Registered in British Columbia, LICADHO Canada provides critical services to communities on the front lines of the land-grabbing crisis in Cambodia. We do so in meaningful collaboration with LICADHO –

Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights.

Sitha and family receive Grade 12 scholarship. He has the third highest grade in his class.

Dey Krahorm loans and scholarship update

LC continues to follow, document and offer resources to approximately 20 DK families; all community representatives and leaders.

LC and Bridges Across Borders (BAB) social worker make regular visits to 11 families through our interest-free business loan project. Through HRD Apparel’s scholarship grants, three young leaders received classes in New World Institute in Phnom Penh, one has continued on to Level 4 already! Three of the older representatives of Dey Krahorm have begun to work with LC to support another community in a fierce land dispute. And thanks to BAB scholarship, the youngest DK leader, Sitha is three quarters of the way through grade 12 and will be one of the few people from Dey Krahorm villagers to graduate high school.

Second dumping site for DK renters and sellers 45kms away from Phnom Penh without access to basic necessities of life.

Damnak Tryoeung (name of dumping site of DK renters/sellers) update

The vast majority of the 365 families forced to squat along the roadside in Damnak Tryoeung were in fact former renters and market stall owners from Dey Krahorm who weren’t given houses despite being victims of the forced eviction that occurred on 24 January 2009.
Sadly the former renters were evicted yet again from 12th-15th December 2009 to a new dumping site 45km outside Phnom Penh near Oudong. These families are now totally impoverished and subdued due to their inhumane living conditions.

LICADHO regularly sends their doctors to provide services on the new site while lobbying for humanitarian support.

Srey Vann and Sitha in Ragamuffin
House’s garden. Srey Vann has
worked with LC since December.

Dey Krahorm ‘’healing therapies’’ Ragamuffin project update

LICADHO Canada and Inner Change sent two young leaders to creative arts healing programs through Ragamuffin. Though skeptical before the sessions, the two felt a strong sense of being ‘freed’ through Ragamuffin activities and have agreed to continue the private sessions. In the middle of March, a larger group of former Dey Krahorm representatives and leaders will start a similar program.

If this program continues to inspire participants to reclaim their former pro-active roles, together we will design an emergency response team and train participants through Ragamuffin staff training. This team will respond immediately after violent attacks on communities so long term emotional and physical setbacks don’t have time to set in.

Conflict Coaching Training update

Peace Bridges’ Conflict Coaching course was extremely useful to the LC team, especially given the monitoring/conflict situations we find ourselves in. LC have merged into the conflict coaching role and continue to work with David Ketchum from Peace Bridges learning Buddhist approaches to conflict and suffering.

Our partner Christians for Social Justice have also invited LC to a ‘’Non-Violence Activism’ workshop later this month in Kampot. CSJ have also sponsored LC to spend March 6 working with and learning from John McConnell – renowned non-violent activist and author. (“Healing Anxiety Through Meditation”)

Land disputes are often violent affairs. Our peace building training gives us the tools, inner peace and confidence to remain non-violent in any situations.

Dey Krahorm Challenge

LC-designed “Dey Krahorm Challenge” project would not have been possible without the support from our new partner in Montreal, Development & Peace.

Started in December 2009, the DKC enables LC to work side-by-side with Dey Krahorm representatives to continue to provide services to other threatened communities while increasing protection, access to media/information channels and support of community initiated non-violent, creative resistance efforts

Our ‘’challenge’’ was to find a community well-suited and ready to accept the challenge; already mobilized, organized, and in Solidarity, despite an almost nonexistent democratic space, high threat of violence, imprisonment and oppressive adversity.

And despite the odds, we DID! LICADHO Cambodia introduced the DKC team to a very unique community in Siem Reap province with a very powerful story. And together we now embark on a new journey; to write another story of Solidarity, hope and inspiration…

Human Rights Defenders come in all shapes, sizes, and walks of life.
Watch this space….

ADVOCATE, EDUCATE, DONATE

Support Cambodians by informing yourself and others about land rights and human rights violations in Cambodia. www.licadho-cambodia.org

If you are interested in any of our projects or activities, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

ruthgleeson@yahoo.com (LICADHO Canada’s Support Manager)
To donate online go to www.licadhocanada.com (or from Ireland, contact our Support Manager above)

“Silence of the good is worse than
the actions of the bad.”
– Malalai Joya, HRD and expelled
Afghani Parliamentarian