Demolition in progress (Photo: Sophorn, RFA)
Demolition in progress (Photo: Sophorn, RFA)
Scene after the demolition (Photo: Sophorn, RFA)By Sophorn Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Villagers from Samaky village, Russei Keo commune, Phnom Penh city, claimed that that about 100 police officers armed with electric batons, axes, knives, crowbars and rifles, chased them out of their homes before demolishing their houses.
Saing Sithon, a Samaky villager, told RFA, in the open filed of his demolished home, in the morning of Wednesday 26 December, that he lived in this village since 1988, and he never had any problem. However, on Wednesday morning, the cops came with excavators to demolish his home and he was not offered any compensation in return.
Saing Sithon said: “They tore it down, they bulldozed it out, they brought an excavator to clear it out. During this demolition, the cops were wielding axes, knives, and they each had a pistol on their hips, they were all armed with guns, they had shields, and their guns. The district governor personally came, he threatened us to tear down our houses.”
Chan Samnang, the Russei Keo commune chief, indicated that 25 families in the village saw their homes demolished, and these families lived there since 1990. She claimed that she does not have the ability to help her constituents.
Moan Chhoeun, the deputy Phnom Penh city governor, said that he did not know about the demolition of the villagers’ homes. He said to contact the Russei Keo district governor instead. Kaub Sles, the deputy Russei Keo district governor, refused to comment on this issue.
According to Phnom Penh SRP MP Ho Vann, the action taken by the Russei Keo police force to demolish the villagers’ homes is tantamount to the destruction of private properties.
Ho Vann said: “They should complain (to the court) to ask for compensation because those who destroy the villagers’ properties must pay back damage compensation. The lawyers should prepare their complaints and bring them up to the court to punish those who illegally used force for one thing. Secondly, they must pay back true home values in compensation because this is a destruction of someone else’s property. I will write two letters, one will be sent out through the president of the National Assembly, and one to the Ministry of Interior which is responsible for this demolition. Next, I will send a letter to the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, which was the former owner of this old dock, so that it finds an appropriate solution for its own workers.”
It is often observed that the authority evicts thousands of families out of Phnom Penh city while claiming that the land these people lived on either belong to the state, or are earmarked for development.
Saing Sithon, a Samaky villager, told RFA, in the open filed of his demolished home, in the morning of Wednesday 26 December, that he lived in this village since 1988, and he never had any problem. However, on Wednesday morning, the cops came with excavators to demolish his home and he was not offered any compensation in return.
Saing Sithon said: “They tore it down, they bulldozed it out, they brought an excavator to clear it out. During this demolition, the cops were wielding axes, knives, and they each had a pistol on their hips, they were all armed with guns, they had shields, and their guns. The district governor personally came, he threatened us to tear down our houses.”
Chan Samnang, the Russei Keo commune chief, indicated that 25 families in the village saw their homes demolished, and these families lived there since 1990. She claimed that she does not have the ability to help her constituents.
Moan Chhoeun, the deputy Phnom Penh city governor, said that he did not know about the demolition of the villagers’ homes. He said to contact the Russei Keo district governor instead. Kaub Sles, the deputy Russei Keo district governor, refused to comment on this issue.
According to Phnom Penh SRP MP Ho Vann, the action taken by the Russei Keo police force to demolish the villagers’ homes is tantamount to the destruction of private properties.
Ho Vann said: “They should complain (to the court) to ask for compensation because those who destroy the villagers’ properties must pay back damage compensation. The lawyers should prepare their complaints and bring them up to the court to punish those who illegally used force for one thing. Secondly, they must pay back true home values in compensation because this is a destruction of someone else’s property. I will write two letters, one will be sent out through the president of the National Assembly, and one to the Ministry of Interior which is responsible for this demolition. Next, I will send a letter to the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, which was the former owner of this old dock, so that it finds an appropriate solution for its own workers.”
It is often observed that the authority evicts thousands of families out of Phnom Penh city while claiming that the land these people lived on either belong to the state, or are earmarked for development.
4 comments:
most of our Cambodian have suffered from extremists and terrorists government of Hun sen and his predescessors Pol Pot for many decades. From 1975-1979, they have forced people into the countryside for be their slaveries.
From 1979-1993, Hun sen has used methode to make everyone poor so that only him and his family can live in luxery.
From 1993-now, They are robbing Cambodian lands and properties and make themselves riches.
You know who is living there, Mainly Yourn. So, you want to oppose to it, it's up to you.
Just another day at work for the government.
Investments and developments create jobs for the people.
These land concessions allow our partners to build the future for the people of Cambodia.
This is why I solely decided to name this nortious prime minister the "Bulldozer."
The bulldozer does not like to reason (he's a mad man), instead, sending the bulldozers to do his dirty work and disregard the poor and underprivileged people.
Khmer forever! Yuon out of Cambodia!
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