Land & Life Song and Video Inspiring Threatened Communities Across Cambodia
 As part of our campaign to end forced evictions and land-grabbing in Cambodia, Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia (BABSEA) recently teamed up with an all-female a capella group called the Messenger Band, award-winning director David Eberhardt, and the legendary Kong Nai to produce a soul-stirring music video called Land and Life.
The Land and Life song was inspired by the resistance struggle of the Dey Krahorm community in Phnom Penh’s Tonle Bassac district, which has been fighting since 2005 to protect their land from being grabbed by the 7NG company. In November and December 2007, when the Dey Krahorm community was under attack by 7NG workers who were attempting to forcibly evict the residents, Bridges helped provide the community with advice and training on active non-violence resistance strategies. Following a collective action to form a human chain around Dey Krahorm on International Human Rights Day (Dec 10), which included more than 1000 residents of more than 15 threatened Phnom Penh communities, Dey Krahorm adopted the same strategy of locking hands and standing together non-violently in front of their homes when they were later confronted with intimidation from company workers. It was a courageous act of non-violent resistance, yet there was something missing – a song that could unify the community and give them strength in their determination to counter violence with non-violence.
September 2008
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Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia and Housing Rights Task Force
Condemn Illegal Filling of Boeung Kak Lake
 On Tuesday August 26th contractors for Shukaku Inc., a private company chaired by powerful CPP Senator Lao Meng Khin, began construction on a controversial development project by pumping sand into Phnom Penh’s largest natural lake – Boeung Kak. Local residents reported being told by Shukaku contractors, that the pumping would continue eighteen hours a day until all but 10% of the lake is filled.
The filling of the lake is a direct result of a $79 million contract, approved by the Phnom Penh Municipality in February 2007, which enables Shukaku Inc. to develop a 133-hectare commercial property on the lake and its surrounding land. As a result of this development, over 4,000 families are facing eviction from their homes and the loss of the land that has provided the residents a sustainable livelihood in the city for the past 30 years. If this development goes forward without the agreement of the Boeung Kak residents it will be the largest forced eviction in Cambodia since the Khmer Rouge evacuated Phnom Penh in 1975.
August 2008
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BAB SE Asia Community Legal Education Program
Works with Universities and the UNODC to Combat Trafficking in Laos
 BAB SE Asia is excited about the expansion of its Community Legal Education Program in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The program is being implemented by BAB SE Asia’s partners the National University of Laos, Faculty of Law and Political Science. The program, which is currently based in Vientiane, will begin to expand to law programs located in Luang Prabang and Savannakhet.
In furtherance of this program, BAB SE Asia recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the UNODC, which complements a previously signed MOU between BABSEA and the FLP.
July 2008
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