ព័ត៌មាន

Police Arrest Activists at Kem Ley Murder Anniversary

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On the morning July 10, 2019, about 100 members of NGOs, youths and human rights activists were monitored by authorities and often stopped or moved when trying to gather at Star Mart Caltext gasoline station, to mark the 3 year anniversary of the murder of the prominent social and political analyst Kem Ley on June 10, 2016. At the same time, 3 people were detained and taken to away while they were trying to get involved in the event. The attempt to prohibit Kem Ley’s supporters from a peaceful gathering violated the Constitution as well as the Law on Peaceful Demonstration even though representatives of this event notified the event to Phnom Penh Capital Hall following procedures required by domestic law.

Photos provided to STT by community members

Questioning and violation of rights of Community Leader by police at World Habitat Day event in Prek Takong 60 Metres

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At around 8.30am, police and authorities from Chak Angre Leu Sangkat arrived at Prek Takong 60 Metre community and began to cancel the World Habitat Day (WHD) event being held by the community. Police informed the community that the event was illegal and a community representative was then arrested and taken to the Sangkat office. The community representative was then shown a letter and asked to place their thumbprint on it. The letter stated that the community representative will not celebrate any events in the future without asking for prior permission from the Municipality of Phnom Penh and Ministry of Interior.

In addition, the police questioned the community representative, asking specifically who had helped to support the event and implying that they knew NGOs were “behind this”.

Photos provided to STT by community members

The community representative was then released from the Sangkat office at around 10:00am after putting their thumbprint on the letter mentioned. The community representative was told they were not allowed to leave until they put their thumbprint on the letter.

Last week, Prek Takong 60 Metre community informed local authorities of their intention to hold a WHD event and authorities said it would be illegal to do so. The community followed procedures under the Law on Peaceful Demonstrations (2009) and has not violated this law.

This community is located in the Boeung Tompoun lake area, which is a hotbed for land conflicts as much of the area is under development by the ING Holdings group.

Local Authority Destroys Residential Property without a Public Consultation

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19 January 2016

At about 8.30 am on the morning of 18 January 2016, an estimated 100 mixed up forces of Khan and Sangkat Russey Keo, equipped with hammers, knifes, axes and saws and deploying an excavator to destroy properties of residents living in O Baktouk village, Sangkat Boeung Salang, Khan Russey Keo, following Khan’s notification issued on 12 January 2016 that inform people living along the O Baktoul canal to remove voluntary some properties grow or build illegally along the edge of the canal.

According to the notification of Khan Russey Keo, this is only administrative measure to move such toilets, kitchen and chicken’s cottages of families which have lived on edge of Baktouk canal, which accused as illegal. The authority’s action was to 3 families which requested and very challenged to conduct a transparent development.

In the wake situation Khan Russey Keo governor Mr. Thun Sokhorn did a media conference on that issue, in order to clarify with media and public why authority come to take this action. He said in the conference that this project is in the master plan of MPP and we do this because of public interest; he added that authority firstly take only about 10 meters from the edge of the canal, but it is 20 meters according to regulation. Moreover, authority will conduct both sides of the canal where approximately 300 families could be effected by the project; nevertheless he affirmed that there will no compensation for those who could effect. It should be noted that the canal stretches about 4 km long starting point at street 273 (Tuol Sangke) till Borei Kong Bun Hov and so far they initially achieved about 1800 meters a side.

According to Mr. Sek Sokha, an effected resident telling us that next step is going to seek legal aid from Land NGO (i.g CLEC) over the case.

People in Chrang Chomres 1 and Chrang Chomres 2 received zinc under Human Rights Based Spatial Planning from STT

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On 09th December 2015,

STT team visited Chrang Chomres community that have 4 villages, which consisted of 34 families Read More

ODK Training for White Building

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The Technical Program at STT is currently planning to conduct research on The White Building, located at Phum1 and 2 village in the Tonle Bassac commune of the Chamkar Morn district in Phnom Penh. A training was held today at STT, where 3 staff members along with 3 interns from the Human Rights Based Spatial Planning (HRBSP) project were taught how to use the Open Data Kit (ODK) system in order to collect data from the White Building using mobile technology. By using the ODK system, members of the training will be able to build a data collection survey, collect data on a mobile device and send it to a server, as well as aggregate the collected data.

Data on the White Building is being collected in order to be able to conduct feasibility studies and infrastructure upgrades. Currently the building has cracks and fissures, rooftop leaking, and blockage in the existing draining. Residents of the community also wish to improve the outward appearance of the building.

Spatial Planning Lab: Call for Applications

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Collaborative partners Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT), People in Need Cambodia (PIN), and Open Development Cambodia (ODC) are launching a Spatial Planning Lab: Putting People in the Heart of Spatial Planning. The lab aims to provide a holistic learning experience for future land use planners and encourages them to draw connections between theory and practice. The curriculum aims to strengthen and explain multidisciplinary knowledge in inclusive spatial planning, essentially by putting people and their rights at the heart of the spatial planning process. The Spatial Planning Lab is carried out over a period of 15 weeks (starting from April 2015), and will occur Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM (please see the tentative schedule) at Development Innovations Cambodia.

The Spatial Planning Lab will accept 30 students. To apply, please download and fill out the registration form. Please submit the completed registration form together with a Curriculum Vita (CV) via e-mail to contact.spatialplanninglab@gmail.com before 05 April 2015. Female students are encouraged to apply. If you have further questions, please contact the Spatial Planning Lab organizing team via the email above or by phone at 012 333 260.

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Download registration form: https://www.dropbox.com/…/akswsy…/AABhMDOMtT50iKfS66oWrz4pa…

Monks, Land activists, youth and CSOs garthered in front of the National Assembly

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In the morning of the 18^th of December 2014 at 8 AM, monks, community, land activists, youth and civil society organizations gathered in front of the National Assembly to called for the release of 18 activists currently in jail.

First, the group gathered in front of the National Assembly to request a response on the petition filed on the 14^th of November 2014. This initial petition was presented to the National Assembly for Ministry officials and the president of the Municipal Court to release the 18 activists who include men, women and monks.

Second, the group gathered in front of the Ministry of Justice to deliver a new petition to push the Supreme Court to retrial the 18 activists by taking into consideration the human rights of the activists, ensuring that the proceedings are just.

Finally, the group arrived in front of the Royal Palace to provide another petition to the King to intervene in the release of 8 female land and human rights activists, who part of the 18 activists. These women have been on hunger strike for the past 8 days, and they may face death without intervention as their health is extremely poor.

JICA Present Railway Project for Phnom Penh City

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During a conference on Wednesday, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) presented their modern railway system project for Phnom Penh City, which is set to be completed in 2023. It is part of a multi-million dollar master plan to improve transportation in the capital city.

The railway will play a crucial role in reducing traffic congestion in the Phnom Penh. Currently, there is a distinct lack of public transportation—the city bus only has one line along Preach Monivong Blvd.

The planned railway is expected to accommodate approximately 72,500 to 81,600 travellers a day and will help Phnom Penh City adapt to the demands of globalization.

According to Mr. Trak Thaiseang, the Deputy of the Phnom Penh Council, if the project takes place, some residents (such as sugarcane juice sellers along the railway) will be forced to relocate. However, there are plans for new infrastructure such as a school, a health center, and new housing for evictees in order to ease the transition.

Get link from the Phnom Penh Post http://bit.ly/1pODacH

Design Intervention for Urban poor community Workshop

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From the 22nd August, STT will be conducting a 3 day Urban Poor Community Design Intervention Workshop at Niroth Boeung Chhouk Community. Approximately 30 students of architecture, urban planning, engineering and other young people will take part. They will gain knowledge and skills in poor urban planning design and relocation sites, and the effects of forced eviction.

Public Forum On “Consultations on housing issues with community residents remaining Borey Keila”

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In early 2003, a “land-sharing” arrangement was proposed for Borei Keila, which allowed the well-connected construction company, Phanimex, to develop part of the area for commercial purposes while providing housing to the residents on the remaining land. Phanimex was obligated to build 10 apartment buildings on two hectares of land for the villagers in return for obtaining ownership of an additional 2.6 hectares for commercial development. In April 2010, Phanimex unilaterally reneged on the agreement, however – with the approval of the government – and only constructed eight buildings. The 300 Borei Keila families excluded from the original agreement had their houses demolished by Phanimex (eight community representatives were arrested at the time), and have been living on the site since then. In January 2012, the remaining community members who were waiting for the two promised buildings to be constructed had their shelters bulldozed by the company and supported by local authorities and were forced to leave the site. On August 12, 2014, the Phnom Penh Municipality organized a public forum to find a solution to this ongoing Borey Keila housing crisis at Chenla Theatre. The program was open to public participation from residents, civil society, and other relevant organizations that depend on the City Hall set up under Mr. Khoung Sreng, Deputy Governor of Phnom Penh.To keep order there, a team of City Hall officials arrived one hour before the program opened at Chenla Theatre. Approximately 300 people participated in the forum, which was chaired by deputy of Phnom Penh Governor Mr. Khoung Sreng. However, this forum was just the platform for collecting the relevant documents to be used as evidences for a final resolution in the near future. Mr. Khoung Sreng confirmed that City Hall has the resources to provide compensation to the remaining residents. He also stated that this program will be offered to citizens who present verification that they own the land to the City Hall team. There are many documents that applicants need to provide such as: grid, national list, voting card, family book, doctor certificate, and identity card. The City Hall team also recorded evidence and people’s thumbprints to confirm that they provided the necessary. Before closing, Khoung Sreng said that the purpose of this program it just to collect and verify evidence for the Borey Keila case. At the end, he also said that Phnom Penh will help the residents of Borey Keila and will strive to solve all of their problems as soon as possible.