By Pin Sisovann
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Some 200 adults and children in Tonle Bassac commune protested Monday against their imminent relocation to apartments located about 20 km outside the city.
Carrying photos of Prime Minister Hun Sen, his wife Bun Rany and King Norodom Sihamoni, residents of villages 2 and 15 shouted "Long live Samdech Hun Sen" and "Down with corrupted community leadership" on the edge of their community near the Russian Embassy.
"I joined the protest because there is no school [at the relocation site]," said Men Ratana, a 16-year-old 7th-grade student. "I am worried that I will have to drop out of school."
Villager Sek Sareun held a photograph of himself with his head bleeding, an injury he claimed was sustained when a bodyguard to community leader Phan Narin assaulted him last month. He alleged that the bodyguard attacked him when he refused orders to leave his home. "I have no bodyguard," Phan Narin responded, adding that the attacker was a laborer hired to dismantle houses and that the dispute had nothing to do with him.
Community leaders have organized a lucky draw to dole out new apartments to the residents in return for their land, but those protesting Monday have refused to participate, partly because they think the lottery has been rigged.
Protester Thith Sokuntheary claimed only 20 percent of the 344 families who were allocated apartments during a recent lottery for homes on Aug 5 were residents of the two villages.
Trork Eung, deputy chief of Village 15, said more than 80 percent of the families have agreed to leave. "We won't force them. The lucky draw welcomes only volunteers."
Carrying photos of Prime Minister Hun Sen, his wife Bun Rany and King Norodom Sihamoni, residents of villages 2 and 15 shouted "Long live Samdech Hun Sen" and "Down with corrupted community leadership" on the edge of their community near the Russian Embassy.
"I joined the protest because there is no school [at the relocation site]," said Men Ratana, a 16-year-old 7th-grade student. "I am worried that I will have to drop out of school."
Villager Sek Sareun held a photograph of himself with his head bleeding, an injury he claimed was sustained when a bodyguard to community leader Phan Narin assaulted him last month. He alleged that the bodyguard attacked him when he refused orders to leave his home. "I have no bodyguard," Phan Narin responded, adding that the attacker was a laborer hired to dismantle houses and that the dispute had nothing to do with him.
Community leaders have organized a lucky draw to dole out new apartments to the residents in return for their land, but those protesting Monday have refused to participate, partly because they think the lottery has been rigged.
Protester Thith Sokuntheary claimed only 20 percent of the 344 families who were allocated apartments during a recent lottery for homes on Aug 5 were residents of the two villages.
Trork Eung, deputy chief of Village 15, said more than 80 percent of the families have agreed to leave. "We won't force them. The lucky draw welcomes only volunteers."
2 comments:
We need more like these that's not afraid to protest for the Right to Live in a free society. We must end the oppression of Hun Sen regime.
I wish Heng Pov would revealed all of the Hun Sen's evil plots. Maybe, we would put on trial with the KRT.
Yes Hun Sen and Viet are the same as the criminal KR.
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