By Ung Chansophea
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Tola Ek
The authorities had brought charges against four villagers from the Stung Treng province, accusing them of leading of protest movement formed by ethnic minorities to oppose land concessions.
Four representatives of ethnic minority groups which demonstrated in Stung Treng, in the Sesan district, on Saturday against land concessions granted to four companies, are now facing charges leveled by the authorities. Chan Soveth, local Adhoc NGO representative, qualifies this land dispute as being a “serious problem,” and he explains that “the police and the military police are accusing the four of inciting poor ethnic minority villagers.” He said that he is worried that the four may be sent to jail. The Adhoc investigator is also worried about the safety of the Proeu and Phnong ethnic groups in this area because of the rise in tension due to land conflicts. “They live in rural areas, the police do not provide security in these villages, meanwhile there are soldiers there and they are trigger happy.”
Vuthy, one of the four persons targeted by the charge, confided about his fear of being arrested. He explained: “I did not incite people to demonstrate, it was the anger, the injustice which pushed the villagers. Our daily life depends on the forest where we can find wood resin, woods, fruits … Without these, we will die.”
Chan Soveth also denounced the authorities’ behavior toward NGO officials: “We were accused of being the instigator of this demonstration, we were caught on film… This does not worry us that much, this are their usual tactics. We do not get any profit from this dispute, we are only defending the victims. To say that we are manipulating people, it’s like looking down on us.” He said that he fears the new demonstrations may lead to violence. Meanwhile, the companies which were granted land concessions, and are controlled by family members of government officials, are occupying forest land extending over 30,000-hectare.
Neither the provincial governor, nor the police commissioner could be reached yesterday. The commune and district chiefs also declined to comment.
Four representatives of ethnic minority groups which demonstrated in Stung Treng, in the Sesan district, on Saturday against land concessions granted to four companies, are now facing charges leveled by the authorities. Chan Soveth, local Adhoc NGO representative, qualifies this land dispute as being a “serious problem,” and he explains that “the police and the military police are accusing the four of inciting poor ethnic minority villagers.” He said that he is worried that the four may be sent to jail. The Adhoc investigator is also worried about the safety of the Proeu and Phnong ethnic groups in this area because of the rise in tension due to land conflicts. “They live in rural areas, the police do not provide security in these villages, meanwhile there are soldiers there and they are trigger happy.”
Vuthy, one of the four persons targeted by the charge, confided about his fear of being arrested. He explained: “I did not incite people to demonstrate, it was the anger, the injustice which pushed the villagers. Our daily life depends on the forest where we can find wood resin, woods, fruits … Without these, we will die.”
Chan Soveth also denounced the authorities’ behavior toward NGO officials: “We were accused of being the instigator of this demonstration, we were caught on film… This does not worry us that much, this are their usual tactics. We do not get any profit from this dispute, we are only defending the victims. To say that we are manipulating people, it’s like looking down on us.” He said that he fears the new demonstrations may lead to violence. Meanwhile, the companies which were granted land concessions, and are controlled by family members of government officials, are occupying forest land extending over 30,000-hectare.
Neither the provincial governor, nor the police commissioner could be reached yesterday. The commune and district chiefs also declined to comment.
2 comments:
This is the result that the CCP is learning law from Vietname Communist?
Destroy the Khmer Loeur (Montagna)?
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