Op-ed day 2: Protests at Boeung Kak --by Selin

Despite the dismay over the actions of the Cambodian government at Boeung Kak, our visit to the lakeside made me hopeful about the future of Cambodia. Considering the oppression of the Khmer Rouge regime and the prevalent authoritarian political culture, it was encouraging to witness Khmer people standing up for their citizenship rights.  According to a resident who informed us on the situation, 4,000 families were forced to evacuate their houses.  The total number of people evicted will be around 30,000 – the largest number of Phnom Penh residents to leave their houses ever since Khmer Rouge marched into the city (according to the International Alliance of Inhabitants).

However, despite the oppression by the police and the strength of the companies in question, people did not abide by the orders of the government. When asked whether they would be willing to make a deal, one resident stated that this issue was one of principle and not of money, and that they wanted to continue living in Boeung Kak. They had strong opinions against the way the eviction was handled: how their houses were torn down overnight, and how the government considers them expendable when the interests of powerful companies are at stake. It was all the more shocking to hear that one of the companies hired men to drive down the streets of Boeung Kak at night and shoot in the air. Apparently, they wanted to frighten the residents and prevent them from continuing their protests. 

Unfortunately for the companies, neither police brutality nor armed men stopped the people of Boeung Kak. They seem to have a clear idea of the type of development they do not want: one that supports big businesses at the expense of Cambodian citizens. I believe their struggle is worthy of respect and is an example of what Cambodia needs for development. In a corrupt political environment, a strong civil society is essential to exert some control over the government. Certainly, this incident is inadequate to reach a conclusion However, I believe it is noteworthy that Cambodian people are learning more about their citizenship rights and how a healthy democracy should function. But more importantly, they are not afraid of demanding their rights.  In this context, it is important to underline the significance of the work of NGOs in Cambodia in raising awareness and the necessity of the support of the international community.