By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
102 families have accused Van Sophat, an army official in charge of Army Regions 4 and 5 forces, of ordering armed soldiers to threaten and tear down houses belonging to people living in Andoung Kantuout village, Daun Ba commune, Koah Kralor district, Battambang province.
Savy, one of the villagers from Andoung Kantuot village, who claims to be the representative of the 102 families, said that at around 6:00 PM on 02 Dec, five soldiers armed with four guns, came into the village and pointed their guns at her and a number of other villagers to force them to tear down their homes and leave the land they are living on. Some of the villagers got scared and ran away from their homes.
Savy said that the soldiers completely tore down her house. She openly accused the person who ordered the soldiers to tear down her house as being Van Sophat, the commander of Army Regions 4 and 5: “While we are facing problems, the soldiers came in to tear down houses in the Andoung Kantuot area. The villagers were all there, but they came to tear don [the houses] and burn them down, and they used their guns … to threaten the people, saying that Van Sophat ordered the demolition of people’s homes.”
In response to the above accusation, Van Sophat clarified by saying that the villagers [used to live] in Chang-ho Svay village, Cheng Meanchey commune, Banan district, Battambang province. They came to occupy in disorder the lands in Andoung Kantuot village since January 2006, these lands already have their owners who possess their land property titles. Therefore, Van Sophat said that the 102 families must be evicted.
Van Sophat said: “They refused to leave, they cannot stay, they should go back to their homes. There is no point is talking nice [to them] … because what they are doing is illegal, they have consciously violated others’ properties.”
Touch Sinnara, Banan district governor, said that he is not informed about this problem yet, however, if the soldiers have used guns to threaten and destroy the villagers homes without a court order, it is against the law. He said that the villagers should file a complaint with the court: “I did not receive any information yet. The villagers have the rights to file a complaint, they know the identities [of those who perpetrated the act], there is no problem.”
Regarding the issue above, Yin Meng Ly, Adhoc human rights NGO representative of Battambang province, said that there is some mix up in this case because the villagers do not have proper documentation on their arrival and departure [from the village]. However, he indicated that the use of guns by those in power to threaten the villagers constitutes a serious rights violation.
Savy, one of the villagers from Andoung Kantuot village, who claims to be the representative of the 102 families, said that at around 6:00 PM on 02 Dec, five soldiers armed with four guns, came into the village and pointed their guns at her and a number of other villagers to force them to tear down their homes and leave the land they are living on. Some of the villagers got scared and ran away from their homes.
Savy said that the soldiers completely tore down her house. She openly accused the person who ordered the soldiers to tear down her house as being Van Sophat, the commander of Army Regions 4 and 5: “While we are facing problems, the soldiers came in to tear down houses in the Andoung Kantuot area. The villagers were all there, but they came to tear don [the houses] and burn them down, and they used their guns … to threaten the people, saying that Van Sophat ordered the demolition of people’s homes.”
In response to the above accusation, Van Sophat clarified by saying that the villagers [used to live] in Chang-ho Svay village, Cheng Meanchey commune, Banan district, Battambang province. They came to occupy in disorder the lands in Andoung Kantuot village since January 2006, these lands already have their owners who possess their land property titles. Therefore, Van Sophat said that the 102 families must be evicted.
Van Sophat said: “They refused to leave, they cannot stay, they should go back to their homes. There is no point is talking nice [to them] … because what they are doing is illegal, they have consciously violated others’ properties.”
Touch Sinnara, Banan district governor, said that he is not informed about this problem yet, however, if the soldiers have used guns to threaten and destroy the villagers homes without a court order, it is against the law. He said that the villagers should file a complaint with the court: “I did not receive any information yet. The villagers have the rights to file a complaint, they know the identities [of those who perpetrated the act], there is no problem.”
Regarding the issue above, Yin Meng Ly, Adhoc human rights NGO representative of Battambang province, said that there is some mix up in this case because the villagers do not have proper documentation on their arrival and departure [from the village]. However, he indicated that the use of guns by those in power to threaten the villagers constitutes a serious rights violation.
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