Are you there Oprah? it's me, Anna

Phnom Preuk District, Oda Commune

                 

And so it begins again.

The government has given away 4,000 hectares of land in the Phnom Preuk District, Oda Commune in Battambang.  A villager was attacked by the army as he tried to stop the development company officials measuring the villagers plots of land that they are stealing.  The disregard for Cambodians basic human rights is so blatant that sometimes it’s almost farcical.  Like someone coming into your home and measuring your bathroom to see what they will be doing with it after they steal it from you.  And there is nothing you can do to stop them. 

When will the government stop selling their peoples land to billion dollar corporations?  Read about it here.

In other news, Monash uni just inherited the King (father) Norodom Sihanouk’s personal archives.  So you can go and read his personal documents or just chill out to some kingly jams. 

                  

DAYUM.

Women on the Land II

This week Amnesty International released a a report on land evictions and resistance and the effect it is having on Cambodian women.  The report clearly illustrated the vocal and important role women play in the issue.  In a lot of provinces it is the women who work the land while men travel to cities for work.  Women are left on the front line to fight for their rights when police with guns turn up to burn their houses and steal their plots of land to hand over to massive corporations.  

It was a sad week as Chea Dara Boeung Kak Lake resident, community representative, wife and mother of two, jumped off a bridge to her death after being informed for the final time that her house was to be demolished to make way for a road in the Shukaku Inc. development.  She was one of the nine women who were detained by the police earlier this year at a community protest.

You can only push people so far before something breaks.  Entire communities, families and lives are being destroyed in this country due to greed being perpetrated in the name of “development”.  Land grabbing is so devastating as it not only leaves people homeless but it takes away their livelihoods, their jobs, their communities and for a lot of people who suffer health issues such as HIV, their access to vital medical care.  

Radio Australia’s Liam Cochrane has done another great report on the continual fall out of the partially AusAID funded railway project.

Women of the land I

Last week Sochua attended a rally held by the residents of the Borei Keila.  The project which has been held up by developers and authorities as an example of successful resettlement - an improvement of living conditions for those resettled - has once again been a scene of violent clashes between the residents and police.  The residents were protesting the reneging of the development company Phanimex’s promises of onsite resettlement.  This gross injustice leaves the 386 families who were evicted for the development homeless.  Charming. 

After the protest Sochua attended a meeting with the company and was able to convince them to commit to the original agreement again.  To say one must be cautiously optimistic about the Phanimex’s word, is to put it mildly.  But at least it is something. 

Fear and Loathing in Phnom Penh

So I have avoided talking about my medical situation on here, mostly because it was a bit too upsetting for me to blog about. But the past few days have given me some peace and being pollyanna and jokey about it really won’t cut it.

My injuries from the accident are more complicated than I was letting on. I have to return to Australia for medical treatment as soon as the swelling has gone down and I am safe to fly.  I have sustained some damage to the brain that is potentially permanent and needs neurological attention. 

It has been a really hard week for me emotionally.  It definitely was not the way I wished to leave Cambodia.  Not just physically but mentally. There is a whole lot of weird baggage that comes with being dragged off a speeding motorcycle that really dampens your stride. 

Like fear.

Lying bloody on the ground coming in and out of consciousness and having the two men that I’d flagged down after my accident argue about whether to help me or take my bag does not a joy for humanity spring. 

For those that know me personally, you have probably shaken your head at some point due to how stubborn I am.  I am not one for taking things lying down.  In fact, in order to not be a victim I almost become the aggressor.  (Yes, be warned future attackers!)  Victim is not a word that sits well with me.

But sometimes you don’t really have a choice about these things.

Since the accident I am jumpy and fearful.  I wake up every night, positive that there is someone in my apartment.  Unable to fall back asleep I perform some strange ritual of a broken down security guard stalking the windows and doors with every sound.  It’s frustrating because logically I know that it is highly unlikely someone is in my apartment - there was no one there the night before, or before that, or before that - but I still can’t help but be fearful.  This leaves me tired and really angry. 

Really really angry.

Angry that I feel so vulnerable.  Angry that I now doubt the validity of any tuk tuk driver I meet.  Angry that I sit on my bag when I’m in a public space like a crazy person.  I used to see those barang and roll my eyes.  (Lets face it- it’s me, i still do!)  And I hate that I am reduced to that.

But I’m not.  This is a temporary condition.  Like the headaches, fear comes and it too will go.  And this time next week I will be in Australia. 

I just hope that I will be able to make my way back to this country one way or another.  The sisters I’ve worked with, the friends I’ve met, the work I’ve been honoured to take part in - I hope that one day I can make Phnom Penh my home.  Even if I do have to deal with some weird sitting-on-your-bag-barang issues. 

Occupy my brain

I feel like at least once a day I’m recommending people to read this article, so it’s about time I immortalised it on here.  My homeboy Ben Gook managed to write what I think about politics both in Washington, Phnom Penh, Melbourne and the provinces, without swearing or being condescending once!  Far better job than me.

So please check it out.  And then I can stop telling everyone to read it already.