Hochimonks prevented Buddhist monk from participating in a demonstration on land dispute in Siem Reap

Chikreng commune villagers shot by cops in 2009 (Photo: Savyouth, RFA)

A Hochimonk (right) tried to grab Venerable Luon Savath's hand (left) and pull him out the crowd of protesters in front of the Siem Reap provincial court. The Hochimonk wanted to take the venerable away (most likely to be disciplined by other Hochimonks), but the protesters protected the venerable and prevented the Hochimonks from taking him away (Photo: Hang Savyouth, RFA)

18 August 2010
By Hang Savyouth
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Venerable Luon Savath said: “I came by myself … I am in nobody’s way, I wear the monk robe, and they know that my brother was shot [by the cops], that my nephew was shot and that my relatives are being jailed, therefore, I have the rights. I am alive because these villagers feed me.”

Siem Reap monk officials attempted to remove a monk who represents Chikreng commune villagers who are involved in a 90-hectare rice field land dispute. The monk-representative was prohibited from participating in a protest in front of the provincial tribunal during the court hearing against 3 Chikreng commune representatives in the morning of 17 August.

Seven monk officials [KI-Media note: they are most likely Tep Vong’s communist Hochimonks] came to the provincial court and tried to take Venerable Luon Savath out. The latter represented the Chikreng commune villagers, and he was prevented from protesting in order to demand for a resolution in the land dispute. The protesters also demanded for the release of the 12 villagers who are currently being jailed. The Hochimonks accused Venerable Luon Savath of violating the Buddhist rule. However, the attempt made by the Hochimonks was a complete failure when the villagers defended Venerable Luon Savath and prevented the cops and the Hochimonks from taking him away.

Hochimonk Tek Bunlorng, an official monk for Siem Reap province, said that the participation by Venerable Luon Savath in the demonstration is a violation of Buddhist rule and monks are not allowed to stand in the open next to laymen. The Hochimonk added that even if there were shooting [on the villagers by the cops] just like during the Pol Pot regime, monks do not have the duty to protest or interfere on behalf of the laymen.

However, Venerable Luon Savath, the representative of the Chikreng commune villagers, rejected the accusations made by the Hochimonks, saying that he is not in any violation.

Venerable Luon Savath said: “I came by myself … I am in nobody’s way, I wear the monk robe, and they know that my brother was shot [by the cops], that my nephew was shot and that my relatives are being jailed, therefore, I have the rights. I am alive because these villagers feed me.”

Protest over land issues by people from 24 communities

Report by Sok Serey, Radio Free Asia
Video by Uon Chhin

Sihanoukville people bring their land protest to PPenh [-Protesters hand over their complaint to the "corrupt office" of the Council of Ministers]

Protesters from Sihanoukville have gathered in front of the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh on 13 August 2007 (Photo: Sok Serey, RFA)

13 August 2007
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

More than 100 Cambodian people representing over 100 families coming from Group 2, Commune No. 3, Mittapheap district, Sihanoukville, have gathered to demonstrate in front of the office of the Council of Ministers on Monday morning to protest against a plan by the Sihanoukville city to confiscate 14-hectare of lands occupied by these families and turn these lands into state property in the near future.

The group of protesters includes old people, young children, and nursing mothers, who are holding their demonstrations in a park located in front of the office of the Council of Ministers. Some of the protesters held portraits of King Sihamoni, while others were holding portraits of Hun Sen and his wife to protest.

Three representatives of the group were sent to hand over their complaint to the office of the anti-corruption department of the Council of Ministers, requesting help to resolve the problem they are facing. However, a representative of the National Authority for the Resolution of Land Dispute (NARLD) came to tell the group that they should head to the NARLD office instead, claiming that the anti-corruption department has no authority to resolve land disputes.

37-year-old Ly Aun who traveled from Group 2, Commune No. 3, Mittapheap district, Sihanoukville, told RFA that there is no promise given by government officials who received the complaint.

Ly Aun said: “We have all the necessary documents, but they didn’t provide any information to the people. I went into this “corrupt office,” an official said that he will accept a copy of the document. He said that this is not even his office.”

Thong Sokhom, one of the representatives for the families, said that Say Hak, the governor of Sihanoukville issued an information letter on 31 July, telling the families that they have 15-day notice to move their houses out by themselves. There are only 2 days left before their homes will be destroyed by Say Hak’s henchmen, so the people were scared and came over to protest.

Thong Sokhom said: “There are 2 days left until the due date, therefore we came to ask that Samdach Hun Sen, Samdech Ta, Samdech Yeay, and the King to help us live in peace, without oppression.”

Regarding the presence of the protesters, an official representing the NARLD came to meet the group of demonstrators, and told them: “The place for the resolution, no matter where you take it, they will not resolve it for you if you hand it to the wrong place. Do you understand? Therefore, you should take it to my office (NARLD), we have the ability to make an arrangement.”

According to the people, the lands where the Sihanoukville city wants to confiscate occupy an area of 14-hectare, and is currently occupied by 103 families living in this Mittapheap district, Sihanoukville province.

According to interviews with the protesters, they said that they don’t have any official land title documents, but they own papers indicating that they live there since the 80s.

Un Thanun, an investigator for the Licadho human rights group in Sihanoukville, said that the confiscation of these lands was done without providing anything in exchange to the protesters.