13 Feb 2007
By Lim Pisith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
On Tuesday, the Battambang provincial court held its first hearing on the land dispute in what is known as Boeung Pram. It also sentenced in secret 3 men to 12-month jail term and imposed a restitution fine of 5 million riels ($1,250), as well as 6-month jail sentence to 2 other men for violating private properties.
Pech Chhoeun, the judge in the case, said that the leaders of the group of villagers who took the land belonging to private owners: Chhieng Ny who is currently incarcerated in Prey Sar jail, and two other men, Moeun Mao and Ros Saroeun, who had fled from Bavel district, were sentenced to 12-month jail sentence and a 5 million riels restitution to the owner. At the same time, 78-year-old Muong Sok and 56-year-old Hem Leak were sentenced to 6-month jail sentence for violating private properties belonging to others.
Pech Chhoeun said: “Including Chhieng Ny who is in Phnom Penh, two others are sentenced to 12-month jail for violating the private properties of someone else.”
Mrs. Oeun Sarem, the wife of Chhieng Ny, said that she cannot accept the sentence because her husband does not own land in Boeung Pram. She said that she will appeal to have another hearing which will include the presence of her husband.
Muong Sok, another person sentenced, said, following the sentence, that the accusation that he violated and took someone else’s land is unfair: “They accused me of violating someone else’s land, they accused me of axing and stabbing someone else, I did not do anything.”
Ing Kong Chit, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) investigator in the Boeung Pram area, said that the court decision is unlawful: “At the hearing this morning, I observe that the judge’s decision is based only on the report provided the Ampil Pram Deum commune police, which has no proof nor witness to back up the serious accusations.”
The land dispute in Boeung Pram involved 1,335 families who are confronting 4 businessmen from Banteay Meanchey province. The dispute started since 2005, and Chhieng Ny, the community leader, was arrested 01 August 2006. Muong Sok and Hem Leak were sent to jail on 03 September 2006 following a warrant issued against them by the Battambang court.
Pech Chhoeun, the judge in the case, said that the leaders of the group of villagers who took the land belonging to private owners: Chhieng Ny who is currently incarcerated in Prey Sar jail, and two other men, Moeun Mao and Ros Saroeun, who had fled from Bavel district, were sentenced to 12-month jail sentence and a 5 million riels restitution to the owner. At the same time, 78-year-old Muong Sok and 56-year-old Hem Leak were sentenced to 6-month jail sentence for violating private properties belonging to others.
Pech Chhoeun said: “Including Chhieng Ny who is in Phnom Penh, two others are sentenced to 12-month jail for violating the private properties of someone else.”
Mrs. Oeun Sarem, the wife of Chhieng Ny, said that she cannot accept the sentence because her husband does not own land in Boeung Pram. She said that she will appeal to have another hearing which will include the presence of her husband.
Muong Sok, another person sentenced, said, following the sentence, that the accusation that he violated and took someone else’s land is unfair: “They accused me of violating someone else’s land, they accused me of axing and stabbing someone else, I did not do anything.”
Ing Kong Chit, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) investigator in the Boeung Pram area, said that the court decision is unlawful: “At the hearing this morning, I observe that the judge’s decision is based only on the report provided the Ampil Pram Deum commune police, which has no proof nor witness to back up the serious accusations.”
The land dispute in Boeung Pram involved 1,335 families who are confronting 4 businessmen from Banteay Meanchey province. The dispute started since 2005, and Chhieng Ny, the community leader, was arrested 01 August 2006. Muong Sok and Hem Leak were sent to jail on 03 September 2006 following a warrant issued against them by the Battambang court.
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