16 December 2007
By Mom Sophon
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
A group of about 30 workers for the 7NG company tried to install corrugated plates to build a fence at the (disputed) Dey Kraham zone, and in the process, they created violence between themselves and the residents of this area, causing injuries to two women residents.
Residents of the Dey Kraham community, located on Tonle Bassac commune, Chamcar Mon district, indicated that if the company was building around its own lands, they would not oppose such action, but, the company fenced off houses belonging to the residents, and it also cut off their entrance roads as well.
40-year-old A Syas who lives in the Dey Kraham community, was beaten up by the 7NG workers, and she was injured on her forehead and the back of her head. She said: “This fencing, I don’t allow them to fence (us off). There were cursings back and forth, I told them to stop the cursing, both sides should stop the cursing. When we were talking to each other, one of the (7NG) company employees took his loudspeaker to curse us. I told him to stop the cursing and I put down (on the ground) his loudspeaker, I told him to stop the cursing. He hit me right away, I didn’t do anything at all.”
35-year-old Muy Teng who was injured on her calf added: “The company came to install corrugated plate fence, therefore, we did not allow them to install it, we were standing there, but they kept on installing. I forbade them by sticking my foot out, they raised a huge hammer and smacked me on my foot, it almost broke it. We protested against their (fence) installation, we are not leaving yet, we are still living there, our houses are not even taken down yet and they are already installing this fence. We cannot live with it. There should be a reasonable resolution for us also, because these lands are concession lands.”
In the protest against the installation of the fence, Dey Kraham community residents held their hands together (to form a chain), they also burnt tires, and violence erupted between the residents and workers for the 7NG company. The incidents led to injuries to two women residents, and one worker for the 7NG company.
During the violent clash, there were no police there to intervene or provide any resolution to this issue at all. Representatives of the 7NG could not be reached to ask for a clarification on this issue.
Am Sam At, investigation director for the Licadho human rights organization, said that since the start of the dispute, 10 representatives of the Dey Kraham community were sued by the 7NG company, and they are all under investigation by the authority. One of the representatives of the residents is currently being jailed.
Am Sam At criticized the actions perpetrated by the 7NG company against the residents, calling it a provocation in order to blame residents of the Dey Kraham community.
Am Sam At said: “I believe that this violence was a provocation. The (7NG) company built this fence in order to lead the residents to use violence against the company, and when injuries occur, the company would bring criminal lawsuits to the court, in order to arrest representatives of the residents. This action (by the 7NG company) is tantamount to a threat on the residents, in order to scare them so that they agree to leave the Dey Kraham area.”
The Dey Kraham area is located next to the new National Assembly building, and about 1,000 families are living there. The 7NG ordered them to move out so that it can take over the lands to develop. However, several families living there refused to leave unless they receive proper compensation first.
Residents of the Dey Kraham community, located on Tonle Bassac commune, Chamcar Mon district, indicated that if the company was building around its own lands, they would not oppose such action, but, the company fenced off houses belonging to the residents, and it also cut off their entrance roads as well.
40-year-old A Syas who lives in the Dey Kraham community, was beaten up by the 7NG workers, and she was injured on her forehead and the back of her head. She said: “This fencing, I don’t allow them to fence (us off). There were cursings back and forth, I told them to stop the cursing, both sides should stop the cursing. When we were talking to each other, one of the (7NG) company employees took his loudspeaker to curse us. I told him to stop the cursing and I put down (on the ground) his loudspeaker, I told him to stop the cursing. He hit me right away, I didn’t do anything at all.”
35-year-old Muy Teng who was injured on her calf added: “The company came to install corrugated plate fence, therefore, we did not allow them to install it, we were standing there, but they kept on installing. I forbade them by sticking my foot out, they raised a huge hammer and smacked me on my foot, it almost broke it. We protested against their (fence) installation, we are not leaving yet, we are still living there, our houses are not even taken down yet and they are already installing this fence. We cannot live with it. There should be a reasonable resolution for us also, because these lands are concession lands.”
In the protest against the installation of the fence, Dey Kraham community residents held their hands together (to form a chain), they also burnt tires, and violence erupted between the residents and workers for the 7NG company. The incidents led to injuries to two women residents, and one worker for the 7NG company.
During the violent clash, there were no police there to intervene or provide any resolution to this issue at all. Representatives of the 7NG could not be reached to ask for a clarification on this issue.
Am Sam At, investigation director for the Licadho human rights organization, said that since the start of the dispute, 10 representatives of the Dey Kraham community were sued by the 7NG company, and they are all under investigation by the authority. One of the representatives of the residents is currently being jailed.
Am Sam At criticized the actions perpetrated by the 7NG company against the residents, calling it a provocation in order to blame residents of the Dey Kraham community.
Am Sam At said: “I believe that this violence was a provocation. The (7NG) company built this fence in order to lead the residents to use violence against the company, and when injuries occur, the company would bring criminal lawsuits to the court, in order to arrest representatives of the residents. This action (by the 7NG company) is tantamount to a threat on the residents, in order to scare them so that they agree to leave the Dey Kraham area.”
The Dey Kraham area is located next to the new National Assembly building, and about 1,000 families are living there. The 7NG ordered them to move out so that it can take over the lands to develop. However, several families living there refused to leave unless they receive proper compensation first.
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