Development is a word full of hope. It brings to mind water pumps and rice banks, bridges and education, smiling children and sky-scraping financial institutions. Yet there is a dark side to development.
On Friday, July 17th, at 4 a.m., this dark side showed its face when
[D]ozens of armed police took up positions around Group 78, Phnom Penh, in order to enforce a municipal order that they dismantle their homes or be forcibly removed.
This followed 53 families yesterday “agreeing” to the authorities’ demand that they accept an offer of $8,000 compensation or their homes would be forcibly destroyed. Negotiations this morning with the remaining 7 families who had not “agreed” led to a final offer to them of up to $20,000 in compensation which they all accepted, except for one family whose home was destroyed against their will. (Joint media statement by civil society in Cambodia, July 17, 2009)
This community had to make way for development. Their homes were ramshackle and had to give way to pristine apartments. Their homes stand over black water and had to give way to paved sidewalks. Their families rode bicycles or walked to work. They had to give way to the shiny black SUVs of the wealthy. Their children barely make it through the fourth grade. They had to give way to the well-reasoned premise that the city needs this place – to make way for development.
Development Partners recognize that land issues are an ongoing challenge to development in Cambodia and urge the Government to adopt fair and transparent systems for land titling, including in urban areas, which recognize and protect the equal rights of all citizens. (Joint statement by Cambodia development partners — WB, ADB, UN, EC, Sida, Danida, USA, UK, Germany, Bulgaria, Australia — July 16, 2009 )
It is hard not to see the face of the governor of Phnom Penh and think of it as the evil this community succumbed to. People make terrible choices and do terrible things often with the soundest of reasoning. Yet they lose something of their own humanity — the ability to wonder what it would be like to lose their own house, own job, own capacity to build a future for their family. We lament their lost humanity as well as the loss of Group 78.
Just last week Nate Bacon had a chance meeting with the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, whose ‘conscience was pricked’ by images of Bonhoeffer and his own words:
The purpose of the church is not to be socially agreeable; it is to speak robustly to the state on behalf of those who cannot speak effectively for themselves.
As one of the churches living here in Cambodia, I say to the state of Australia, as well as to the municipality of Phnom Penh, that we grieve over the choices and actions that led to the forced eviction of Group 78 that day. Acts and choices of omission and commission. We grieve over the loss of the community’s hopes and homes, and we grieve over the diminished humanity the Phnom Penh authorities experience by using threats and intimidation, ignoring legal process and, most heinously, denying the community their God-given right to compensation based on (free) market rates.
I say this last word tongue in cheek (if you hadn’t guessed), for this is all about development not about God. The ones who lost the most were denied access to any benefit of this development, yet the finished product will be hailed as progess, a sign that Cambodia is on its way up.
Cambodia is a wonderful country. Its history is deep. Its culture rich. Its people kind, gentle, and friendly. I enjoy calling Cambodia home and working alongside many talented and inspirational people. But I weep over the violence done in the name of development.
Chris Baker Evens has lived and worked in Cambodia with his family for the last five years. He is studying for a master’s in peace and conflict studies and moderates the Peace and Justice: Cambodia Web site that raises awareness of land-based conflict in Cambodia, and promotes nonviolent solutions.
