Mith Samlanh helped evicted Dey Krohorm children to go back to school

Radio Free Asia
By Ouk Sav Boury
3rd February, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Many families who are currently living in blanket tents, mat tents and tarpaulin tents in front of the Borey Santepheap estate belonging to 7NG have told Radio Free Asia that an NOG called Mith Samlanh (Dear Friends) are helping their kids to return back to schools.

Mrs. Thoeun Sok said that Mith Samlnah is now trying to help her kids. She said: "I left my kids with Mith Samlanh. Now they haven't found any schools for my kids yet."

Thoeun Veasna who is studying in year 10 at Boeng Trabek High School said that the evicted families are now living far away from the schools that makes it difficult for the children to attend schools. He Said:"I have to study many subjects, especially languages. The school is very far which makes it very difficult for me. Even that I cannot even find a school in which I can attend yet. We heard that they will build schools near here. But even if schools are built here, they don't teach the grades that I'm enrolling in."

Mrs. Sokhom said that, because she is afraid of another eviction, she did not leave all her children with Mith Samlanh to find schools for them.

Executive Manager of Mith Samlanh, Mr. Ly Sophath, said that her organisation planned to help 30 kids to go to schools, but many parents are afraid of another eviction that could cause separations with their kids, that's the reason they did not allow all their kids to come to Mith Samlanh's centre because they want to wait for the compnesation from 7NG first.

Now Mith Samlanh had managed to take in 21 kids only whom they provide daily food and help with finding schools for them. She said her organisation plans to help the children for up to 2-3 months only.

Mrs. Son Yiku, chief of Borey Santepheap estate, said that among ther 91 evicted families (recognised by 7NG), nearly all of them have registered to receive a house with 7NG. She said that at Borey Santepheap there is one primary school and that one junior high and a market are under construction.

She added: "All the families have registered with 7NG to receive the house. Only 6 among the 91 families (recognised by 7NG) have not yet registered."

People were complaining about the lack of clean water, lack of lighting inside the house, lack of food and the disruption to schooling for kids. And currently, the evicted families are still camping outside of the Borey Santepheap estate to receive their compensation in houses.

7NG has refused to make any comments in relations to the Dey Krohorm issue every time it is contacted.

It must be noted that the distance from Dey Krohorm to Borey Santepheap is 18km.