Some of the victims of land dispute in Rattanakiri (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)09-10-2008
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo in English
Click here to read the article in French
150 communal representatives from 15 different provinces met in Phnom Penh, Thursday 9 October, in order to assess the numerous land disputes which are affecting the Kingdom. Wearing a blue krama, they marched through the streets of the capital to spread their message.
Some of them, coming from eight different provinces, decided to file joint complaints, denouncing the illegal forest cutting and the land theft committed by high ranking personalities or private enterprises.
In front of journalists and different NGO’s, Seng Sok Heng, spokesperson for those communities, explained that it was important to denounce the land conflicts with one voice. “Several complaints were filed with the local officials in the villages, but no resolution has been reached. We thus decided to file a complaint together in order to show our worries to the government.”
Five provinces have already filed a joint complaint in June 2008, but Seng Sok Heng adds that the Ministry of Agriculture has reacted in the case of only one dispute concerning Kampong Cham province, but without sending anybody on the spot in order to find a solution. “The local authorities are threatening us and indicting us. Some protestants were arrested”, reveals the spokesperson. Kek Galabru, President of Licadho, a human rights NGO, also denounced the violence and the threats to which the protestants fall victim during these land disputes.
The representatives of the communes of Rattanak Kiri, Mondol Kiri and the provinces of Kratie and Preah Vihear have highlighted the problem of the deforestation and of the alteration of their environment. According to them, the fault lies in the hands of the developers who are taking advantage of the “ignorance of the residents”. “They encouraged us to sell our land which now belongs to private companies”, points out Romchang Tveng, living in Rattanak Kiri.
Sai Teang, from Kampong Cham, deplores the fact that one day the landless farmers might not be able to make a living off farming any more. In Kampot province, the villagers aren’t allowed any more to fish in an area which belongs to a private company since 2007, says Kem Da. “We were promised some development, but today we can’t do our jobs any more”, she complains.
A representative from Oddar Meanchey, Chhum Keout, tells about the difficulty to obtain information during a dispute, “the local authorities are only concerned about their own personal interest”. He believes that the most remote villages are the most affected and he invited the journalists to travel to those places and witness by themselves.
Some of them, coming from eight different provinces, decided to file joint complaints, denouncing the illegal forest cutting and the land theft committed by high ranking personalities or private enterprises.
In front of journalists and different NGO’s, Seng Sok Heng, spokesperson for those communities, explained that it was important to denounce the land conflicts with one voice. “Several complaints were filed with the local officials in the villages, but no resolution has been reached. We thus decided to file a complaint together in order to show our worries to the government.”
Five provinces have already filed a joint complaint in June 2008, but Seng Sok Heng adds that the Ministry of Agriculture has reacted in the case of only one dispute concerning Kampong Cham province, but without sending anybody on the spot in order to find a solution. “The local authorities are threatening us and indicting us. Some protestants were arrested”, reveals the spokesperson. Kek Galabru, President of Licadho, a human rights NGO, also denounced the violence and the threats to which the protestants fall victim during these land disputes.
The representatives of the communes of Rattanak Kiri, Mondol Kiri and the provinces of Kratie and Preah Vihear have highlighted the problem of the deforestation and of the alteration of their environment. According to them, the fault lies in the hands of the developers who are taking advantage of the “ignorance of the residents”. “They encouraged us to sell our land which now belongs to private companies”, points out Romchang Tveng, living in Rattanak Kiri.
Sai Teang, from Kampong Cham, deplores the fact that one day the landless farmers might not be able to make a living off farming any more. In Kampot province, the villagers aren’t allowed any more to fish in an area which belongs to a private company since 2007, says Kem Da. “We were promised some development, but today we can’t do our jobs any more”, she complains.
A representative from Oddar Meanchey, Chhum Keout, tells about the difficulty to obtain information during a dispute, “the local authorities are only concerned about their own personal interest”. He believes that the most remote villages are the most affected and he invited the journalists to travel to those places and witness by themselves.
1 comment:
Where is the King of Cambodia in all of these problems?
The silence of the King will reduce his influence and importance slowly but surely to the point where monarchy will eventually die.
It is too bad that the King chooses to remain silent in all of these problems.
Wake up Your Majesty before it is too late even for you!
A Concerned Khmer
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