By Mondol Keo
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Dispute between people living in 4 villages in Po commune, Koh Thom district, Kandal province, and Thean Vuthy, also known as Young Shaman, led to violence including savage shooting on the people in the afternoon of 01 Dec.
Uch Kuoy, a villager from Village No. 7 told RFA that the incident started when the villagers went to raise the earth dike of the basin holding water for their dry season rice farming, a tradition maintained by villagers from Village No. 6, No. 7, No. 8, and No. 9. Suddenly Thean Vuthy, whom the villagers call Young Shaman, came with a truckload of 20 armed people to destroy the dike. Thean Vuthy’s group shot in the direction of the villagers and accused them of taking Thean Vuthy’s land: “As soon as they turn the corner of the road near the river, they shot 4 rounds. They wanted to shoot and kill all the villagers there.”
Another villager who asked to maintain his anonymity, said in anger: “This fellow, he is not a pious person, he is a killer of the villagers living in Village No. 7 and 8.”
On 2 Dec, Thean Vuthy cannot be contacted by RFA to obtain clarification. Sam Choeun, Village No. 7 chief, told RFA about his worries: “They should not come over to shoot at people like this. One day, they could come and shoot us dead from behind for no reason. My villagers are all discouraged.”
Man Seng, Po commune chief, said that even though Young Shaman is known to live in the Tuol Reachea pagoda in Po village, the authority could not control this man because he has the backing of people in power. Man Seng said that he does not know why Thean Vuthy used force and guns in this manner. He said that he does not know which unit the armed men belong to: “I do not know much, I do not understand much. Because of that, I do not have much authority in this shaman issue.”
Ngo Sovann, Kandal province MP from the Sam Rainsy Party, said that in the majority of land disputes, [government] armed men are always defending the interest of the rich and powerful people. Nevertheless, Sok Sam Oeun, director of the Cambodian legal defense organization, explained that the use of [government] armed men to protect private properties is against the law, if the other party did not use armed violence. The armed men are also acting against the law and they must be brought to justice and sentenced according to the actions they have taken.
Uch Kuoy, a villager from Village No. 7 told RFA that the incident started when the villagers went to raise the earth dike of the basin holding water for their dry season rice farming, a tradition maintained by villagers from Village No. 6, No. 7, No. 8, and No. 9. Suddenly Thean Vuthy, whom the villagers call Young Shaman, came with a truckload of 20 armed people to destroy the dike. Thean Vuthy’s group shot in the direction of the villagers and accused them of taking Thean Vuthy’s land: “As soon as they turn the corner of the road near the river, they shot 4 rounds. They wanted to shoot and kill all the villagers there.”
Another villager who asked to maintain his anonymity, said in anger: “This fellow, he is not a pious person, he is a killer of the villagers living in Village No. 7 and 8.”
On 2 Dec, Thean Vuthy cannot be contacted by RFA to obtain clarification. Sam Choeun, Village No. 7 chief, told RFA about his worries: “They should not come over to shoot at people like this. One day, they could come and shoot us dead from behind for no reason. My villagers are all discouraged.”
Man Seng, Po commune chief, said that even though Young Shaman is known to live in the Tuol Reachea pagoda in Po village, the authority could not control this man because he has the backing of people in power. Man Seng said that he does not know why Thean Vuthy used force and guns in this manner. He said that he does not know which unit the armed men belong to: “I do not know much, I do not understand much. Because of that, I do not have much authority in this shaman issue.”
Ngo Sovann, Kandal province MP from the Sam Rainsy Party, said that in the majority of land disputes, [government] armed men are always defending the interest of the rich and powerful people. Nevertheless, Sok Sam Oeun, director of the Cambodian legal defense organization, explained that the use of [government] armed men to protect private properties is against the law, if the other party did not use armed violence. The armed men are also acting against the law and they must be brought to justice and sentenced according to the actions they have taken.
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