raise public awareness about the demands and challenges of women and girls and demand the government to address their essential needs, concerns for social protection system and injustices of vulnerable women and girls.
Please be informed about this event and join us in celebrating it through the following activities:
On 01 March 2023, we will start posting our daily countdown flyers to alert the date of the open-space celebration of International Women’s Day.
From 01 March 2023 to 07 March 2023, we are going to publish seven subsequent videos showing the requests to address 17 demands from different
On 02 March 2023, we will host a radio talk show on “The Campaign for International Women’s Day 2023”.
On 08 March 2023, we will conduct an open-space event for 500 participants at Freedom Park to commemorate International Women’s Day in 2023”. The theme for this event is “Protecting Women and Girls for Inclusive Justice”
We, the undersigned media and civil society organizations, are deeply disturbed by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s order to revoke the license of Voice of Democracy (VOD), one of the last remaining independent media outlets in Cambodia. We also condemn the recent sexual harassment and intimidation of a female VOD journalist.
The closure of VOD and the harassment of a female VOD journalist undermine the government’s own claims regarding respect for the free press in Cambodia and appear to reflect a failure to uphold the 1995 Law on the Press. The decision to revoke VOD’s media license ahead of the July 2023 national elections represents a fresh wave of intimidation tactics against the country’s dwindling independent media that mirrors the 2017 closure of the Cambodia Daily and the 2018 sale of the Phnom Penh Post.
On February 9, VOD published an article in Khmer quoting government spokesperson H.E. Phay Siphan as saying that, “it is not wrong for Hun Manet to play his father’s role in providing aid to Turkey.” H.E. Hun Manet later denied playing that role on his social media, and requested an immediate correction and for VOD to provide evidence of his signature on the document authorizing aid.
On February 11, Prime Minister Hun Sen posted on his Facebook page demanding that VOD issue a public apology to the government and his son within 72 hours, or else he said he would order the Ministry of Information to revoke VOD’s media license. On February 12, Hun Sen made another Facebook post shortening the deadline to 10 a.m., February 13.
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s arbitrary deadline signals a serious threat to all independent media and journalists in Cambodia. Cambodia has existing laws for how to deal with an alleged misquote or factual error in a media report. Article 10 of Cambodia’s Press Law states that people have the right to demand a retraction and reply from a publisher when they believe a statement is false, and a publisher must reply within seven days. There is also a right to sue for defamation and libel.
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s apparent decision to not use this law, and instead revoke the license of VOD, as well as Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith’s subsequent Facebook post declaring it a “lesson” for other media, suggests that the move was made to silence one of the few remaining independent news publications in the country ahead of the national election.
Already, as of the morning of February 13, access to VOD’s websites – both Khmer and English – appears to have been blocked by major internet service providers and mobile service providers within Cambodia.
We call on the government to resolve the issue in a calm, professional and respectful manner that is in line with Cambodian law and that does not do lasting damage to Cambodia’s media landscape. We believe that the closure of VOD would represent a grave step backwards for both press freedoms and the rule of law in Cambodia.
Moreover, we rebuke the abusive and misogynistic language used by Mr. Pheng Vannak and others on social media against the female reporter who authored the VOD article in question. We hope the government, through relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, will join us in calling for Mr. Vannak and others to apologize to the reporter in question and to stop his blatant acts of sexual harassment directed towards female reporters.
No journalist should ever be attacked as a result of their work or identity.
The role of independent media is indispensable to democracy. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has stressed that a free media is essential to democratic processes and should be allowed to operate without restraint.
We hope the government acknowledges the essential role of VOD and its journalists, along with the remaining independent media outlets in the country, and their right to do their work in accordance with the law and without fear of intimidation and harassment.
This statement is signed by:
1. Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA)
2. Cambodian Female Journalists (CFJ)
3. Overseas Press Club of Cambodia (OPCC)
4. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
5. The Alliance of Independent Journalists/AJI (Indonesia)
6. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines/NUJP (Philippines)
7. The Center for Independent Journalism (Malaysia)
8. Gerakan Media Merdeka/Geramm (Malaysia)
9. Freedom Film Network (Malaysia)
10. Journalist Association Timor Leste/AJTL (Timor Leste)
11. Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ)
12. Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC)
13. The International Federation of Journalists (Asia-Pacific)
14. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
15. The Cambodian Youth Network Association (CYN)
16. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
17. Labour Right Supported Union Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U)
18. Cambodian Tourism Workers Union Federation (CTWUF)
19. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
20. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
21. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
22. Cambodian Informal Economy Workers Association (CIWA)
23. Community Legal Education Center (CLEC)
24. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)
25. Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC)
26. Equitable Cambodia (EC)
27. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
28. Cambodian Institute for Democracy
29. Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club (JFCC)
30. Kanopi hijau, Indonesia
31. MilkTeaAlliance Calendar Team, regional/ transnational
32. International Dialogue (IID)
33. ALTSEAN-Burma, Myanmar
34. Innovation for Change-East Asia, Bangkok, Thailand
35. MilkTeaAlliance Friends of Myanmar, Myanmar
36. Asia Democracy Network (ADN), South Korea
37. DAKILA, Philippines
38. Ruang MES 56, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
39. Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC)
40. Independent Trade Union Federation (INTUFE)
41. Solidarity House (SH)
42. EngageMedia, Asia-Pacific
43. Cambodia Labor Confederation (CLC)
44. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
45. Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
46. Free Independent Trade Union Federation (FUFI)
47. Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
48. Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, (FCCT) Professional Committee
49. Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP)
50. 197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
51. Andong Trabek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
52. Areng Indigenous Community (Koh Kong)
53. BoeungPramCommunity (Battambang)
54. Bos Snor Community (Tbong Khmum)
55. Charay Indigenous Community (Ratanakkiri)
56. Chi Kha Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
57. Chi Kha Leu Land Community (Koh Kong)
58. Community to Protect Nature (Pursat)
59. Dak Por Community (Kampong Speu)
60. Khmer Thavrak
61. Klaing Toek 78 Community (Siem Reap)
62. Koh Sralao Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
63. Kouy Indigenous Community (Preah Vihear)
64. Land Community (Pailin)
65. Lor Peang Community (Kampong Chhnang)
66. Mean Chey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
67. Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC)
68. Ou Vor Preng Community (Battambang)
69. Peam Ros Community (Kampong Speu)
70. Phnom Krom Community (Siem Reap)
71. Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
72. Prek Ksach Land Community (Koh Kong)
73. Prey Chher Pech Changvar Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chhnang)
74. Prey Peay Land Community (Kampot)
75. Samaki Chek Meas Community (Svay Rieng)
76. Samaki Romeas Haek Community (Svay Rieng)
77. Samaki Sangkae Pir Mean Rith (Preah Vihear)
78. Sre Ampel Water Fall Tourism Forestry Community (Kampong Chhnang)
79. Sre Ampel Water Fall Tourism Forestry Community (Kampong Chhnang)
80. Sre Prang Community (Tboung Khmum)
81. Ta Noun Land Community (Koh Kong)
82. Thmar Da Community (Pursat)
83. Tonlung Community (Tboung Khmum)
84. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut Organization -STT
85. Federation of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC)
86. NARA-Youth, the Philippines
87. The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW)
88. Youth Resource Development Program(YRDP)
89. PDP Center
90. Transparency International Cambodia
91. Reporters Without Border (RSF)
92. Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Africa
93. Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)
94. Women Peace Makers (WPM)
95. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
96. Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition (CHRAC)
Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) has given the opportunity to 4 youths to receive research grants with different topics and under one frame to promote good environmental governance in an urban poor community.
This research has been aimed to improve research writing for urban poor communities, and in doing so, help improve good environmental governance and flooding challenges in poor communities.
The topics of research are: Study of Behavior and Practice on Community Waste Management and Environmental Governance in Prek Takong 60m Community, Trash Management and Governance in Boeung Chhouk Meanchey Thmey II Community, Governance and Waste Management of a Community Along Boeung Trabek Canal, and Floods in Phnom Penh: Concerns and Challenges of a Poor Community Prek Takong 3.
The, key findings of each report focus on how communities changed their behaviours towards trash disposal due to an awareness of the disadvantages and effects of trash Management. The reports show that some local authorities do not cooperate with urban poor communities to solve trash management issues. This is one of the reasons that some community members continue to drop garbage in the community areas and do not care about environmental problems. For the topic related to flooding from the rain, the findings focus on the impacts of flooding related to health, personal finance, housing quality, infrastructure, and other challenges.
To find out more about this report, please visit: https://teangtnaut.org/report
The Identification of Poor Household Program is one of Cambodia’s first social protection mechanisms. It allows individuals to access services that provide the poor with public services and financial assistance. The report found that the authorities’ decision to provide ID-poor cards to some families was unclear, while some ID-poor cardholders had trouble using the card to receive free government services. Seventy-three percent of the 37 communities surveyed complained about the implementation of the Identification of Poor Households Program and the way the authorities implemented it. In addition, the communities interviewed articulated disappointment as they thought they should receive an ID Poor card:
A community member said: ID Poor cards are disseminated only to those who have friends or relatives. “Sometimes I feel frustrated with this procedure, and I always wonder why the ID poor card is given only to the rich and not to the poor.”
On the other hand, although some community members received ID-poor cards, some of them still have problems using the equity card services:
“Government officials who work in government hospitals are not able to talk or take care of me as the patient. They just give me the serum and leave me. They don’t seem to care much about the poor.” ACommunity member.
To find out more about this research report, please visit:
For further information please contact: Mr. Soeung Saran, Executive Director of Sahmakum Teang Tnaut.
Signal: 089 666 013 Email: director@teangtnaut.org
Mrs. Prak Sotheary, Research Advocacy Advisor at Sahmakum Teang Tnaut.
Signal: 012 464 500 Email: Advisor1@teantnaut.org
We, the undersigned, call on the Cambodian government to stop being afraid of Chhim Sithar’s strength and bravery. We call for her immediate and unconditional release from prison and an end to the judicial harassment of the union’s leader and members.
Sithar, the recently re-elected president of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU), was arrested at immigration at the Phnom Penh airport on Saturday morning, as she was returning from the International Trade Union Confederation World Conference in Australia.
LRSU members have been on strike for nearly a year. The government’s response has been to beat, arrest, sexually harass and assault strikers. This latest arrest is an unacceptable continuation of this failed policy of repression.
Sithar was previously violently arrested in January this year, on baseless charges of incitement over her union’s strike action. She was bailed in March, and arrested on Saturday on the accusation that she violated bail conditions that allegedly prohibited her from leaving the country.
Neither Sithar nor her lawyers were informed of any bail conditions. Her lawyers’ request to view her case file, which would have contained such bail conditions, was never granted, in violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Sithar was allowed by Cambodian immigration to leave the country earlier this month.
If authorities expected Sithar to comply with any bail conditions, they should have informed her of them. Punishing people for failing to follow secret and undisclosed rules is an injustice and inconsistent with basic principles of the rule of law.
“An independent, neutral and just court would promote and protect Sithar with the law,” said Khun Tharo, program coordinator at CENTRAL. “The arrest of a prominent labour activist is a serious violation of human and labour rights, as the charge from the court has no legal basis.”
Sithar has been returned to pre-trial detention in Correctional Centre 2, where she is subject to horrendous and extremely overcrowded prison conditions. She faces up to two years in prison if convicted. At least nine other LRSU leaders and members – who were previously imprisoned alongside Sithar earlier this year – also continue to face criminal charges, while new spurious criminal cases are being brought forward against other LRSU strikers.
The government must stop treating Sithar, alongside other LRSU members and union members and leaders across the garment, hospitality, and informal sectors, as if they are enemies of the state. They represent legitimate interests of workers, who are calling on employers and companies to respect the law and their rights. The government should be celebrating them, not imprisoning them.
“We call on the Cambodian government to stop mislabeling and treating the LRSU strike as an illegal protest,” said Kleang Soben, general secretary of LRSU. “It is, and always has been, a legitimate strike by workers objecting to NagaWorld’s violation of Cambodia’s Labour Law.”
We call for the immediate release of Chhim Sithar, and for all charges to be dropped against her and her fellow LRSU leaders and members. The LRSU strike must be resolved in accordance with the Labour Law, and authorities must stop treating unionists as criminals for undertaking their legitimate and selfless work to defend the rights of others.
For more information, please contact:
Kleang Soben, General Secretary of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU), 081 525 461
Khun Tharo, Program Coordinator of Center for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (CENTRAL), 093 556 671
This joint statement is endorsed by:
197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
Am Leang Community (Kampong Speu)
Andong Trabek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
Areng Indigenous Community (Koh Kong)
Boeung Pram Community (Battambang)
Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)
Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
Cambodian Institute for Democracy (CID)
Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
Cambodian Informal Economy Workers Association (CIWA-CLC)
Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition (CHRAC)
Cambodian Tourism Workers Union Federation (CTWUF)
Chi Kha Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
Chi Kha Leu Land Community (Koh Kong)
Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC)
Coalition of Free Trade Union of The Women’s Textile (CFTUWT)
Community to Protect Nature (Pursat)
Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
Dak Por Community (Kampong Speu)
Equitable Cambodia (EC)
Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC)
Free Independent Trade Union Federation (FUFI)
Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
Independent Trade Union Federation (INTUFE)
Indigenous Community in Prame Commune (Preah Vihear)
Khmer Thavrak
Klahaan
Kleang Toek 78 Community (Siem Reap)
Koh Sralao Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
Kouy Indigenous Community (Preah Vihear)
Labour Right Supported Union Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U)
Land Community (Pailin)
Lor Peang Community (Kampong Chhnang)
Mean Chey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
Ou Damdaek Community (Kampong Thom)
Ou Vor Preng Community (Battambang)
Peam Ros Community (Kampong Speu)
Peace Bridges Organization (PBO)
Phnom Krom Community (Siem Reap)
Phnom Tor Toeung Community (Kampot)
Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
Ponlok Khmer (PKH)
Prek Ksach Land Community (Koh Kong)
Prey Chher Pech Changvar Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chhnang)
Prey Lang Community (Kampong Thom)
Prey Peay Land Community (Kampot)
Rattanak Rokha Forestry Community (Oddar Meanchey)
Reaksmei Sameakki Community (Kampong Speu)
Samaki Romeas Haek Community (Svay Rieng)
Samaki Chek Meas Community (Svay Rieng)
SILAKA
Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
Sre Ampel Water Fall Tourism Forestry Community (Kampong Chhnang)
Sre Prang Community (Tbong Khmum)
Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource (Kampong Chhnang)
In September 2022, STT provided two new wooden bridges to two communities in Phnom Penh.
This infrastructural support, came as an emergency response to the many challenges that the communities are currently facing, which includes recurrent flooding due to no proper sewage system. This posits a hindrance for living, daily errands, and travelling. Children are notably facing difficulties when travelling to school. Today, both wooden bridges have been built, and were inaugurated on October 2nd, 2022. The community’s representatives and members are very excited to have received the new wooden bridge for their community. They claimed the wooden bridge helps them when travelling in and out of the community, and children feel safe crossing the bridge when going to school.
Below are the pictures before, and after building both wooden bridges.
Old bridge at Pongro Senchey Community
New bridge at Pongro Senchey Community
Before building the bridge at Prek Takong 3 Community
This is the current situation of the Banteay Sleuk community after exchanging land to the 7NG development area. Each family received a plot of land measuring 4 by 15 meters. As of August 2022, it has been more than two years since the Banteay Sleuk community moved to a new location in this development area, which has seen some changes and improvements, such as the water system, electric system and the construction of a concrete street.
However, the community still faces some challenges related to livelihood due to the remoteness of the area, which makes it difficult to find work. The community also took out loans from banks to rebuild new homes, making it especially hard for them. As a result, the community faces many difficulties. Flooding is another issue due to a lack of functioning drainage systems and inadequate basic infrastructure.
Please be informed that the old place of Banteay Sleuk community is located in Village 4, Sangkat Tumnup Teuk, Khan Boeung Keng Kang, Phnom Penh (behind the Sovanna Shopping Mall.) The community has been displaced from Phnom Penh on the 11th July 2022, during the pandemic of COVID 19.
This is a view of the relocated Banteay Sleuk community in 7NG development area
The housing situation of community members after moving to the development area.
A house of community members with inadequate living conditions and insecurity.
An overview of Banteay Sleuk community at the relocated area.
An unfinished community member’s house after relocation.
Today, Cambodians use social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as other networks and applications for entertainment, social networking, receiving and providing information, advertising, and for employment.
The use of social media by women in poor communities is no different from that of other people. This Facts and Figures focuses on women activists or community representatives and their experience of using social media to advocate, seek and share information, manage data and ask for help during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. Information shared covered land issues, rights to land titles, infrastructure, drug use, and other topics relevant to their communities
However, sharing information and the problems faced by these poor communities is prohibited by local authorities, which seriously affects the rights and freedoms of expression.
“Around the twentieth of September 2018, while my community was celebrating World Habitat Day, I was called in and transported away from the community by the authorities for questioning regarding the celebration. When I arrived at the Sangkat office, those authorities, all of whom are men, threatened and accused me of celebrating World Habitat Day.
Each of their actions exhibited threats, such as yelling and slamming the table. They yelled at me saying that all of my [Facebook] posts were wrong and that I should delete them as I made accusations against the government, and then slammed the table. They prohibited me from continuing any activities tarnishing the government’s reputation. They didn’t explain to me in a peaceful manner or offer any reasonable solutions. All their actions were nothing but violations of my rights and dignity.”
You can download the report as a PDF file here! Khmer – English
For further information please contact: Mr. Soeung Saran, Executive Director of Sahmakum Teang Tnaut.
Signal: 089 666 013 Email: director@teangtnaut.org
Mrs. Prak Sotheary, Research Advocacy Advisor at Sahmakum Teang Tnaut.
Signal: 012 464 500 Email: Advisor1@teantnaut.org
A screenshot of a video posted by Khmer Thavrak on 16 August 2022 showing authorities in plain clothes detain activists from the social justice group, including Hun Vannak (fourth from left), and VOD journalists
19 August 2022 – We, the undersigned press freedom, human rights and civil society groups, condemn the recent violence, arbitrary detention and intimidation of five journalists and four activists by officers from the prime minister’s bodyguard unit (BHQ) in Phnom Tamao forest.
Five journalists from independent news outlet VOD and four activists from social justice group Khmer Thavrak were unjustly detained for about seven hours on 16 August 2022. They were arrested in Phnom Tamao forest on Tuesday morning by BHQ officers and then brought to the Bati district police station in Takeo province.
Authorities told VOD journalists they were not permitted to photograph, film or fly a drone in Phnom Tamao, claiming photos and recordings could be used to spread false information. There is no justification for such a claim, and we reject such arbitrary restrictions on journalists.
We also condemn the authorities’ unconscionable abuse of power and use of physical violence against a journalist and an activist, and call for an impartial investigation into the incident, prosecution of any authorities who acted in violation of the law, and justice for the victims.
A VOD videographer was slapped in the face by a BHQ officer when the journalist refused to hand over the phone he was using to record officers questioning his VOD colleagues.
“I was walking to the pagoda [in Phnom Tamao forest] and was told that VOD reporters were detained. I returned to them and took out my phone intending to film them for documentation. One bodyguard came up to me, told me not to film and wanted to take my phone from me, but I refused. He slapped me in the face and snatched the phone from my hand,” said Hy Chhay, the videographer.
Khmer Thavrak activist Hun Vannak was also hit repeatedly by a BHQ officer while being pushed into the back of a truck during his arrest.
“I refused to get into the [vehicle] and he punched me in the face three times and jumped to kick my head,” Vannak said after his release.
While authorities claimed on 16 August that the nine had entered a prohibited area in Phnom Tamao forest —which earlier this month saw approximately a quarter of its territory cleared of trees — journalists and others in recent weeks were freely able to report on, photograph and film the deforestation, replanting and other developments in the forest. These restrictions were sudden, arbitrary and infringed on press freedom.
In addition, the five journalists and four Khmer Thavrak activists, including Vannak, Sokun Tola, Chhem Sreykea and Chhoeun Daravy, were only released from detention on Tuesday evening after authorities required them to sign a “contract”. The contract stated that the journalists flew a drone without permission from authorities, despite no known existing regulations on using drones in that area. We view this as coercion, harassment and intimidation.
Independent journalists’ right to report news freely in Cambodia must be protected, especially when reporting on matters of the public interest such as the recent massive deforestation of Phnom Tamao forest. Cambodia’s 1995 Press Law prohibits pre-publication censorship like what was exhibited on 16 August, when authorities told journalists they were not allowed to photograph or film in the forest without prior approval, and when officers confiscated their equipment, including phones, cameras and a drone equipped with a camera.
Similarly, individuals and activists have the right to freely document and monitor environmental destruction and rights abuses, and to express their opinions publicly, a right protected by Cambodia’s Constitution and international human rights law.
We stand in solidarity with our colleagues working in the independent news media and as human rights defenders against state violence, arbitrary detention, harassment and intimidation. We call on the Cambodian authorities to uphold the Press Law, Constitution and all national and international laws which ensure the rights of freedom of expression, and of all journalists and human rights defenders to document and publicise actions by the state, and to serve society.
Background
The violence and detentions of five VOD journalists and four activists from Khmer Thavrak on 16 August 2022 came just days after the Phnom Tamao forest underwent massive deforestation, losing around 500 hectares of forest at the roughly 2,000-hectare site in about one week. Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the forest to be replanted on 7 August, cancelling concessions given by his government to several businessmen, including Leng Navatra and Khun Sea. The reversal came after a series of VOD articles featuring photos and drone footage of the rapid deforestation, other news articles and drone footage of the clearing, and public outrage on social media over the forest’s destruction.
The five VOD journalists detained on Tuesday were following up on their earlier reporting on the forest clearing, including conducting interviews and photographing and filming using a drone.
The Khmer Thavrak activists were detained after one group member was live-streaming on Facebook from Phnom Tamao, and the group had submitted a petition about the forest to the Takeo Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Authorities had reportedly started marking forest land, drawing questions from local residents and triggering a visit by Khmer Thavrak.
Prime Minister Hun Sen announced late Tuesday that his bodyguard unit was now responsible for removing felled timber, preparing the land and replanting trees in Phnom Tamao, after his government earlier authorised the privatisation and clearing of parts of the forest. Hun Sen also instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to reestablish Phnom Tamao as a protected forest area.
For more information, please contact:
• Ith Sothoeuth, Media Director of Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), on Signal at (+855) 12 819 545 (English and Khmer)
• Chhoeun Daravy, Social Activist and Member of Khmer Thavrak, on Signal at (+855) 12 209 311 (Khmer)
• Nop Vy, Executive Director of Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA), on Signal at (+855) 12 519 261 (English and Khmer)
• Am Sam Ath, Operations Director of LICADHO, on Signal at (+855) 10 327 770 (Khmer)
• Pilorge Naly, Outreach Director of LICADHO, on Signal at (+855) 12 214 454 (English)
• Daniel Bastard, Asia-Pacific Director at Reporters Without Borders (RSF), dbastard@rsf.org (English)
This joint statement is endorsed by:
1. ActionAid Cambodia
2. Advocacy and Policy Institute (API)
3. Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
4. Building Community Voices (BCV)
5. Cambodian Association for Protection of Journalists (CAPJ)
6. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
7. Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM)
8. Cambodia Coalition of Farmer Community (CCFC)
9. Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition (CHRAC)
10. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
11. Cambodian Institute for Democracy (CID)
12. Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA)
13. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
14. Cambodian Youth Network Association (CYN)
15. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
16. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
17. Community Legal Education Center (CLEC)
18. Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC)
19. International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
20. Overseas Press Club of Cambodia (OPCC)
21. Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
22. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT Cambodia)
23. Transparency International-Cambodia (TIC)
24. Village Support Group (VSG)
25. Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP)
26. 197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
27. Andong Trabek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
28. Chi Kha Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
29. Kouy Indigenous Community (Preah Vihear)
30. Indigenous Community in Prame Commune (Preah Vihear)
31. Mean Chey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
32. Phnom Krom Community (Siem Reap)
33. Prey Chher Pech Changvar Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chhnang)
34. Prey Peay Land Community (Kampot)
35. Samaki Chek Meas Community (Svay Rieng)
36. Samaki Romeas Haek Community (Svay Rieng)
37. Samaki Sangkae Pir Mean Rith (Preah Vihear)
38. Sre Prang Community (Tboung Khmum)
39. Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource (Kampong Chhnang)
40. Trapeang Chour Community (Kampong Speu)
In early August 2022, 320 families in Phnom Penh’s Kilometer 6 commune (known hereon as the railway community) accepted a land compensation package, administered by local authorities, through a lucky draw. This land dispute was caused by a development project: to build a 12-meter-wide concrete road, as well as a drainage system, by the old train tracks. The new road will run from Tuol Kork district to Russey Keo via Daun Penh causing the eviction of the railway community. Following a number of advocacy efforts and negotiations, the Russey Keo district’s administration set up a lucky draw, to allocate each affected family with a plot of land, in a nearby area along the O Veng Canal of Boeung Salang, also in the Russey Keo district.
Each family received a plot of land of 4 meters x 15 meters without any monetary compensation. This resolution came after a decade of community and activist-led advocacy, as members of the railway community relentlessly defended their right to land and adequate housing. The community is primarily concerned that the infrastructure for their new homes will not be built any time soon, as many parts of the site have only just been filled with soil to make way for house construction.
Current housing situation of railway residents
Site visit and discussion with community leader and members
Following the acceptance of the plots of land, STT went to visit the relocation sites to investigate the situation. Some parts of the site had already been demarcated for the railway community residents. However, none of the families have moved to the new location site yet due to its unreadiness. It was also noted that there are no clean water or electricity outlets in place. The road in front of the allocated plots of land has not been developed either, it is currently covered in gravel.
Plots of lands were divided and given to the railway residents
One of the community leaders told STT that even though families accepted the compensation, they made a public request at a press conference, calling the City authorities to provide extra financial and material support. Families need money for transporting construction materials, construction costs, clean water and electricity connections, land titling, and so on. The next step will be to ask for land title registration. The community leader has stressed that this is of utmost urgency, and he is currently seeking support from the City and local authorities.
On the 9th of August 2022, a few other community members expressed relief that the government authorities provided them with some compensation. However, they are still concerned over the lack of financial help for rebuilding their homes on the plots of land along the canal. Community members expressed the same apprehension as the community leader, with regards to access to water, electricity, and land titling. One concern for STT is that these communities will approach Micro-Finance Institutions to ask for loans to build their new homes. Many NGOs including STT have documented predatory practices undertaken by MFIs in Cambodia. If loans are taken out to build houses, the poor will face further challenges.
An excavator clearing land for relocation sites
Key legal instruments to ensure the quality of relocation
The right to adequate housing is guaranteed by a list of national laws and regulations, as well as international human rights instruments. Firstly, Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that everyone is entitled to the right to housing. This is elucidated further in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which states, under Article 11, that governments must take “appropriate steps” to ensure the realization of this right. However, the relationship between eviction, resettlement and human rights is not clearly delineated here.
The Constitution of Cambodia (1993) recognizes the importance of human rights, notably those stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, through Article 31. With regards to eviction and resettlement, Article 44 of the Constitution outlines the right to land, stressing that land ownership in Cambodia is a right reserved to all Khmer citizens.
The “Circular on Resolution on Temporary Settlements on Land Which Has Been Illegally Occupied in The Capital, Municipal and Urban Areas,” more commonly known as “Circular 03,” is a government policy aimed to help address urban land disputes. Circular 03, signed off in 2010, is a dispute resolution mechanism for communities said to be occupying public space, private state land, or private company-owned land, in confrontation with authorities.
The Government of Cambodia also set up the “National Housing Policy” in 2014. This is a further step towards the realisation of the right to housing for Cambodian citizens, especially the urban poor. This policy acknowledges that the right to housing is a human right, by outlining requirements for house construction, upgrading, and financing. The housing policy emphasises the need for good housing governance in conjunction with proper land-use planning.
Finally, the “Human Rights Commentary and Guidelines on Eviction and Resettlement” published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to Cambodia (OHCHR,) outlines the rights of individuals which need to be respected during eviction and relocation processes. Although it carries no legal weight, and it is unclear if authorities are aware of its existence, it is an important tool to help outline key principles that must be upheldto respect human rights norms and standards during eviction processes. Most importantly, the guideline stipulates that “All resettlement measures, such as the construction of homes, the provision of water, electricity, sanitation, schools, access to roads, and the allocation of land, shall adhere to internationally recognized human rights principles.”
Conclusion
The Phnom Penh Kilometer 6 commune’s right to adequate housing should be respected and protected under domestic and international laws. Plots of land provided by the City authorities are not enough. The community’s need for material and construction costs, basic infrastructure such as roads, connection to electricity and clean water, should be provided by the authorities. As it stands, the government and the authorities are not fulfilling their legal obligations to provide adequate compensation for the affected communities. Furthermore, the relocated families need to be given land titles once all other basic needs are covered.
An overview of the situation
In early August 2022, 320 families in Phnom Penh’s Kilometer 6 commune (known hereon as the railway community) accepted a land compensation package, administered by local authorities, through a lucky draw. This land dispute was caused by a development project: to build a 12-meter-wide concrete road, as well as a drainage system, by the old train tracks. The new road will run from Tuol Kork district to Russey Keo via Daun Penh causing the eviction of the railway community. Following a number of advocacy efforts and negotiations, the Russey Keo district’s administration set up a lucky draw, to allocate each affected family with a plot of land, in a nearby area along the O Veng Canal of Boeung Salang, also in the Russey Keo district.
Each family received a plot of land of 4 meters x 15 meters without any monetary compensation. This resolution came after a decade of community and activist-led advocacy, as members of the railway community relentlessly defended their right to land and adequate housing. The community is primarily concerned that the infrastructure for their new homes will not be built any time soon, as many parts of the site have only just been filled with soil to make way for house construction.
Current housing situation of railway residents
Site visit and discussion with community leader and members
Following the acceptance of the plots of land, STT went to visit the relocation sites to investigate the situation. Some parts of the site had already been demarcated for the railway community residents. However, none of the families have moved to the new location site yet due to its unreadiness. It was also noted that there are no clean water or electricity outlets in place. The road in front of the allocated plots of land has not been developed either, it is currently covered in gravel.
Plots of lands were divided and given to the railway residents
One of the community leaders told STT that even though families accepted the compensation, they made a public request at a press conference, calling the City authorities to provide extra financial and material support. Families need money for transporting construction materials, construction costs, clean water and electricity connections, land titling, and so on. The next step will be to ask for land title registration. The community leader has stressed that this is of utmost urgency, and he is currently seeking support from the City and local authorities.
On the 9th of August 2022, a few other community members expressed relief that the government authorities provided them with some compensation. However, they are still concerned over the lack of financial help for rebuilding their homes on the plots of land along the canal. Community members expressed the same apprehension as the community leader, with regards to access to water, electricity, and land titling. One concern for STT is that these communities will approach Micro-Finance Institutions to ask for loans to build their new homes. Many NGOs including STT have documented predatory practices undertaken by MFIs in Cambodia. If loans are taken out to build houses, the poor will face further challenges.
An excavator clearing land for relocation sites
Key legal instruments to ensure the quality of relocation
The right to adequate housing is guaranteed by a list of national laws and regulations, as well as international human rights instruments. Firstly, Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that everyone is entitled to the right to housing. This is elucidated further in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which states, under Article 11, that governments must take “appropriate steps” to ensure the realization of this right. However, the relationship between eviction, resettlement and human rights is not clearly delineated here.
The Constitution of Cambodia (1993) recognizes the importance of human rights, notably those stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, through Article 31. With regards to eviction and resettlement, Article 44 of the Constitution outlines the right to land, stressing that land ownership in Cambodia is a right reserved to all Khmer citizens.
The “Circular on Resolution on Temporary Settlements on Land Which Has Been Illegally Occupied in The Capital, Municipal and Urban Areas,” more commonly known as “Circular 03,” is a government policy aimed to help address urban land disputes. Circular 03, signed off in 2010, is a dispute resolution mechanism for communities said to be occupying public space, private state land, or private company-owned land, in confrontation with authorities.
The Government of Cambodia also set up the “National Housing Policy” in 2014. This is a further step towards the realisation of the right to housing for Cambodian citizens, especially the urban poor. This policy acknowledges that the right to housing is a human right, by outlining requirements for house construction, upgrading, and financing. The housing policy emphasises the need for good housing governance in conjunction with proper land-use planning.
Finally, the “Human Rights Commentary and Guidelines on Eviction and Resettlement” published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to Cambodia (OHCHR,) outlines the rights of individuals which need to be respected during eviction and relocation processes. Although it carries no legal weight, and it is unclear if authorities are aware of its existence, it is an important tool to help outline key principles that must be upheldto respect human rights norms and standards during eviction processes. Most importantly, the guideline stipulates that “All resettlement measures, such as the construction of homes, the provision of water, electricity, sanitation, schools, access to roads, and the allocation of land, shall adhere to internationally recognized human rights principles.”
Conclusion
The Phnom Penh Kilometer 6 commune’s right to adequate housing should be respected and protected under domestic and international laws. Plots of land provided by the City authorities are not enough. The community’s need for material and construction costs, basic infrastructure such as roads, connection to electricity and clean water, should be provided by the authorities. As it stands, the government and the authorities are not fulfilling their legal obligations to provide adequate compensation for the affected communities. Furthermore, the relocated families need to be given land titles once all other basic needs are covered.
Sorry, this entry is only available in Khmer. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.
Steung Kambot is an urban poor community located in Lor Kam Bour village, Svay Pak commune, Russey Keo district, Phnom Penh. There are 210 households, 244 families, and 847 community members (437 females). They have lived there since 1979 and continue to live there to this day.
Problem/ Challenge
Because some of the community’s houses were located along Street 1003, Russey Keo authorities did not provide land titles, nor did they recognize their land tenure. Furthermore, authorities referred to the community as a community living on public state roads. Despite having lived there since 1979, the community never obtained any official documentation to act as proof for their settlement and land titling. The community members lack confidence to advocate for their livelihoods and land tenure. From 2020 to 2021, the community suffered from the widening of the 30-meter road, and they still live under fear of imminent eviction, which could potentially have them relocate far from their original settlement.
Intervention by STT
Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) went to observe and discuss the community’s challenges. After hearing their problems, STT implemented a project with the community. The project included training on the Land Law, Circular 03/06, Human Rights Principles, Advocacy and ICT skills. Now the community understands such issues better and have developed more confidence and courage. People in the community have become united and advocate very seriously about their land issues to find a solution.
More recently, the community members organized a public march to an event at the building of the Ministry of Land Management, and Urban Planning and Construction, where the Prime Minister presided. The community members just wanted to raise two points: on-site development, and land titling. The Khan authorities said that the campaign was illegal since the community residents had not submitted requests to relevant local authorities.
Result/ Outcome/ Change
As a result of STT’s intervention, the community members now have the capacity to lead community and advocacy activities more independently, with confidence. From September 2020 until now, the community has submitted five petitions to four ministries and one letter to the Prime Minister’s cabinet seeking intervention in their land settlement. In addition, on 29 October 2021, they submitted their letter to the Ministry of Justice and the relevant Anti-Corruption Unit to request intervention on their land issue. Mr. Makara received an invitation from the Russey Keo district administration to discuss the community’s land situation.
However, Mr. Sar Makara refused to attend the meeting with Mr. Prach Seiha, Deputy Governor of Russey Keo District, because Mr. Sar Makara stated that this meeting could take place only with the participation of at least 10 to 12 members of the community’s committee.
Community representatives went to the Ministry of Justice and Anti-Corruption Unit for following up the petition
In October 2021, Community members (244 families) of Steung Kambot community conducted a campaign to request the government to look at their land issue. The community blocked the street to force the authority to consider their land problem. One of the community leaders, Mrs Long Poch said “SuSu (keeping fighting for land rights)! I will die on the land”.
Authorities of Russey Keo district finally conducted a meeting with the community on the 11 November, 2021 to discuss with the community on the issues and to find solutions. More than 200 Community members of Steung Kambot community met with Mr. Ek Khun Doeun, the governor of Khan Russey Keo, to discuss and find a solution for their land issue.
Another community representative, Mrs. Reoung Oun said that “We, the community members have been living here for 30 years without a land title, but the Borey (gated-community) company has only been developing for 3 to 5 years, and getting the land title, this is very unfair for the communities.”
The community members will continue to advocate by conducting advocacy events at both local and national levels, including the follow-up of submitted petitions to relevant government’s ministries and institutions.
Russey Sros Community is located in a residential area at Group 7 and 8, Russey Sros Village, Sangkat Niroth, Khan Chbar Ampov, in Phnom Penh. It was originally settled in 1979. There are 465 people living in the area, consisting of 100 families, occupying 100 houses. All residents are ethnically Khmer, and include eight individuals who are disabled. In 2010, the community met to re-select a new representative under supervision by Urban Poor Women Development (UPWD), World Vision Cambodia, Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) and local authorities. At a June meeting in 2015, the Sangkat recognized that the Russey Sros community lives on private land that they themselves own. However, the community has not undergone the Systematic Land Registration process, without which no family can obtain a formal land title.
Despite the fact that they live on private land, residents may still face pressure to relocate. During an informal discussion with the Municipality of Phnom Penh (MPP), residents were made aware that the MPP plans to build a bridge from Koh Pich across the River, through their community. However, families have yet to receive any official notifications regarding these plans.
Problems/ Challenges
The community has lived under continuous fear of eviction, ever since they first heard of the MPP’s plan to build a bridge across the river which would force them to relocate. The community has access to electricity provided by the state and buys water from the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority. There is no communal street lighting, nor are there any drainage systems. Some residents have a private toilet, while others use a “flight toilet” – wherein they relieve themselves in a plastic bag and then throw the bag away. There is no rubbish collection. Flooding has also been an issue throughout the three preceding rainy seasons, sometimes lasting more than four weeks.
The community comprises a number of challenges. These include water and air pollution, domestic violence, rampant drug and alcohol abuse; not to mention infrastructure challenges such as the lack of a proper drainage system, hygienic toilets, and the dilapidated state of homes in the area. Families living there are also concerned about the threat of eviction, and flooding problems.
Community members walked through flooding in the community during rainy season
Intervention by STT
Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) has monitored the situation and collected information in the area since 2012. STT has also attempted to map the community, but this has yet to happen. The community empowerment project invited community representatives to attend community exchange visits both in Phnom Penh and in the province. These visits enabled them to witness real urban situations and provided great opportunities for communities to share knowledge. The communities notably demanded land tenure security through the implementation of systematic land registration. Additionally, community representatives and members were
invited to participate in the quarterly meetings that were conducted four times per year. It was a great opportunity for urban communities to meet each other, and to share challenges, experiences, and knowledge. This helped mobilize networks of communities to support each other through social activities with the aim of protecting their land and housing rights from the government and private companies. Exchange Learning visits helped increase capacity for community representatives to be able to exercise leadership within their community. Moreover, community members or representatives were able to gain from the project’s training. Training topics included the land law, secular 03, human rights, non-violence strategies, the basics of ICT, social media (Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Citizen Journalism, Digital Security, Photo and Video making, and so on). The purpose of these trainings was to strengthen community capacity to protect their land and housing rights, and to be able to claim land title and security.
STT’s projects always teach how to produce community plans, monthly meetings, and ways to engage with local authorities for Sangkat Development action plans. Projects also teach advocacy and ICT skills, and how to monitor and reflect, once the activities are underway. Participants were also encouraged by the project to participate in a national forum on housing policy that was held by the Ministry of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction.
Result/ Outcome/ Change
After the projects, the Russey Sros community has become stronger and has developed good relationships with other urban land communities as well as local authorities. They now have the capacity to lead community and advocacy activities more independently, and with confidence. After the community’s struggles which lasted about 18 years, community residents are now waiting for the official land title from Khan Chbar Ampov, as the measuring process of each household is underway. The community members hope that they will get the land title in early 2022.
Since the community representatives and members have joined the trainings, quarterly meetings, workshops, forums, exchange learning visits, NGO advocacy, and Facebook live shows, they have learned about human rights, about land and housing rights, how to protect themselves from forced eviction, and what the main legal documents are, for demanding land and housing rights.
Community representatives and members have understood their rights and now have the capacity to conduct any activity both within the community and outside the community in order to discuss issues and to seek solutions from local authorities. Moreover, they have been submitting petitions to relevant government institutions which enables them to demand interventions on their land dispute. Furthermore, community members joined other communities and civil societies to participate in international events that promote human rights such as World Habitat Day, and International Human Rights Day. In addition, community members always conduct monthly meetings among themselves if they have urgent tasks to be discussed or need to mobilize support from NGOs like STT.
Community monthly meeting conducted by community representative, funded by STT
Throughout their monthly meetings, the community members have gained strength and empowerment by promoting discussion and sharing knowledge, experiences, and new approaches for claiming land titles for many years.
In October 2021, the authorities set up a committee for measuring the GPS of each household. They were informed that all households submitted their documents to relevant authorities to provide land titles where they are located.
Local authorities were measuring the plots of each community member to make a land title in 2021
The community leader of the community Mrs. Sek Saly, 53 years old, living with her husband and one daughter, told STT: “I am so happy to work for my community members and I want to help lift them out of poverty, I put my heart and soul into helping them to get Equity Cards and am waiting to see the result of land titles in the near future”.
Saly added: “Thanks to STT for supporting our community and training us to engage with local authorities in difficult times to achieve the recent changes in the community. STT helped me and other community members to know human rights, land rights, housing rights, communicating with community networks, NGO partners, and how to advocate for a proper solution. I suggest that STT provide more training to them to be able to share in the community.”
On May 19, 2022, a group of more than 30 young people who love the environment participated in a cycling event around Boeung Tamok lake, coordinated by the organizing team of the World Environment Day 2022 with 15 associations and organizations. The event has three main objectives:
First, to raise awareness of the general situation, benefits, and challenges of Boeung Tamok lake;
Second, to promote the youth rights in environmental protection and Third, disseminate information to stakeholders, especially those who have the right to decide, and to consider stopping the cutting and contribute to the degradation of Boeung Tamok lake.
The event started from a community located on the east side of Boeung Tamok lake, then continued along the Win-win boulevard, and then into the central part of the lake before continuing on to the west and the north.
In this event, there have also been some problems, such as the blockading of the road by the Prek Pnov district authority at the central part of the lake, which did not allow the youth to see the view of the lake and the deep pit that was dug to fill the lake. In addition, our youth group also had to cycle across the water because of flooding.
Despite some obstacles, our young people expressed their appreciation for the dedication and for their energy and time in this event.
Please note that Boeung Tamok, also known as Boeung Kobsrov is the largest natural lake in Phnom Penh, located in the northwest of the city along Win-Win Boulevard and has a total area of 3239. 7 hectares, covering two districts. 6 villages and 25 villages. Around the lake, there are about 300 families and about 1,000 people living there, most of whom are involved in fishing, raising fish, planting lotus, farming, and small businesses at home. The lake was determined by the sub-decree in 2016 and by the end of 2021, the lake area has been cut and handed over to private individuals and public institutions at least 46 times, covering a total area of 2,094 hectares or 65% of the lake area.
April 4, 2022 – We, the undersigned organisations, remain deeply concerned about Cambodia’s failure to conduct a thorough, independent, transparent, and effective investigation into the suspected enforced disappearance of Thai activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit and the resulting impunity. As the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) prepares for a preliminary review of the situation of enforced disappearances in Cambodia on 5 April 2022, we call on the CED to address Cambodia’s persistent failure to conduct a prompt and thorough search for Wanchalearm to determine his fate and whereabouts or to effectively and transparently investigate his disappearance.
We stand in solidarity with Wanchalearm and his family and all victims of enforced disappearance, and call on Cambodia to address apparent failures of the investigating to date, and to immediately disclose any information they may have about his fate and whereabouts, and to ensure truth, justice and reparations for his family”. We agree with the CED that “the very nature of enforced disappearance [is] a continuous crime” which presents grave risks to the rights to life, liberty, security of person, freedom from secret detention and torture, as well as the right to family life. Families of those disappeared have faced incalculable suffering, while being deprived of the right to obtain redress and have closure.
The CED has previously expressed concern over Cambodian authorities’ failure to define and conduct thorough, impartial, and independent searches and investigations into reported enforced disappearances, a pattern that continued with Wanchalearm’s case. In June 2020, Wanchalearm was abducted in broad daylight outside his apartment building while living in exile in Phnom Penh. Wanchalearm is an outspoken critic of the Thai government and the subject of criminal charges in Thailand. His abduction was captured on CCTV footage, which includes images of the vehicle used and its license plate, as well as by eyewitnesses. Wanchalearm’s sister, Sitanan Satsaksit, also overheard part of the abduction as she was on the phone with him at the time. General Chhay Kim Khouen, spokesman of the National Police, and Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, initially dismissed the abduction as “fake news” while another official implied that the government would not investigate the matter because there was no formal complaint.
Authorities later denied Wanchalearm had been in Cambodia at the time despite clear evidence and instead focused on issues irrelevant to determining his fate and whereabouts such as whether he had proper immigration documentation. Amid widespread international condemnation, and only after Sitanan Satsaksit filed a formal complaint with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on 8 July 2020, Cambodian authorities finally opened a criminal investigation in September 2020. Despite Sitanan giving testimony and evidence to a Phnom Penh court in December 2020 and early 2021, there have been no leads in the investigation. Subsequent appeals for information on his disappearance and the progress of the investigation from Wanchalearm’s family have been met with silence. In Thailand, Thai authorities have twice threatened Sitanan with criminal charges after she spoke at events in September and December 2021 about her brother’s disappearance and the need to enact Thailand’s draft law on the prevention and suppression of torture and enforced disappearances.
Wanchalearm’s disappearance is a chilling reminder of the 2007 cross-border disappearances of two Vietnamese pro-democracy and labour activists from Cambodia. For example, Le Tri Tue, a Vietnamese dissident, disappeared in Phnom Penh in 2007 after applying for asylum and remains missing.
Failure to effectively investigate his abduction calls into question the authorities’ compliance with Cambodia’s obligations under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED), to which Cambodia became a state party in 2013. Specifically, Cambodia is in violation of its duties under international human rights law to undertake a thorough and impartial investigation without delay, take necessary measures to hold those involved criminally responsible, and guarantee access to information to the families of the victims and those with a legitimate interest. In addition, unconscionable delays in the search for a disappeared person are inconsistent with the Guiding Principles for the search for disappeared persons, including to presume the person is alive, respect human dignity, begin without delay, use information in an appropriate manner, and respect that the search is a continuing obligation until the fate of the disappeared is known.
The CED opened its 22nd session on 28 March and will develop a List of Issues that will form the basis for the review of Cambodia’s first report under Article 29 of the ICPPED. This report was due in 2015 but was not submitted by the Cambodian government until 2021.
This joint statement is endorsed by:
1. Sitanan Satsaksit and Family
2. Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA), Cambodia
3. Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT), Cambodia
4. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh
5. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
6. Asian Resource Foundation (ARF), Thailand
7. Association of Women for Awareness & Motivation (AWAM), Pakistan
8. Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), India
9. Bytes for All, Pakistan
10. Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
11. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
12. Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF), Cambodia
13. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Cambodia
14. Cambodian Institute for Democracy (CID), Cambodia
15. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), Cambodia
16. Cambodian Youth Network (CYN), Cambodia
17. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), Cambodia
18. Center for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), Mongolia
19. Center for Prisoners’ Rights (CPR), Japan
20. Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC), Cambodia
21. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL), Cambodia
22. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), India
23. Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF), Thailand
24. Defence of Human Rights (DHR), Pakistan
25. Dignity-Kadyr-kassiyet (KK), Kazakhstan
26. Equitable Cambodia (EC), Cambodia
27. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan
28. Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA), Thailand
29. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), Cambodia
30. The Indonesian Human Rights Monitor – Inisiatif Masyarakat Partisipatif untuk Transisi Berkeadilan (Imparsial), Indonesia
31. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
32. Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS), South Korea
33. League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI), Iran
34. Madaripur Legal Aid Association (MLAA), Bangladesh
35. Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN), Maldives
36. Manushya Foundation, Thailand
37. Odhikar, Bangladesh
38. People’s Empowerment Foundation (PEF), Thailand
39. People’s Watch, India
40. Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI), India
41. Progressive Voice, Myanmar
42. Safety and Risk Mitigation Organization (SRMO), Afghanistan
43. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT), Cambodia
44. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Malaysia
45. Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), Thailand
46. The Cambodian NGO Committee on CEDAW (NGO-CEDAW), Cambodia
47. Think Centre, Singapore
48. Transparency International Cambodia (TIC)
49. Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR), Vietnam
50. Youth Resources Development Program (YRDP)
Authorities have alarmingly escalated the use of violence and mass detention of union members in front of NagaWorld casino in recent weeks, as well as increasing restrictions placed on human rights monitors and journalists covering the authorities’ worsening crackdown. We, the undersigned civil society groups, urge the government to de-escalate the situation and stop the repeated intimidation of strikers, including driving them to various areas far from the city center and leaving them stranded there late at night.
We are concerned by recent actions from authorities prohibiting human rights monitors and journalists from observing the continued use of violence against peaceful strikers, most of whom are women. On multiple occasions, authorities have barred human rights monitors and journalists from taking photographs or standing near the site of these heavy-handed detentions. Journalists have been threatened with arrest for covering the strike, and in several cases authorities have pushed monitors and journalists away as authorities violently drag strikers onto buses. They have also threatened to detain monitors alongside strikers at Covid-19 quarantine centers.
In some cases, authorities have forced monitors to delete photographs and videos of the incidents – further showing that these abusive arrests are a source of shame, and are not justified under domestic or international law. If observers continue to be restricted, we fear that there may be a further increase in violence and abuse during this crackdown.
In addition, in recent days authorities have put strikers into city buses and driven them to the outskirts of the city, dropping them off and forcing them to arrange and pay for their own transport home. This is entirely arbitrary and serves only to punish workers without any legal justification, reasoning or authority.
Women strikers from LRSU have also been targeted with violence, sexual harassment, imprisonment, and arbitrary application of COVID-19 measures in response to their peaceful strike since December 2021. On 29 December 2021, in an incident captured on video, authorities used vulgar sexual language toward a striker and threatened to sexually assault her. On 22 February, a male officer grabbed and squeezed the breast of one striker as she was being forced onto a bus. On 22 March, a woman striker was hit in the eye by authorities while being detained. These actions are unacceptable.
LRSU has conducted their strike peacefully and within the framework of Cambodian and international law, which guarantees the rights to assembly and free association. Yet the government’s response to the strike has been to arrest 11 union members, activists and leaders on trumped-up charges, which still hang over their heads despite their release on bail. Authorities have also regularly arrested and temporarily detained hundreds of additional LRSU strikers on a near-daily basis, arbitrarily sending them to Covid-19 quarantine centers or, more recently, dropping them off in remote areas of the city.
We call on authorities to de-escalate this situation and to take genuine steps toward resolving the dispute, including ensuring that NagaWorld participates in negotiations in good faith and in alignment with Cambodian law.
This joint statement endorsed by:
197 Land Community (Koh Kong)
Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA)
Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
Am Leang Community (Kampong Speu)
Andong Trabek Land Community (Svay Rieng)
Areng Indigenous Community (Koh Kong)
Association of Domestic Workers (ADW)
Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)
Boeung Pram Community (Battambang)
Bos Snor Community (Tbong Khmum)
Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM)
Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
Cambodia’s Independent Civil Servants Association (CICA)
Cambodian Informal Economy Workers Association (CIWA-CLC)
Cambodian Labor Confederation (CLC)
Cambodian Tourism Workers Union Federation (CTWUF)
Cambodian Journalists Alliance (CamboJA)
Chi Kha Kraom Land Community (Koh Kong)
Chi Kha Leu Land Community (Koh Kong)
Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability (CISA)
Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community Association (CCFC)
Community to Protect Nature (Pursat)
Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
Cambodian Youth Network (CYN)
Dak Por Community (Kampong Speu)
Equitable Cambodia (EC)
Gender and Development Cambodia (GADC)
Haong Samnam Community (Kampong Speu)
Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
Independent Trade Union Federation (INTUFE)
Kamprers community (Tboung Khmum)
Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA)
Khmer Thavrak
Klaing Toek 78 Community (Siemreap)
Koh Sralao Fishery Community (Koh Kong)
Kouy Indigenous Community (Preah Vihear)
Labour Right Supported Union Khmer Employee of Nagaworld (L.R.S.U)
Lor Peang Community (Kampong Chhnang)
Mean Chey Land Community (Svay Rieng)
Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC)
Peace Bridges Organization (PBO)
Peam Ros Community (Kampong Speu)
People Center for Development and Peace (PDP)
Phnom Krom Community (Siemreap)
Phnom Tnaut Community (Kampot)
Phum Sela Khmer Land Community (Banteay Meanchey)
Ponlok Khmer (PKH)
Prek Ksach Land Community (Koh Kong)
Prey Chher Pech Changvar Laor Chhert Community (Kampong Chhnang)
Prey Lang Community (Stung Treng)
Prey Lang Community (Kampong Thom)
Prey Peay Fishery Community (Kampot)
Ou Vor Preng Community (Battambang)
Reaksmei Sameakki Community (Kampong Speu)
Samaki Chek Meas Community (Svay Rieng)
Solidarity House (SH)
Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
Sre Ampel Water Fall Tourism Forestry Community (Kampong Chhnang)
Sre Prang Community (Tboung Khmum)
Steung Khsach Sor Forestry Resource (Kampong Chhnang)
A new research study by Sahmakum Teang Tnaut titled “COVID-19 and the help provided” assesses the Government’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and compares them to community requests for help. The research process consisted of interviews with 45 community members. On 28 April 2020, communities from around the country went to meet with Government officials to submit a joint request signed by 141 communities calling for help at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Communities from around the country submitted five key requests to the Government in 2020, and this research measures the Government’s responses and actions. The 5 requests to the government are: Distribute preventative medical supplies to the most vulnerable; Ease or suspend debt to MFIs, banks, and private money-leaders; Rental suspension, and suspension of all taxes on sales; Stay at home payments; and Relocation and eviction issues.
This research finds that the Government did not respond to all the requests for help from communities. The Government reacted to help communities in some ways and did not react at all to other requests. The Government provided medical supplies to communities, offered payments, and enacted policies to reduce MFI debts. However, communities reported that the Government did not respond to requests to stop evicting communities even during a global pandemic. At least 11 communities from around Phnom Penh were evicted or issued with a notice to evict during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government did not suspend rental payments despite direct requests from 37 of the 45 communities that STT interviewed. The request was made because income for workers throughout communities had decreased or workers had lost their jobs. Many families who rented houses or areas to sell or do business had less income to pay rental fees.
Mrs. Lay Srey Met, representative of Prek Ta Kong 60m community, said:
“During the COVID-19 outbreak, my income went down because sales were not as good as before. Because there are so many difficulties in daily life. “I and all community members have submitted a request to the government, but we have not received any assistance or response from the government”
World City Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 with the aim of improving the lives of urban dwellers and finding ways to improve cities. Cambodia has committed to the 17 sustainable development goals, with a particular focus on sustainable cities and communities. In line with Cambodia’s commitment, the objectives of City Day 2023 are as follows:
On the 38th World Habitat Day, we, the people from the land and housing communities in Phnom Penh and the provinces, are facing insecurity regarding land and housing due to inadequate development. We are concerned about forced evictions and insufficient compensation, as we have historically endured such hardships. The Cambodian Constitution, specifically Article 44, guarantees the right to own property and proper housing for all citizens. Additionally, international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, guarantees the right to adequate housing.
This report is a continuation of STT’s previous study on the state of Phnom Penh’s urban poor settlements published in 2017. It aims to update data on urban poor settlements, such as information on evictions, land titling, and socio-economic conditions. The survey was conducted in Phnom Penh from July 2022 to December of 2022 followed by data analysis and report formatting from January 2023 onwards. 
As of July 2023, Boeung Tamok or Boeung Kob Srov, a lake that was designated as public state property by Sub-Decree No. 20 on February 3, 2016 and had a total area of 3,239.7 hectares, has been transferred as private state property and handed over to private individuals and other institutions 70 times, covering a total area of 2,369.8913 hectares. This large number has made the cutting of the lake deviate from the master plan and the area of Boeung Tamok Lake is almost fully gone.
The Identification of Poor Household Program is one of Cambodia’s first social protection mechanisms. It allows individuals to access services that provide the poor with public services and financial assistance. The report found that the authorities’ decision to provide ID-poor cards to some families was unclear, while some ID-poor cardholders had trouble using the card to receive free government services. Seventy-three percent of the 37 communities surveyed complained about the implementation of the Identification of Poor Households Program and the way the authorities implemented it. In addition, the communities interviewed articulated disappointment as they thought they should receive an ID Poor card:
Today, Cambodians use social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as other networks and applications for entertainment, social networking, receiving and providing information, advertising, and for employment. 
A new research study by Sahmakum Teang Tnaut titled “COVID-19 and the help provided” assesses the Government’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and compares them to community requests for help.