Violent scenes in a rice paddy

Armed villagers clash with riot police who were attempting to carry out a Supreme Court-ordered eviction in Kampong Speu province yesterday. Sovan Philong

A policeman fires an AK-47 into the air yesterday during a clash with armed villagers over an area of disputed land in Kampong Speu province. Sovan Philong

A villager carries a woman who was injured on the arm when a policeman struck her yesterday. Sovan Philong

Village women protect an injured policeman from other villagers yesterday in Kampong Speu. Sovan Philong

Friday, 10 June 2011 15:03
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

One villager was shot and a policeman beaten unconscious as violent clashes broke out during an attempted land eviction in Kampong Speu province’s Oudong district yesterday.

At least 11 people, including four policemen, were injured as about 250 armed residents of Damnak Raing and Phnom Touch communes squared off with a 300-strong force of police and military police in Stock Slat village.

Authorities were attempting to enforce a 2009 Supreme Court order that awarded a 65-hectare plot of land, occupied by the villagers, to Meng Keth Company – owned by Taiwanese businessman Kuo Sheng.

Concerned residents stayed up all night to prepare for the eviction, transporting beds and entire houses to block National Road 51 at 3am to block the authorities’ path.

At about 11am the next day, however, a large group of police entered the area.

Yi Soksan, deputy investigation chief for rights group Adhoc, said that at 1pm about 52 shots were fired into the air and at villagers in what he called “a severe violation of human rights”.

As villagers fought back, armed with sticks, two women were hurt by electric batons.

One policeman was seized by a mob, before being held by villagers and beaten over the head.

His captors discussed whether to kill the officer but he was released 15 minutes later after rights groups intervened.

Mok Dim, Damnak Raing commune chief, confirmed that seven villagers had been injured.

“One was injured by a bullet, but it is a slight injury on the left hand,” he said. “Two villagers were rendered unconscious after being hit with electric batons.”

Khim Samon, Oudong district police chief, said late last night that three police officers and one military police officer had been hurt.

“One police officer has not yet awoken from being unconscious,” he said, adding that he did not know whether his force would continue with the eviction.

“It is up to the prosecutor,” he said.

Following the battle, residents expressed anger that they had been shot at by fellow Cambodians.

Sun Bunchhoun, 42, who represents 88 families, shouted into a microphone that local authorities should not use guns to shoot Khmer people.

“It is so unfair for them to take Khmer land for another nationality ... what is the use of living if all the land is taken?” he said.

Ky Rinnun, 77, added: “We are willing to die to protect our lives – our lives are reliant on farmland.”

“We will struggle to the end,” said homeowner Phun Ny, whose house is under threat.

Local children were also supporting the fight. Sarin Rithy, 13, a student at Angtasit Primary School, used a slingshot to exchange fire against the authorities and said he was not afraid of soldiers’ guns.

Keo Pisey, Kampong Speu provincial police chief, and Men Sibuorn, provincial deputy military police commander, could not be reached yesterday.

Khut Sopheang, the provincial prosecutor leading the implementation of the supreme court verdict, declined to comment.