CPP Othsman Hassan awards certificates to students who completed training in English and computer skills. (Photo: US Embassy in Cambodia)
The Train B community, which lies along colonial-era railway lines, faces an uncertain future. (Photo by: TRACEY SHELTON)Friday, 06 March 2009
Written by Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post
Residents say they fear a repeat of the Dey Krahorm eviction after three local representatives are convicted in absentia.
RESIDENTS remaining in the Train B Community in Tuol Kork district say they fear forced eviction from their land following the conviction in absentia of three community leaders, accused of falsifying documents relating to a property compensation claim.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court on February 23 convicted Chea Samhong, May Thonak and Sok Kimchan Mealea of forging the thumbprints of 34 community families seeking compensation from local developer Hassan Cambodia Development Limited, which plans to develop the 2.5-hectare block of land.
Yok Sambo, the residents' lawyer, said the three - currently in hiding - were sentenced to three years in prison and fined US$20,000 each.
"It is unjust for the residents. The court has no evidence to prove their forged thumbprints," he said Thursday.
Resident Chea Srey Na, the sister of suspect May Thonak, said the three had been convicted merely because they had fought for the small community, and that she now feared forced eviction like the city's Dey Krahorm community.
"We have been living here since 1990, and like Dey Krahorm, the government granted [us] a social land concession in 2003, but still the company wants to develop our community and give us low compensation," she said.
"The three leaders did everything for the sake of the people, and then this happens to them. I know we will end up like the Dey Krahorm community, where poor people lost out to the rich."
Official warnings
Othsman Hassan, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Labour and chairman of Hassan Cambodia Development, said that police were hunting for the fugitives, but that he had no hand in the court's decision and that it was residents themselves who lodged complaints about the three leaders.
He said that in 2000 the government granted his company the right to develop the 10-hectare area encompassing the Train A and B communities into office space and commercial centres, but that work was delayed because of 25 families who were yet to leave the site.
Othsman Hassan said the company had previously offered residents replacement housing but that the offer was no longer valid, and that the company was offering $20,000 cash for the remaining residents.
"People must accept that they are living on state land, so that when the government wants it for development they should leave because they do not legally own the land," he said.
"People are demanding high prices which we cannot accept."
Othsman Hassan also warned that authorities would take administrative action "like at Dey Krahorm" if people did not agree to leave.
Nouth Bopinnaroath, monitor for the rights group Licadho, said the three accused had served the community since 1995 and that residents had filed complaints with the Appeal Court to overturn the warrants.
RESIDENTS remaining in the Train B Community in Tuol Kork district say they fear forced eviction from their land following the conviction in absentia of three community leaders, accused of falsifying documents relating to a property compensation claim.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court on February 23 convicted Chea Samhong, May Thonak and Sok Kimchan Mealea of forging the thumbprints of 34 community families seeking compensation from local developer Hassan Cambodia Development Limited, which plans to develop the 2.5-hectare block of land.
Yok Sambo, the residents' lawyer, said the three - currently in hiding - were sentenced to three years in prison and fined US$20,000 each.
"It is unjust for the residents. The court has no evidence to prove their forged thumbprints," he said Thursday.
Resident Chea Srey Na, the sister of suspect May Thonak, said the three had been convicted merely because they had fought for the small community, and that she now feared forced eviction like the city's Dey Krahorm community.
"We have been living here since 1990, and like Dey Krahorm, the government granted [us] a social land concession in 2003, but still the company wants to develop our community and give us low compensation," she said.
"The three leaders did everything for the sake of the people, and then this happens to them. I know we will end up like the Dey Krahorm community, where poor people lost out to the rich."
Official warnings
Othsman Hassan, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Labour and chairman of Hassan Cambodia Development, said that police were hunting for the fugitives, but that he had no hand in the court's decision and that it was residents themselves who lodged complaints about the three leaders.
He said that in 2000 the government granted his company the right to develop the 10-hectare area encompassing the Train A and B communities into office space and commercial centres, but that work was delayed because of 25 families who were yet to leave the site.
Othsman Hassan said the company had previously offered residents replacement housing but that the offer was no longer valid, and that the company was offering $20,000 cash for the remaining residents.
"People must accept that they are living on state land, so that when the government wants it for development they should leave because they do not legally own the land," he said.
"People are demanding high prices which we cannot accept."
Othsman Hassan also warned that authorities would take administrative action "like at Dey Krahorm" if people did not agree to leave.
Nouth Bopinnaroath, monitor for the rights group Licadho, said the three accused had served the community since 1995 and that residents had filed complaints with the Appeal Court to overturn the warrants.
17 comments:
just because his cham land was stolen by the yuon, it doesn't mean that this cham should take it on the innocent khmer.
Chea Samhong, May Thonak and Sok Kimchan Mealea did not appear in the court that day... why? they escape from the Hassan's authority and from that day onward they're hiding themselves. They should have chance again to present in the court with Hassan by not frighten by Hassan's bodyguards.
"People must accept that they are living on state land, so that when the government wants it for development they should leave because they do not legally own the land," Hassan said. But I know the government has already officially conceded those area to them. Therefore, Hassan must negotiate with the remaining residents, finding solution that acceptable for both sides.
Othsman Hassan also warned that authorities would take administrative action "like at Dey Krahorm" if people did not agree to leave. That's really really "Cruel". It's big mistakes and the government should not repeat it again.
Please go to that area, Train A & B community and ask them then you will see how they scare of Hassan's power. His bodyguards are almost everywhere frightening people, most of them even use unethical behaviors to the remaining residents.
Please LICADHO and other orgs who protect human rights in Cambodia put attention in this matter or the situation will be a 2nd Key Krohorm.
Thanks
Hassan, be peace to Cambodian.
I hate the behaviors that was done to Key Krahorm... it's not humanity treat.
Hassan, do you like it?
Please stop bring violation to these innocent people...
He's now having problem with his financial crisis as well, so then he pressure to the poor innocents.
Yes my friend is living there said that Hassan's bodyguards always observe and follow her whenever his wife go to market.
This gentleman Mr. Othsman Hassan is not a Cham, he is a Khmer Champa. The Kingdom of Champa and other Kingdon like the Kingdom of Mon was one time the part of the Khmer Empire.
Othsman Hassan is Khmer Islam. Cham does not exist anymore.
This is to Khmer Buddhist and Khmer Christian or Khmer Atheists!!!
Stop your racist remarks against us minority Khmer Islam at once now.
6:47AM.
Don't call us Cham, we are Khmers just like you. You believe in Buddha and we believe in Islam.
Khmer Buddhists and Thai Buddhists are both evils.
fact is fact! kingdom champa is now kingdom Hanoi! go back and read history book where your ancestors come from and asked khmer land as asylum...you are just the new generation offsring your parents and know nothing and the fact the matter is muslims are racists! I was married to a muslim girl and cham community never accept me! I assumed if Cambodia was an Islam state, other religions may not be allowed to practice...but so far all buddhist khmers being fair to you guys to practice your religion ....so stop crying!
Who cries ah gay lover 3:01 PM.
Buddhist like you are serial killers just the same as ah CpeePee.
They didn't accept you because you are too ugly in and out.
Kanduoy ME ah EUV CHKE ME CHHROUK!
Ah.me Preah Thor-rani srob, ah.me runteass banh. 7;28PM.
Kandouy Mae ah.me motherfucker and dadafucker.
Hey you guys please keep this site clean, ok? you should remember that all religions leads us to good, but you particularly commit doing bad. Everybody here has free and fair to advice but not argue with improper words. We all have parents and they are innocent, pls stop!!!. We are Khmer even you're Khmer-islam, you still Khmer. Whoever live in this country should be nice to her people.
We should pay attention to the innocent who now are in the trouble. Hassan is now warning to the people in Train B to sell their house to him in a very low price or he'll sue them in the case of support to the Community. Then everything will be like Dey Krahorm. The court will never be at the poor side but rich (Hassan). Hassan is now using his Mountain-Dollas to everyone in the goverment to pro-him.
Aoh...Khmer Eoy...Pls open your eyes up... Pls take dollas-cover off your eyes and see the innocent people...
ah cham choy mray ah euv chker mer chhrouk! I eat Ham(your Mommy) everyday , Ah Son of a goat! your father gave your mom to arabs for sex!
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