![[1991_04_02_headshot.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDKBhAPe0CDuBglMEfzax5mW6HOZrI2eKu_lpb0ou35S6L5sIHvR7qKp-gX1nji9glP2JoPKVg-eiI5M1d7Y7QN6qYuZinje5tvkEpmkiV9CFXioK05LLxPvpM_43Nj2W3AgMujp8WQ/s220/1991_04_02_headshot.jpg)
A picture of KJE as posted at his blog.
2nd February, 2009
Opinion by Khmerization
The inhuman evictions of the Dey Krohorm slum-dwellers have generated emotions and heated debates among Khmers who supported the Cambodian People’s Party on the one hand and Khmers who viewed the inhuman treatments and the injustices perpetrated toward these hapless people as human right abuses, on the other hand.
The media, the UN and local as well as international human right organisations have condemned these gross violations of human rights. Many sensible people, who highly appreciate human decency, are disgusted at the scenes and images of the evictions that splashed around the globe. The foreigners, especially the white people, abhorred the despicable actions perpetrated by Oknha Srey Sothea, a close associate of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
But the behaviours and the comments of a particular white man named KJE, or Klaus J. Engelhardt, have attracted my attention greatly. This gentleman, the self-described entrepreneur who, in his blog, has claimed to have owned many businesses and a rubber plantation in Cambodia, has not only condoned the actions of Oknha Srey Sothea, but has attacked the Dey Krohorm evictees as some sort of villains and greedy land-grabbers.
In his comments in Details Are Sketchy blog, KJE wrote:
“I am probably the only dissenting voice in this. These people were squatters - it was a slum, infested with criminals and prostitutes; I know for a fact that they had no title to the land. They were offered $30,000, a lot of money these people will probably never see again in their lifetimes. They wanted $4000/m2 each, for land they couldn’t even define. I don’t condone violence, and I believe the city government should have given them appropriate housing, but holding out until it was too late was clearly not good advice they had received.”
KJE's somewhat unconventional comments which described the Dey Krohorm dwellers as "criminals and prostitutes" deserved a very strong response which I gave below:
"I am disgusted to read KJE's comments above. These squatters, as KJE termed them, have settled in Dey Krohorm since before 2001, some even since 1979, when the land laws give title to anyone who settled on a particular plot of lands for more than five years. If these people do not have the titles then no one else has the land title, Hun Sen and Chea Sim included. The Khmer Rouge regime has annulled all property titles in Cambodia. After 1979, all the people just occupy any houses and lands they could and claimed as their own. Hun Sen occupied many houses belong to rich people from previous regimes. Chea Sim occupied Mr. Son Sann’s house who was a former govt. minister and resistance leaders. Immediately after 1979, no one has the titles. Titles were only issued later on to govt. officials and those fortunate enough to pay for them.
In fairness, the Dey Krohorm dwellers, who settled there since 1979 or before 2001, should be automatically entitled to own the lands because they cannot afford to get the titles. They are demanding $4000/m2 because that’s what the lands are worth. KJE is siding with this heartless entrepreneur named Srey Sothea because KJE himself is a plantation owner who is probably guilty of land-grabbing as well. One would wonder if he had come to Cambodia to help Cambodia or to exploit Cambodia and her people."
And in Ka-Set.info, KJE has further revealed his inner self with these comments:
“As deplorable as the fate of the evicted people is, Khmer, both at home and abroad, obviously don't care too much about this as this is something that doesn't happen in their backyard. Likewise the 'barangs' who don't really care too much about the plight of the poor in their own countries but who are so vociferous in their indignation about events in Cambodia. One of the most outspoken ones lately has been the director from Bridges Across Southeast Asia, David Pred. But one is left to wonder what these people really want to accomplish with their protests, or whether those public outcries only serve to further their own agenda, whatever that may be. BASA is such a small operation, effectively a two-man show, that they really can't hope to have much impact. This is not to say that there shouldn't be any protests and people should be resigned to these events, but one would hope for a little more local participation besides the affected evictees. Even the opposition parties more or less pay only lip service. Maybe the local population secretly think that Dey Krahom needed to be erased?”
KJE’s comments touched my nerves that prompted my somewhat irritated response below:
“Equally, it is deplorable to see a 'barang' such as KJE, Klaus J.Engelhardt to be exact, condemning those who condemned the inhuman evictions of the hapless Dey Krohorm dwellers. KJE, who described himself as a rubber plantation owner, is probably guilty of land-grabbing himself. He is a known supporter of the Cambodian People's Party as he is a beneficiary of its policy of robbing from the poor to give to the rich. He has gone as far as defending the corruption and human right abuses such as the evictions at Dey Krahorm. It is a shame really.
Most of barangs, KJE being the exception, are disgusted to see the hapless dwellers being inhumanly evicted by a heartless so-called entrepreneur the like of Srey Sothea. In the eyes of KJE, David Pred, Amnesty International and the UN are enemies of progress due to their oppositions to forced evictions. One would wonder if KJE, who owned businesses and plantation in Cambodia, has done a good service to Cambodia and her people or he has come to Cambodia to exploit Cambodia and her people. I think he falls into the latter category.”
As not to be outsmarted by my comments, KJE retorted by calling me an “ultra-nationalist” and a “revanchist” who knows nothing. He further attacked me and Ki-Media for distorting the truth and engaging in libelous slanders. Here is his angry response to my comments:
“Khmerization's comment is one fine example of how many overseas, arch-conservative Khmer, especially the ones represented on KI-Media, distort and slant their 'reports' and comments on the internet, even resorting to baseless and libelous accusations. Nothing is further from the truth than what is claimed in his comment. It is clear this ultra-nationalist (revanchist in old left wing 'politico speak') doesn't know reality from fiction. How can he, observing matters and events from 2,000 or 3,000 miles away? Objectivity is an unknown term to him. Questioning the veracity of certain NGOs is legitimate as experts consider 95% of them to be superfluous. Please refer the article in Asia Times Online of Nov. 14, 2008. Nobody questions the work of AI, Oxfam, TI, or other reputable organizations. What this Khmerization, however, fails to address is the fact that obviously homeland Khmer don't pay
much attention to these matters, which after all was the subject of my comment.”
KJE has accused my writings as lacking objectivity which is absent in his writings, as one can see in his blog. His last paragraph in the above statement has proved my arguments from all along that Cambodia is what it is today- poor and dictatorial - because the “homeland Khmer” - the present leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), including Prime Minister Hun Sen, never pay any attentions to any critiques or ideas. The egotistical and self-centred CPP leaders, abetted and supported by the likes of KJE, only care about their power, money and the rich and neglected the poor like the slum-dwellers of Dey Krohorm.
I, like many other justice lovers, am convinced that Dey Krohorm residents are the rightful owners of their lands and homes as some of them have settled there since 1979. The lands at Dey Krohorm is worth between $3,500-$4,000/m2. One would imagine that each family in Dey Krohorm would own from between 20-50 square metres. If they own 50m2, they should receive $200,000 (50m2*$4,000/m2) in compensation, not the pittance $15,000-$20,000 offered by 7NG. Now it appears that they will end up with nothing or just a house 16km outside of Phnom Penh that is worth around $3,000-$4,000 each. As a result the 7NG’s eviction of the Dey Krohorm slum-dwellers is the grand theft of the century.
2nd February, 2009
Opinion by Khmerization
“The 7NG’s eviction of the Dey Krohorm slum-dwellers is the grand theft of the century.”
The inhuman evictions of the Dey Krohorm slum-dwellers have generated emotions and heated debates among Khmers who supported the Cambodian People’s Party on the one hand and Khmers who viewed the inhuman treatments and the injustices perpetrated toward these hapless people as human right abuses, on the other hand.
The media, the UN and local as well as international human right organisations have condemned these gross violations of human rights. Many sensible people, who highly appreciate human decency, are disgusted at the scenes and images of the evictions that splashed around the globe. The foreigners, especially the white people, abhorred the despicable actions perpetrated by Oknha Srey Sothea, a close associate of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
But the behaviours and the comments of a particular white man named KJE, or Klaus J. Engelhardt, have attracted my attention greatly. This gentleman, the self-described entrepreneur who, in his blog, has claimed to have owned many businesses and a rubber plantation in Cambodia, has not only condoned the actions of Oknha Srey Sothea, but has attacked the Dey Krohorm evictees as some sort of villains and greedy land-grabbers.
In his comments in Details Are Sketchy blog, KJE wrote:
“I am probably the only dissenting voice in this. These people were squatters - it was a slum, infested with criminals and prostitutes; I know for a fact that they had no title to the land. They were offered $30,000, a lot of money these people will probably never see again in their lifetimes. They wanted $4000/m2 each, for land they couldn’t even define. I don’t condone violence, and I believe the city government should have given them appropriate housing, but holding out until it was too late was clearly not good advice they had received.”
KJE's somewhat unconventional comments which described the Dey Krohorm dwellers as "criminals and prostitutes" deserved a very strong response which I gave below:
"I am disgusted to read KJE's comments above. These squatters, as KJE termed them, have settled in Dey Krohorm since before 2001, some even since 1979, when the land laws give title to anyone who settled on a particular plot of lands for more than five years. If these people do not have the titles then no one else has the land title, Hun Sen and Chea Sim included. The Khmer Rouge regime has annulled all property titles in Cambodia. After 1979, all the people just occupy any houses and lands they could and claimed as their own. Hun Sen occupied many houses belong to rich people from previous regimes. Chea Sim occupied Mr. Son Sann’s house who was a former govt. minister and resistance leaders. Immediately after 1979, no one has the titles. Titles were only issued later on to govt. officials and those fortunate enough to pay for them.
In fairness, the Dey Krohorm dwellers, who settled there since 1979 or before 2001, should be automatically entitled to own the lands because they cannot afford to get the titles. They are demanding $4000/m2 because that’s what the lands are worth. KJE is siding with this heartless entrepreneur named Srey Sothea because KJE himself is a plantation owner who is probably guilty of land-grabbing as well. One would wonder if he had come to Cambodia to help Cambodia or to exploit Cambodia and her people."
And in Ka-Set.info, KJE has further revealed his inner self with these comments:
“As deplorable as the fate of the evicted people is, Khmer, both at home and abroad, obviously don't care too much about this as this is something that doesn't happen in their backyard. Likewise the 'barangs' who don't really care too much about the plight of the poor in their own countries but who are so vociferous in their indignation about events in Cambodia. One of the most outspoken ones lately has been the director from Bridges Across Southeast Asia, David Pred. But one is left to wonder what these people really want to accomplish with their protests, or whether those public outcries only serve to further their own agenda, whatever that may be. BASA is such a small operation, effectively a two-man show, that they really can't hope to have much impact. This is not to say that there shouldn't be any protests and people should be resigned to these events, but one would hope for a little more local participation besides the affected evictees. Even the opposition parties more or less pay only lip service. Maybe the local population secretly think that Dey Krahom needed to be erased?”
KJE’s comments touched my nerves that prompted my somewhat irritated response below:
“Equally, it is deplorable to see a 'barang' such as KJE, Klaus J.Engelhardt to be exact, condemning those who condemned the inhuman evictions of the hapless Dey Krohorm dwellers. KJE, who described himself as a rubber plantation owner, is probably guilty of land-grabbing himself. He is a known supporter of the Cambodian People's Party as he is a beneficiary of its policy of robbing from the poor to give to the rich. He has gone as far as defending the corruption and human right abuses such as the evictions at Dey Krahorm. It is a shame really.
Most of barangs, KJE being the exception, are disgusted to see the hapless dwellers being inhumanly evicted by a heartless so-called entrepreneur the like of Srey Sothea. In the eyes of KJE, David Pred, Amnesty International and the UN are enemies of progress due to their oppositions to forced evictions. One would wonder if KJE, who owned businesses and plantation in Cambodia, has done a good service to Cambodia and her people or he has come to Cambodia to exploit Cambodia and her people. I think he falls into the latter category.”
As not to be outsmarted by my comments, KJE retorted by calling me an “ultra-nationalist” and a “revanchist” who knows nothing. He further attacked me and Ki-Media for distorting the truth and engaging in libelous slanders. Here is his angry response to my comments:
“Khmerization's comment is one fine example of how many overseas, arch-conservative Khmer, especially the ones represented on KI-Media, distort and slant their 'reports' and comments on the internet, even resorting to baseless and libelous accusations. Nothing is further from the truth than what is claimed in his comment. It is clear this ultra-nationalist (revanchist in old left wing 'politico speak') doesn't know reality from fiction. How can he, observing matters and events from 2,000 or 3,000 miles away? Objectivity is an unknown term to him. Questioning the veracity of certain NGOs is legitimate as experts consider 95% of them to be superfluous. Please refer the article in Asia Times Online of Nov. 14, 2008. Nobody questions the work of AI, Oxfam, TI, or other reputable organizations. What this Khmerization, however, fails to address is the fact that obviously homeland Khmer don't pay
much attention to these matters, which after all was the subject of my comment.”
KJE has accused my writings as lacking objectivity which is absent in his writings, as one can see in his blog. His last paragraph in the above statement has proved my arguments from all along that Cambodia is what it is today- poor and dictatorial - because the “homeland Khmer” - the present leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), including Prime Minister Hun Sen, never pay any attentions to any critiques or ideas. The egotistical and self-centred CPP leaders, abetted and supported by the likes of KJE, only care about their power, money and the rich and neglected the poor like the slum-dwellers of Dey Krohorm.
I, like many other justice lovers, am convinced that Dey Krohorm residents are the rightful owners of their lands and homes as some of them have settled there since 1979. The lands at Dey Krohorm is worth between $3,500-$4,000/m2. One would imagine that each family in Dey Krohorm would own from between 20-50 square metres. If they own 50m2, they should receive $200,000 (50m2*$4,000/m2) in compensation, not the pittance $15,000-$20,000 offered by 7NG. Now it appears that they will end up with nothing or just a house 16km outside of Phnom Penh that is worth around $3,000-$4,000 each. As a result the 7NG’s eviction of the Dey Krohorm slum-dwellers is the grand theft of the century.
9 comments:
Cambodian people like that.
Srok khmer jing ....
Yes, KJE is probably a very substantial beneficiary of the CPP's policies of robbing from the poor to give to the rich like himself and his Khmer wife, that's why he supports the CPP even he knows that it's policies are violating human rights.
Obviously KJE has not studied the legal history of the Dey Krahom community, which was established on "social concession land." Things got - initially and legally - onto the wrong track, when a group of residents, claiming to be representing the community, sold the social concession land to 7NG. That is, of course, a big problem. - As the process of this selling is legally on shaky ground (there are conditions for the sale of "social concession land"), the violent eviction is, of course, in many respects on shaky legal ground and, as the pictures show, it was a primature and very violent act. - I do not share the evaluation of different aspects by KJE. But I think he points also to one very important aspect:
"...one would hope for a little more local participation besides the affected evictees. Even the opposition parties more or less pay only lip service."
I can not understand that the population of Phnom Penh - to take another example - seems to quietly accept that the Boeng Kak lake is filled in - leaving the protest mainly to the directly affected residents there. The lake serves not only since many decades as an important flood reserve - it is a very valuable piece of natural environment within the boundaries of the capital city. Many cities in the world would be happy to have such a piece of nature - but here it is being destroyed. And who cares? Who really cares actively?
Mr. Klein,
I would appreciate your showing documents verifying the former occupier's ownership by title or possession since 1989 of Dey Krahom. The social concession was established to provide housing in the normal sense, e. g. houses, and did not extend to the squatters and their ramshackle huts that occupied the area for many years but never obtained formal recognition by the municipality. A concession comprises the right to occupy or use for a certain (possibly renewable) period of time. The squatters were tolerated, and when the community leaders sold the land, or rather the social concession was terminated by mutual agreement against compensation, the squatters needed to be relocated. You can hardly call it premature after this had been going on for years. The methods were heavy-handed, but one has to take into account the local mentality. In general, Cambodia, and all of Asia for that matter, has a different set of values than the West. You will possibly remember a word by a famous colleague of yours, Peter Scholl-Latour, who once said, ‘The West must cease to impose our set of values on other cultures in order to be successful in cooperating with those cultures.’
As for Junior’s post, and his name is really fitting for some of his postings, which are really sophomoric:
By no means did I express any support for anybody, but, if those fire-brand Aneke-jooan Khmer read and understood the context a little better, they would have seen that there are always too sides to a story. Blanket condemnations and artificial outrage, based on second- and third-hand information, have never helped any cause.
And again, the homeland Khmer don't seem to care very much. This is a country still doing its first steps as a free country, and certain concepts still need to take root. But things aren't helped by demagoguery.
It is pathetic that these so-called justice-lovers sit in their warm kitchens overseas hurling invectives at people with different opinions. Of course, I know I incurred their wrath as I don’t think much of their idol, Sam Rainsy, who in my mind has miserably failed in his politics, as he can’t offer any real alternative solutions to present-day Cambodia. He is basically a stuffed shirt. His “solutions” are pretty much the same as the ones circulated on this and similar blogs – condemnation of the government, corruption, failed politics, etc. To this day they have not presented a detailed program how to combat poverty more effectively, how to fight endemic corruption, and how to stimulate the economy. Parroting U. S. politicians and programs certainly aren’t solutions for this country.
As for Dey Krahom – it is clear that this land needs to be developed, as do many other pieces of land in the city and the country as a whole. It takes entrepreneurs to do this. Junior has shown a profound lack of economic knowledge. Land is only worth as much as a buyer is willing to pay. Many of the figures they read in the papers were just hypothetical. $4,000/m2 for riverfront and downtown property was more wishful thinking than anything else. If there were indeed some crazy speculators who bought at those inflated prices, it only serves them right for losing their shirt over those outrageous speculative prices, ending up with a piece of land nobody wants to buy now. Some people don’t seem to understand that even now. They are still asking out-of-this-world prices. Many a Korean now wished he had never set foot in Cambodia.
Development costs money. It is not just buying a piece of land. It is putting something on it. If the cost of land exceeds 10 to 15% of the overall project it is normally not economically worthwhile doing. To recover an investment even in a lifetime is nearly impossible if real estate costs exceed 40 and 50% of the project, as in many cases in PP. People, and some Koreans were and are among them, didn’t pay attention to this significant bit of micro-economics. They are now suffering the consequences. Paying $200,000 for 50m2 is just idiotic. Propagating such notions puts the writer squarely in that very category. Using standard figures and land required for the project as 1 ha, the whole project would have to amount to roughly $250 million. But those armchair experts have no idea what it takes to develop – and develop this country it must. Of course, it is a question of how, but one can’t eradicate human nature and its inherent greed.
Junior is wont to disparage people who think differently. He may be ethnic Khmer, but in reality has lost touch with present-day Cambodia. He accuses me of having ulterior motives. I have invested considerably in Cambodia, both in the past and present. I provide jobs for Cambodians and support some of the extended family of my wife’s. I participate daily in the Cambodian economy, spending money, contributing to the economic cycle. I am part of what is called ‘foreign direct investment’, something the country desperately needs and welcomes. And everywhere I go in Cambodia I am well-received for that contribution and my understanding of the Khmer way of life. I do not deny that I am acquainted with people in higher positions but have not reaped any benefit from it.
And what are those ranting overseas Khmer doing? Outside of using foul language in their posts and comments, nothing. Why is it that the homeland Khmer aren’t too taken with their overseas brethren? They aren’t on the same page anymore. For most in Cambodia it is a fight for survival, not a fight who is right or who is wrong, and they certainly don’t want to be lectured by people who, when they do come back to Cambodia, mostly fail in their business undertakings, or political endeavors, for that matter, as both Ranariddh, Thomico, and Sam Rainsy more than amply prove.
Homeland Khmer don’t know how to handle those for them abstract ideas put forth by some foreigners and overseas Khmer pundits. If you want to help and change things, go back to your country and work actively. By publishing on blogs in English you don’t reach any substantial number in Cambodia anyway. More than antyhing else, you only stroke your own ego with those blogs. Go to Cambodia and start a grass-roots organization to change the way people think. This will eventually lead to a change in system as well. Spouting off about human rights abuses, government malfeasance, etc., in blogs won’t change anything. You will only be laughed at. Go get on the ground and put your money where your mouth is. Don’t blast the government from abroad. Participate in the political process on the ground in Cambodia. That is true patriotism. What you do is blowing hot air and hypocrisy at best, and outright cowardice at worst.
I am no supporter of the CPP, but I am convinced there is no other party in Cambodia at present who can run the country. Despite its many weaknesses and shortcomings this party is still the best for the country. The opposition simply lacks the personalities, and until it produces a charismatic leader this will not change for the forseeable future. I have extensively written about that on my blog. Accusing me of profiting from my possible connection to the party, which I don’t have, shows very clearly what kind of people we are dealing with and of what mind they are. And one last word about NGOs. Some of them are outright suspicious to me, especially the ones where the directors salary comprises 25% of the overall budget. On that subject please read the Asia Times Online article of Nov. 14, 2008. Enough said.
KJE's comments here are more objective than his other writings which are evidently very pro-CPP and, at times, even condoning corruption and human right abuses. His admission of his connections to the hierarchy of the CPP have convinced many Cambodians who are familiar with the CPP's ways of running the country that "it pays to belong". KJE must dare to swear that he never pay any cent to the CPP for setting up his businesses. He must dare to swear that he did not involve in land-grabbing when he set up his rubber plantation. I doubt it.
In regard to his rationale about the price of land that the "Land is only worth as much as a buyer is willing to pay", KJE must be mindful that "the land is worth as much as the seller is willing to sell". If one cannot afford it, don't buy it. To use heavy-handed tactics and violence to acquired lands from Dey Krohorm is nothing short of "theft" and robbery". It is criminal.
No one deny that the Dey Krohorm needs to be developed, but development of Dey Krohorm need to go through a proper process. The area has to be tendered through proper process and the highest bidder get the concession and the residents get a reasonable compensation. The way 7NG acquired the lands and the concessions is very secretive. No one knows how much they paid for the lands or paid in bribes to get the concessions.
I thank KJE for his advice about returning to set up some sort of an NGO in Cambodia. Seeing the way KJE attacked David Pred and Nobert Klein and other NGO's, who nobble cause is unquestionable, I don't think my "NGO" would escape the wrath of Mr. KJE's pounding.
I do not have time to reply to KJE's long and fiery response because I think I have made it clear enough in my post already. In the meantime, Ciao!
I think you have every right to voice your opinion as an overseas Khmer and to me you do not seem "out of touch" as KJE claims. Keep posting this news!
My only worry is you use the race card to belittle KJE. You referred to him as a white foreigner. Is it necessary to attack him for being white? What matters is whether his activities in Cambodia benefit the country or not.
Thanks for your advice, 10:03pm. I have no intention of belittling him with a race card. The reason I use the word "white man" to describe him is because I wanted to compare him with other white men who are really sympathetic with the evictees. I wanted to emphasised that KJE is the only exception. I apologise if the term "white man" I used has offended any other white men. I used it with a good intention.
Final word on this: Junior just can't let it go. He continues with his half-truths and allegations. (See his first paragraph). And I didn't attack Mr. Pred or Mr. Klein.
Final word on this: KJE knows full well that I never attacked him anywhere. Because of my negative comments against his CPP benefactor, he has attacked me in various blogs which I never responded.
He said he didn't attack David Pred. Actions speak louder than words. Just read his comments I quoted in my post again. KJE has accused me of making half-true allegations. That can be said of his half-true allegations and accusations against me as well. Ciao!
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