Still No Arrests in Series of Land-Dispute Shootings
By Van Roeun
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Police in Prey Veng province have not made a single arrest in a series of five shootings since Nov 26 related to two heated land disputes in Peam Chor district, officials said Sunday.
Provincial police chief Tim Phan said that the man who killed a teenager in last weeks latest round of violence was an RCAF soldier related to CPP Koh Sampov commune councilor Hen Yorn—who claims to be the rightful owner of the land.
Tim Phan said that despite knowing the identity of the shooter, it is impossible for his officers to make an arrest because the provincial court has not yet issued a warrant.
Yeng Socheat, 17, was shot through his left eye Thursday when 20 armed men opened fire on a group of unarmed villagers at the disputed site in Koh Sampov when they approached CPP district deputy governor Y Sam Ol, witnesses and rights workers said.
CPP District Governor Aing Thoeung said Sunday that Y Sam Ol did not order the shooting, and merely intended to negotiate with the villagers.
He added that some villagers had illegally occupied the land.
Y Sam Ol could not be reached for comment.
On Friday, a team from the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee—a coalition of 23 rights organizations—began an investigation into the death of Yeng Socheat, said CHRAC senior investigator and senior Adhoc monitor Chan Soveth.
"We would like the government to investigate and arrest the offenders as soon as possible," Chan Soveth said. "The push to arrest the perpetrators is very slow," he added.
Chan Soveth said that he believes the villagers legitimately occupied the disputed land in 1994.
Y Sam Ol and Hen Yorn were previously tied to the Dec 5 wounding of two men after commune police opened fire on a crowd of about 100 villagers at the same site where Yeng Socheat was gunned down.
But both officials, along with commune police chief Sing Sokhorn, returned to work Dec 11 after being cleared of any wrongdoing.
On Nov 26, two men were shot and seriously wounded at another disputed site by police officer Hun Savann when they confronted him over his claims to their property in Koh Roka commune, local officials said.
District police determined that Hun Savann had acted in self-defense when he shot the unarmed men.
Provincial Court Prosecutor Yam Yet said Sunday that the court is considering issuing arrest warrants in the cases, but was waiting for investigations to be completed.
Provincial police chief Tim Phan said that the man who killed a teenager in last weeks latest round of violence was an RCAF soldier related to CPP Koh Sampov commune councilor Hen Yorn—who claims to be the rightful owner of the land.
Tim Phan said that despite knowing the identity of the shooter, it is impossible for his officers to make an arrest because the provincial court has not yet issued a warrant.
Yeng Socheat, 17, was shot through his left eye Thursday when 20 armed men opened fire on a group of unarmed villagers at the disputed site in Koh Sampov when they approached CPP district deputy governor Y Sam Ol, witnesses and rights workers said.
CPP District Governor Aing Thoeung said Sunday that Y Sam Ol did not order the shooting, and merely intended to negotiate with the villagers.
He added that some villagers had illegally occupied the land.
Y Sam Ol could not be reached for comment.
On Friday, a team from the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee—a coalition of 23 rights organizations—began an investigation into the death of Yeng Socheat, said CHRAC senior investigator and senior Adhoc monitor Chan Soveth.
"We would like the government to investigate and arrest the offenders as soon as possible," Chan Soveth said. "The push to arrest the perpetrators is very slow," he added.
Chan Soveth said that he believes the villagers legitimately occupied the disputed land in 1994.
Y Sam Ol and Hen Yorn were previously tied to the Dec 5 wounding of two men after commune police opened fire on a crowd of about 100 villagers at the same site where Yeng Socheat was gunned down.
But both officials, along with commune police chief Sing Sokhorn, returned to work Dec 11 after being cleared of any wrongdoing.
On Nov 26, two men were shot and seriously wounded at another disputed site by police officer Hun Savann when they confronted him over his claims to their property in Koh Roka commune, local officials said.
District police determined that Hun Savann had acted in self-defense when he shot the unarmed men.
Provincial Court Prosecutor Yam Yet said Sunday that the court is considering issuing arrest warrants in the cases, but was waiting for investigations to be completed.
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