Land protesters forcibly removed from peaceful vigil outside Cambodia's National Assembly

October 17, 2007
Licadho

"This action by the authorities was unlawful and they clearly knew this – it's why they did this at night, under the cover of darkness"

On October 16, shortly before 7pm, approximately 80 police and military police - some armed with pistols - surrounded a group of about 200 Svay Rieng villagers camped in the park outside Wat Botum near the former National Assembly. The villagers, who had only arrived at the park a few hours earlier, were forced into vehicles including two buses and sent back to Svay Rieng.

According to witnesses, some of the villagers were beaten during the raid on the park, and two persons were later taken to hospital unconscious. NGO workers were blocked by authorities from entering the area, but heard cries coming from the villagers.

"This action by the authorities was unlawful and they clearly knew this – it's why they did this at night, under the cover of darkness," said LICADHO president Kek Galabru. "To beat and abduct people, and forcibly take them back to their province in the middle of the night, is appalling."

The protesters said they represented 500 families from Tros commune in Romeas Hek district of Svay Rieng whose land has been taken by the Peam Chaing rubber company. They said they came to the capital to seek help from Prime Minister Hun Sen, and other government and National Assembly officials, after their complaints to local authorities in Svay Rieng had produced no result. Earlier on Tuesday, they had gathered outside the Prime Minister's house but – after authorities insisted they leave – they moved to the park outside Wat Botum in the afternoon.

"These people from Svay Rieng were committing no crime and, under the Constitution, had every right to come to Phnom Penh to seek help from their government and elected officials," said Kek Galabru. "The responsibility of the government was to listen to their complaints and try to resolve them fairly – not to just kick them out of Phnom Penh."

In the past many other victims of land grabbing have resorted to travelling to Phnom Penh to protest and lobby the government. This current action was unacceptable and a blatant violation of Cambodians' Constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly, with most gatherings being dispersed by the authorities.

LICADHO strongly condemns the night time violent abduction and deportation by authorities in Phnom Penh of land protesters who had come to the capital from Svay Rieng province.

LICADHO urges an immediate government investigation to identify all of the police and other personnel who participated in last night's deportation, and who ordered it. Commanders who ordered their subordinates to participate should be immediately suspended from their official duties, and all personnel who were responsible for the crimes committed during the deportation should be prosecuted.