Police officers homes were forced to move out first to set an example for those evicted (Photo Bunry, Koh Santepheap Newspaper)
Hok Lundy's police force moved in to evict people living around the Monivong hospital. The police force was armed with AK-47, tear gas and electric batons. (Photo Bunry, Koh Santepheap Newspaper)
Onlookers are watching the eviction in front of the Monivong hospital. (Photo Bunry, Koh Santepheap Newspaper)Friday, June 30, 2006
Police Begin Mass Eviction, Relocation in Capital
By Pin Sisovann
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
At least 100 police officials were deployed to the lot next to Phnom Penh's Preah Monivong hospital on Thursday morning to begin the eviction of 168 families from the site, residents and rights workers said.
Toward 5 am, police armed with electric batons, tear gas and some AK47 assault rifles cordoned off the site on Street 63, residents said.
Officials evicted about 20 of the 168 families residing there, trucking them to a relocation site in Kandal province's Ang Snuol district at least 30 km outside the capital.
By 7:30 am, the dismantling of the houses had begun and 10 trucks loaded with residents' belongings could be seen leaving the site toward 2:30pm.
"There was no violence," said resident Rom Molika, who had not yet been evicted from the site. "People did not dare resist. The police had a lot of weapons."
All households at the site, 52 of which are headed by policemen or soldiers, were notified on June 5 that they had until July 5 to vacate the site or they would face "the most serious legal action," according to a letter signed by National Police chief Hok Lundy. Officials have said the site is being transferred to Kith Meng's Royal Group of companies.
Srey Sen Kosal, a medical official with local rights group Licadho, said police denied him access to the site, saying they had their own ambulance and doctor. "Villagers said some women fainted inside and needed help," he said.
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, a coalition of 21 human rights NGOs, issued a statement appealing to the government to suspend the forced eviction.
Vann Nary, Phnom Penh Deputy Police chief in charge of social order, said he did not know about the eviction.
At the relocation site, around 10 policemen who refused to give their names said they had no choice but to agree to leave and preferred to be the first at the new site. But when they got there, there were no wells or electricity at the site, they said.
3 comments:
Wow, the police are only working for the richmen. Now even their families, they have also forced them out to give lands for the rich. When these silly policeman understand that is their role in the society? Who they must protect? They must rise up and shoot their leaders for the peace of their people instead.
The more anybody look at AH HUN SEN system of government is that everybody is a victim including his police, military,and officials
If everybody is a victim why then it is so hard to overthrow AH HUN SEN regime? Does anybody know?ahah
WOW, you call the prime minister "AH HUN SEN." if you so smart, where have you been for the last 25 years? why don't you bring your pariot ass to help the poor? sure, everybody know that Hun Sen's policy is unfair for the Khmer people; however, at least, he has patially helped. what have you done anyway? and do please help out if you are so concern. even though, I could have made my live better with my degree in the States; yet, I currently volunteer in Prey Veng with the UNICEF. Sure, we know what is going in Cambodia becuase we're actually here. On top of that, people like you who help to reduce the foregn for Cambodia by trashing the government.
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