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| Villagers involved in a long-running land dispute with KDC International take part in a ceremony in Kampong Chhnang province. Photograph: Supplied/Phnom Penh Post |
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| Suy Sem and Chea Kheng, his wife |
10 January 2013
By May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post
In a sign that they no longer have faith in the court system, more than 100 villagers in Kampong Chhnang province placed their fates in the hands of a higher power yesterday, and prayed for misfortune to rain down on a company with whom they’ve fought a bitter land dispute for years.
The object of scorn for residents of Lorpeang village was KDC International, owned by the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy minister’s wife, Chea Kheng.
Villagers claim the KDC grabbed more than 500 hectares of land in 2007, but the company says its property was rightfully purchased.
From then on, lawsuits have flown back and forth, and one villager is still in prison on charges of trespassing. While some of the families agreed to take compensation, the majority refused and held out for a resolution that hasn’t come yet.
Lorpeang village representative Reach Sima said yesterday’s gathering took place at a pagoda, and was intended to represent an anniversary of loss.
“We pray to the gods to insult the company and dealers who invaded our lands [almost] seven years ago. We decided to organise the traditional ceremony because we lost confidence in the court and authorities,” he said, adding that the land dispute has denied villagers their crops and forced many to seek work as labourers in Thailand.
KDC representative Thai Hee, could not be reached yesterday.
For locals embroiled in losing battles with developers, “curse days” have become more common, said Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.
“It’s a sign of desperation; it’s also a sign that there is less and less hope in the fight and the legal framework,” Virak said, calling the gathering a “last resort”.
According to a report published by civil society groups last year, villagers involved in land disputes held the spiritual ceremonies 18 times in 2012.
Pheng Rom, another Lorpeang representative, said the gatherings will continue as long as the dispute does.
“Whether praying gets results or not, this event will encourage us to continue our fight.”
7 comments:
High power won't help you but bullets will select the head of the target then pull the trigger that may send a message loud and clear to these thugs that stole your land.
Yobal Khmer
Good luck with that.
Keep praying and all your land will be gone. High power won't do shit for you, dumb khmers.
All of you (Too Valuable people) are so coward and opportunistic people around Sam Rainsy and they are thinking that they are “too valuable” to die in saving their motherland Cambodia. They just want opportunity to be rich only.
Lotus Revolution Leaders are even shit and coward and they think them too valuable to die saving their motherland Cambodia. Too valuable people = No country to call Home!
“Too many valuable” people around Sam Rainsy that is why they are shit and Angkor Watt temples belong to Uncle Ho's agent Sok Kong. How is your national icon Angkor Watt temple? We are Vietnamese so proud in making billions of American dollars by selling stone by stone of your “too valuable people” Angkor Watt temples. What are you going to do, huh? Screaming just like bitches but don’t dare to die saving your Angkor Watt and your Nation because you are “too valuable” to do any things good for your motherland Cambodia.
If you people are “too valuable” to die saving your nation that is ok, Uncle Ho will cook good curries with dogs meat for you people to eat, just come and joint Uncle Ho like your heroes Dr Lao Mong Hay, Norodom Ranaridth, Nhek Bun Chay...Just come because you are “too valuable” people. Just Come and joint uncle Ho.
NASA found a giant asteroid coming
straith to the earth and will probably hit the earth in 2016 or 2029.I hope yuon you are afraid
of it.Khmer people are not afraid.
However i hope true khmer nationalist could teleguidw it
to hit wherever they want to.
This giant asteroid is 300m of diameter,enough big to destroy
a country,not the whole world.
Hey Short dickhead @5:21 AM, what are you doing to defend your Vietcong dog eaters for? You and evil Vietcong dog eaters should be wiped out of the planet. We don't want your evil Vietcong folks to be on the planet because you and your evil Vietnamese folks are very stubborn and still keep on and on for non stop. The world is watching your shitty mouthpieces and ridiculous and nonsense comments on innocent Cambodian people who have been suffering enough. How far do you and your Vietcong dog eaters want to commit the crimes and murder innocent people like that. Your Vietcong criminals not only killed Cambodian people, but your evil Vietcong gooks killed Westerners and backpackers in Cambodia and sea. In addition, you used Cambodian or Khmer people as the scapegoats because your Vietcong killers and criminals in Cambodia control your Vietnamese puppet in Phnom Penh. There will be a time to ban and put sanctions against your Vietcong bastards and Communist criminals in Hanoi.
5:21 AM,
Motherfucker, you have ruined Vietnamese reputation because your stupid comment.
Get out of here, fucker.
Vietnamese student in New Orlean
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