'Progressive' land-share deal stymied by red tape

The Borei Keila "land share" scheme - Phnom Penh's so-called "progressive" urban development - remains in trouble as rights groups accuse City Hall of reneging on its agreement to house both owners and renters in apartment buildings built by the private developer, Allister Hayman finds.

More than two months after bulldozers tore through their homes, more than 100 families are still living in rubble and facing the threat of eviction to a local dumpsite.

These evictees include 25 families who were deemed eligible for apartments after an extensive public hearing process conducted by City Hall, local authorities, UN Habitat and human rights group Licadho.

Naly Pilorge, director of Licadho, said they were concerned about the condition of the evicted families, particularly with the onset of the rainy season.

"Conditions are unsanitary and unsafe," she said. "Flooding will make the conditions much worse - it's a recipe for disaster."

Pilorge said immediate action must be taken "to ensure humane living conditions for the evictees."

She said only three renting families had been given apartments so far, and City Hall was failing to honor its commitment to the remaining 25 families.

"Borei Keila is supposed to be a model project, to show that it's possible to develop an inner-city area while still respecting the housing needs of the urban poor," she said. "The treatment of the renters is jeopardizing this, and tarnishing the reputation of the municipality."

Under the initial 2003 agreement signed off by Prime Minister Hun Sen, homeowners who were living "permanently" on the site and renters who had been living in the settlement since 2000 were considered eligible for apartments in 10 buildings constructed by the private developer.

The "land-sharing" project was hailed as "progressive" because renters and owners were, for the first time, given the same rights.

The first two buildings were opened March 23 in a highly publicized ribbon cutting ceremony.

Deputy Governor Mann Chhoeun told the Post on May 16 that he was choosing 170 families to occupy the third building, but would not confirm if any of the 25 eligible renting families would be given apartments.

Somethearith Din, a UN Habitat advisor to the municipality, said City Hall was reviewing their original policy and had tightened the criteria for eligibility.

"They have changed their mind. They did a review of the first two apartment buildings and saw that some had been sold. Now they're worried that if they give apartments to renters they might sell."

Din said City Hall was also concerned about setting a precedent.

"They're worried that if they give apartments to the renters for free they will have this problem again and again," Din said. "They haven't refused to give apartments to the renters, but they will give them to owners first."

Din said the renters may have to wait until the ten apartment buildings were completed, which could be at least another three years.

He said City Hall would provide temporary shelter for the evictees, both at the current site and at the Borei Keila dump site.

Another 23 renting families living with HIV/AIDS who were moved to temporary shelter and denied access to the public hearing process are also facing an uncertain future.

"We feel abandoned," Penh Sim, 47, a resident said.

This article first appeared in the Phnom Penh Post