Lake Protesters Released Under Court Watch After Arrests

Some 300 protesters locked arms and blocked the thoroughfare, demonstrating against the city’s failure to so far implement a land agreement ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier this year Photo: by Heng Reaksmey

An identified woman, Boeung Kak lake protester, crying at the demonstration Monday. Photo by Heng Reaksmey

A group of Cambodian police officers maintaining traffic and demonstrators at Monivong Boulevard in front of City Hall. Photo by Heng Reaksmey

Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

“They do not fear death or detention in jail."

Four leaders of a Monday demonstration by Boeung Kak lake protesters were released pending trial Tuesday, after Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged them with insult and obstruction of public officials.

The four women—Tep Vanny, 31, Bu Chorvy, 37, Heng Mom, 42, and Kong Chantha, 44—were arrested during a protest Monday that blocked traffic on Monivong Boulevard in front of City Hall.

Some 300 protesters locked arms and blocked the thoroughfare, demonstrating against the city’s failure to so far implement a land agreement ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier this year.

Protesters clashed with police and threw water bottles. Some tore off their clothes and lie in the road. At least two women threatened suicide over the loss of their homes.

Tep Vanny, an outspoken advocate for villagers who say they want land on a contentious development site at Boeung Kak lake, said they would not stop until they were granted the 12.44 hectares of land promised by the authorities.

Some residents have said they were arbitrarily excluded from the deal with the city, which was meant to allay the anger of villagers unwilling to take a development company buyout or relocation.

“The villagers have a plan to continue their demands if the Phnom Penh authorities do not give them the land,” she said. “They do not fear death or detention in jail. What they are thinking about is their lost land and that their children have no homes in which to live or freedom of living.”

Chhin Lida, a defense lawyer for the four women, said he welcomed their release under court supervision but said he would fight against further arrest or detention.

Am Sam Ath, lead investigator for the rights group Licadho, said authorities were now putting more pressure on the lake residents to prevent further protests.

“The first arrests were clearly motivated by the authorities’ strategy to target the community’s leadership,” Sia Phearum, secretariat director for the Human Rights Task Force, an advocacy group, said in a statement. “They were not motivated by any threat to public safety.”