Land-Rights Activist Axed to Death in Koh Kong
By Pin Sisovann
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
A land rights activist was axed to death Friday evening in Koh Kong province, police said Sunday.
Police said that An In, 35, was killed due to a personal dispute, though one of his associates said he may have been murdered for helping villagers assert their property rights.
"It is not a land dispute, it could be a personal dispute," district police chief Yang Yin said.
The victim had been helping to gather evidence in a land dispute between three villages in Sre Ambel district and a prominent businessman, said Sin Chuon, a representative of the villages. He added that An In's murder must have been linked to his activism.
"We checked around and he had no disputes of his own," he said.
Rights workers claim two companies owned by a prominent businessman have destroyed villagers' crops while clearing the way for a 20,000-hectare sugarcane plantation and processing facility.
An In had been helping 500 families involved in the land dispute, by taking photos of the disputed land and photocopying documents for them, Sin Chuon said.
Yang Yin claimed that An In had previously stolen $2,250 from Sin Chuon, and that Sin Chuon himself might be behind the killing.
"We are still investigating," he said.
Sin Chuon dismissed the allegations and accused the officer of trying to divide villagers who are fighting for their land.
"It is a scapegoat plan," he said.
Suon Sitha, Sre Ambel deputy governor, said that the killing was probably motivated by revenge but he declined further comment.
Police said that An In, 35, was killed due to a personal dispute, though one of his associates said he may have been murdered for helping villagers assert their property rights.
"It is not a land dispute, it could be a personal dispute," district police chief Yang Yin said.
The victim had been helping to gather evidence in a land dispute between three villages in Sre Ambel district and a prominent businessman, said Sin Chuon, a representative of the villages. He added that An In's murder must have been linked to his activism.
"We checked around and he had no disputes of his own," he said.
Rights workers claim two companies owned by a prominent businessman have destroyed villagers' crops while clearing the way for a 20,000-hectare sugarcane plantation and processing facility.
An In had been helping 500 families involved in the land dispute, by taking photos of the disputed land and photocopying documents for them, Sin Chuon said.
Yang Yin claimed that An In had previously stolen $2,250 from Sin Chuon, and that Sin Chuon himself might be behind the killing.
"We are still investigating," he said.
Sin Chuon dismissed the allegations and accused the officer of trying to divide villagers who are fighting for their land.
"It is a scapegoat plan," he said.
Suon Sitha, Sre Ambel deputy governor, said that the killing was probably motivated by revenge but he declined further comment.
1 comment:
How stupid can you be.. police chief... anytime its political, you called it a personal dispute...evenso, its still murder.. you dum azz..
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