Yesterday was undoubtedly the cruelest day so far for the people at Boeung Kak. Shukaku Inc. excavators tore down at least eight homes, without warning, while peoples belongings were still inside. The impunity is appalling, these homes have been arbitrarily excluded from the 12.44 hectare concession, and it appears that both the company and the municipality are going to do everything within their power to wipe out the excluded homes, as quickly as possible. Perhaps they think that by destroying their homes, the families will no longer have any grounds on which to complain. It is almost certain that the company will try to do the same to the remaining homes in the coming days and weeks.
At one point, a Sam Rainsy Party member arrived and encouraged the crowd to try to push back the excavators and stop them destroying the remaining homes, and he paid a heavy price for his bravery. More than ten riot police beat him with their batons, shields and other weapons, leaving him bloody and unconscious on the ground. The beating spelled the end of the evictions, as rain began to soak what belongings the families could save from their homes.
Residents and a monk try to prevent riot police and excavators from destroying homes at Boeung Kak lake. © Nicolas Axelrod 2011
A young Boeung Kak resident is targeted by riot police during protest. © Nicolas Axelrod 2011
Residents rush to save belongings from a house minutes before an excavator moves in to destroy it. © Nicolas Axelrod 2011
A resident with his belongings in his home as an excavator waits to flatten it. © Nicolas Axelrod 2011
An excavator takes down a house. © Nicolas Axelrod 2011
A member of the political opposition, the Sam Rainsy Party is left unconscious after been beaten by riot police. © Nicolas Axelrod 2011
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