Anti Land Grabbing Demonstration in Sihanoukville  Cambodia.
Channel: RealEstateCambodia
Date: 2011-08-11

ANTI LAND GRAB PROTEST IN SIHANOUK VILLE

This demonstration represents about 200 families. They are protesting an attempt at stealing their land, about 23 hectares of prime sea-and lake view hill-side real estate just behind the lake at Independence beach.

THE MASTER PLAN
Allegedly, this is the master plan. The Sihanouk-ville Water Department needs more fresh water for this growing city, this is true, no problems there, everybody agrees. The problems starts, when under the pretense of enlarging the water reservoir the Water Department of Sihanouk-ville is trying to take possession of the hill-side north and north west of the lake. That is somehow daring on their part, because, as you certainly know, you cannot store water on a 42 meters above sea level hill-side ...But you can build nice condominiums and villas for example....

The est and south part of the reservoir, where nobody leaves, is at the same water level than the rest of the lake and is in fact the ONLY place where you could store more water. It could very easily be dredge, deepens and enlarged, doubling if not tripling the volume of the reservoir.

It begs the question. Why after a few days after the families have paid their dues to the main cadastre in Phom Penh to get their definitive cadastre certificates, the Sihanouk-ville Water Department submits a proposal to the ministry to the effect that, to protect the water reservoir, nobodies can build homes on the hill-side and that the whole 23 hectares should be given to the Water Department of Sihanouk-ville. Allegedly, he families will be compensated for their loss. Each families will be given a 4.5 square meters piece of land in the old Chinese cemetery. The message is clear: go away, go die, we don't need you, we already have a cemetery ready for you!

YOU CANNOT STORE WATER ON A HILL!
The Water Department excuse of wanting to protect the reservoir water is legitimate but it doesn't need to take possession of the hill-side for that. The residents want to protect the lake as well, after all they are using its waters everyday too. It would simply need for new constructions to respect the building code and techniques for the storage of used waters to keep the lake clean.

The Water Department excuse of wanting to expand the reservoir water is legitimate; the east and south sides of the lake is perfect for that. The 42 meters high hill on the north and west is no so perfect to store water as you CANNOT store water on a hill!

Allegedly; you can be sure, that if the families get evicted from the hill-side, the Water Department will quickly realize that you cannot store water on a hill and, hence, allegedly, will quickly sell the hill to some big and famous local real estate developer, who, allegedly, will build luxury villas and condominium on this piece of prime real estate.

So, allegedly, that is the master plan; evict 200 families from 23 hectares of prime real estate using the Water Department pretext of improving the water reservoir, then buy back the hill from the Water Department as it cannot store water on a hill, then build villas and condominium on the hill...Make millions...

The 200 families have been living on this land at least since 1979 for most of them, the law is on their sides and normally every one should get a definitive cadastre registrar as they have paid their dues to Phon Penh.
All those families have great hopes, plans and dreams for their futures, but now they have to fight against the greed of the, alleged, real estate mafia to keep them alive.
Who will win this David against Goliath battle? That is the question.


Another manifestation is planed, in the near future, in Phom Penh, in the Hope that The President Mr Hun Sen will hear the cries from those families and adjudicate in they favor.

YOU CAN HELP!
Yes, You can help!
Post, link, twit, circulate this article and videos.
Getting exposition in the Cambodian and international media; printed news paper, blogs, news sites would be fantastic.
You all know the power of the net.
You know as well that it is the power of the net that helps the little people to expose and topple the oppressors. Let's use it together!
Thanks in advance.