Forest of Enemies – in the shadow of the Khmer Rouge
The Forest of Enemies is located 80 kilometres north of Siem Reap, Cambodia, where 500 unregistered families are living. They are not registered anywhere, and nobody feels responsible for them. There is no electricity or water, school or health care in the area.
The Forest of Enemies is a direct translation from the Cambodian Khmer language, which refers to the history of the place as the last bastion of the Khmer Rouge, which led the country for almost four years from 1975 to 1979. Approximately 2 million Cambodians died under the Maoist inspired terror regime.
CHM is the only organisation that has contact with the forest’s inhabitants. CHM works with church based social projects, ranging from the provision of clean water, children’s play, sanitation and hygiene education, help with dealing with the authorities and the establishment of a school for the forest’s children.
“We bought a piece of forest land from the female owner in Siem Reap to create an area of peace. We have built a common house with clean water coming from a 25 metre deep well. Water is a challenge for this part of the country, which is very dry. With this investment, it is our hope that the 500 families living in the forest will be safe from the army’s clearance and subsequent burning of the forest for cultivation of the soil”, explains Axel Rye Clausen, CHM.
“An agreement has been reached with a nearby elementary school to hire two teachers to teach two classes of 40 students in the forest. The agreement with the school principal was made by CHM’s local representatives, as they can go further than we are able to as foreigners, because it can often end in distrust and corruption”, says Axel Rye Clausen.
“Demand is high and there is a definite possibility of establishing more classes. We also hope to be able to provide adult education one day”, explains Axel Rye Clausen.
JPS has donated for the establishment of an extra class for 40 children in the forest.
