On January 24th, BABC joined former residents of Phnom Penh’s Dey Krahorm community, members of several communities struggling to defend their land and housing rights in the capital, and the Cambodian human rights community to mark the two-year anniversary of the violent eviction that destroyed Dey Krahorm. On January 24th 2009, in the early morning hours and without immediate notice, a fleet of bulldozers, a police force of over 300, and another 500 private security forces employed by development company 7NG forcibly evicted more than 400 families, dispersing them with tear gas before leveling the homes and belongings.
Flanked by chanting monks, smoking incense and a gathering of more than 200 people, BABC staff member and former Dey Krahorm community leader spoke movingly about the gross human rights violation his community suffered on that day and the plight of the families struggling to rebuild their lives ever since. “We will never forget,” said Vichet. “We will continue to struggle for our housing rights and call upon the government to stop forced evictions.”
The January 2009 eviction was the culmination of a three year land struggle in which Dey Krahorm residents –many having lived on their land for 15-20 years—demanded adequate compensation for the taking of land they legally possessed. Having no proper or clear legal basis, this forced eviction was condemned by both the local and international community and occurred despite a pending civil complaint in an appeals court challenging 7NG dubious claims to the land.
On January 24th, BABC joined former residents of Phnom Penh’s Dey Krahorm community, members of several communities struggling to defend their land and housing rights in the capital, and the Cambodian human rights community to mark the two-year anniversary of the violent eviction that destroyed Dey Krahorm. On January 24th 2009, in the early morning hours and without immediate notice, a fleet of bulldozers, a police force of over 300, and another 500 private security forces employed by development company 7NG forcibly evicted more than 400 families, dispersing them with tear gas before leveling the homes and belongings. 
Flanked by chanting monks, smoking incense and a gathering of more than 200 people, BABC staff member and former Dey Krahorm community leader spoke movingly about the gross human rights violation his community suffered on that day and the plight of the families struggling to rebuild their lives ever since. “We will never forget,” said Vichet. “We will continue to struggle for our housing rights and call upon the government to stop forced evictions.”