About 200 members of the Khmer Youth Group, together with other civil society groups, monks from the Independent Monk Network for Social Justice (IMNSJ), Radio Beehive’s Mam Sonando and CNRP Lawmaker Real Camerin, stormed through two or three blockade attempts by Municipal Security Guards and Riot Police before being stopped at a few meters from the Vietnamese Embassy. During the three-hour standoff, there was some pushing and pulling, and a few stones were thrown. The demonstration was held to demand apologies from Vietnam regarding what the protesters consider the annexation of Kampuchea Krom.
See also HERE…
The Boeung Kak lake community held a demonstration in front of the Anti Corruption Unit gates regarding their land issue with Mr Lao Mengkhim, Senator, heading the company which obtained a 99 year lease on the 133 hectares of Boeung Kak lake, evicted 3000 families, and just recently sold about 1 hectare to another company (which it is not supposed to do under the lease agreement).
The Boeung Kak case has been dragging on since 2007, and it seems to be far from over. More on this story and on other land issues stories in Cambodia from 2000 on can be found in ‘Quest for Land’, an app for the iPad and for Macs running Mavericks. The app can be bought AT THIS LINK for 8.99$
Better than a trip to Sihanoukville, better than a hammock in Kieng Svay, better than watching a ‘brodal serei’ match on TV: the shopping mall…
Sothearos Boulevard was flooded by a heavy, long rain. For some it is great fun. For the Japanese Cooperation it is probably not. The drainage system they set in place, and which is not yet finished, couldn’t cope with the amount of rain. I wonder which drainage system could cope with that quantity of water anyhow.
Several army units braved the blistering heat in front of the Royal Palace for the rehearsals of a carefully planned ceremony during which part of the ashes from late King Norodom Sihanouk, deceased on October 15th 2013, will be brought to a stupa within the grounds of the Royal Palace.
Reminder: my e-book ‘Royal Silence’, which contains a text by Abby Seiff and Pierre Gillette, with photographs of King Sihanouk from back in 1991 when he returned from exile as well as an extensive selection of photographs of the ceremonies during his funeral, is available on iTunes at THIS LINK for 3.99$US.
Andrew Parker, a hot air balloon pilot on a 100 international locations tour to raise awareness on child education on behalf of an international NGO, blew up his aircraft near Wat Botum. A muddy countryside prevented him from lifting off…
Posted Tuesday Jul 01, 2014, in
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Or: ‘Photographer Has 25-year Relationship With Cambodia. Ends Up Shooting Shopping Mall’…
The opening of the first Aeon mall along Sothearos boulevard is an undeniable success. Throngs of visitors clog the neighbouring streets to visit what they were denied so far: a genuine shopping mall, a temple dedicated to the consumerists’ gods. According to Prime Minister Hun Sen, the mall provides 2500 badly needed jobs to mostly young Cambodians. They range from sales and maintenance personnel to making a kangaroo out of a balloon while dressed as a clown, walking around with a glowing balloon overhead advertising a popular drinks shop, selling massage chairs, or to being a rabbit or spiderman.
In some aspects (not all of them) Cambodia is a ‘normal’ country now. Time to head back to my roots?
Posted Tuesday Jul 01, 2014, in
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It feels like going through an office routine: 8:00AM, opposition CNRP lawmaker and sympathisers attach banners requesting Freedom Park be returned to its initial function, and at 8:15AM Boeung Kak lake has a protest in front of the European Union delegation offices.
In a recent little twist regarding the Boeung Kak lake land issue saga (which started way back in 2007), the construction of a Military Police station has started a mere 200 meters from the land rights activists’ headquarters…
