Despair and Hope

SUNDAY, JULY 11

We met Licadho Canada today at their office, and then we travelled to two settlements of people who had been evicted from their land in Phnom Penh. The first settlement consisted of prison-like buildings that were given to the people when 7NG evicted them from their homes. As their homes were destroyed, those who opposed were treated inhumanly. The new settlement was a very sad place, but the children still played and posed to have their pictures taken. One family even prepared a meal for us using the best food available to them.

The second settlement site was even worse than the first. These families lived in make-shift houses: a mixture of boards, straw, and tarps. At first, it was difficult to process that this was real and that these people were living in such destitute conditions. The look of despair was written on the faces of the adults especially. The children, God bless them, still smiled and followed us around as we visited with people in the community. When people were told that we were from D&P, we were greeted with smiles and even hugs. The staff of Licadho Canada, led by Canadian Lee Robinson, are incredible people. The work they do for people facing land evictions is often dangerous, with people being put in prison for their part in the resistance movement.

Both of the communities we met with were part of the Dey Krahorm eviction which took place in January 2009, after a five year battle to save their homes and their land. Hope for these people is in our hands and hearts, in supporting organizations like Licadho. Once again I am left with a good feeling about the work of D&P in helping to be the voice of the voiceless.

These people have touched me and I know that when I leave Cambodia I will not look at so many things in the same way. I have seen both the pride and the despair of the Cambodian people.

by Linda Arsenault