Phnong ethnic minority protesting in front of the National Assembly over land taken from them. (Photo: Bunry, Koh Santepheap newspaper)By Pin Sisovann
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
A group of Mondolkiri province villagers on Monday afternoon joined perhaps hundreds of other protesters who are inhabiting the park opposite the National Assembly to demand the return of land they say is theirs.
The Phnong ethnic minority villagers who made up a majority of the 28 Sen Monorom district newcomers said a dispute that began in 1999 spiraled out of control this month when 27 of their homes were allegedly burned down by a government official's bodyguards.
Phnong villager representative Peun Pean said villagers had entered into a verbal agreement with a police official in 1999 to lease 112 hectares for use as a coffee plantation in return for jobs, electricity and water wells. When those promised returns for leasing the land had still not been fulfilled in 2002, the villagers began fanning the land again, Peun Pean said.
They built homes on the land in 2005, at which point the official began claiming outright ownership of the land, leading to the brief detention of four people, Peun Pean said. "The dispute led to the arrest of three men plus me," she said. 'Twenty-seven houses were burned down on May 14—that's why we came to Phnom Penh."
Purn Chark, 23, said villagers now fear reprisal because the men claiming their land have weapons. Sroch Toy, 45, said she had sold her banana crop to come to the capital because Mondolkiri provincial authorities had failed to resolve the dispute.
Som Theary, 46, said that the ethnic Khmer protesters in the Sen Monorom group were demonstrating because provincial authorities had taken land from seven families in Spean Meanchey commune to build a parking lot.
The Phnong ethnic minority villagers who made up a majority of the 28 Sen Monorom district newcomers said a dispute that began in 1999 spiraled out of control this month when 27 of their homes were allegedly burned down by a government official's bodyguards.
Phnong villager representative Peun Pean said villagers had entered into a verbal agreement with a police official in 1999 to lease 112 hectares for use as a coffee plantation in return for jobs, electricity and water wells. When those promised returns for leasing the land had still not been fulfilled in 2002, the villagers began fanning the land again, Peun Pean said.
They built homes on the land in 2005, at which point the official began claiming outright ownership of the land, leading to the brief detention of four people, Peun Pean said. "The dispute led to the arrest of three men plus me," she said. 'Twenty-seven houses were burned down on May 14—that's why we came to Phnom Penh."
Purn Chark, 23, said villagers now fear reprisal because the men claiming their land have weapons. Sroch Toy, 45, said she had sold her banana crop to come to the capital because Mondolkiri provincial authorities had failed to resolve the dispute.
Som Theary, 46, said that the ethnic Khmer protesters in the Sen Monorom group were demonstrating because provincial authorities had taken land from seven families in Spean Meanchey commune to build a parking lot.
4 comments:
Khmer Loeu may save us all some day! The Viet Namese taught ah Hun Sen to call Khmer Loeu as Chun Cheit so Khmer can be cofuse as Viet Invader!
We all Khmer! Khmer Loeu, Khmer kandal, Khmer Krom, Khmer Sorin, Khmer Essan, Khmer Mone, and Khmer mean also Khmer Champa
Good comment. The great Khmer family is big and all inclusive. The various Khmer people all belong under the Khmer Family Group. While its members may have unique characteristics, but all are members of the Khmer Great Inlcusive Family. The great common bond for all the various Khmer people is far more greatly imporant than all the dissimilarities.
Right on Khmer!
well, that is my pionts...if all khmer stand up ..everything will over , and the story will end..and my fingers will not hurt or sick of typing any more..
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