Land’s ‘owner’ alleges violence

Touch Vanna, a former resident of the Boeung Chhouk community which was demolished in 2010, is seen at her former home before it was removed. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Thursday, 31 May 2012
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
The Phnom Penh Post

Six residents of the Boeung Chhouk community in the capital’s Russei Keo district have been summonsed to court to answer charges they used violence against the supposed owner of their land – a person they claim never to have met.

Khiev Chenda, 42, one of six who will appear in Phnom Penh municipal court today, said a police officer had delivered summonses to them in Kilometre 6 commune early this week, relating to their alleged treatment of a person named Tea Thoeun.

“This name I have never heard or been aware of before,” she said.

“I have never had a dispute or fought with others. I will appear at court and I believe the court will provide justice for us.”

Villagers rally against verdict

Representatives of 42 families in Tuol Kork district protest yesterday against a Supreme Court verdict to remove their houses from a 6,000 square metre area of land claimed by a government official. (Photo by: Sreng Meng Srun)

Thursday, 31 March 2011
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

Forty-two families in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district yesterday appealed to Prime Minister Hun Sen to intervene in the enforcement of a Supreme Court verdict today that will award land in Tuol Sangke commune’s Tuol Kork village to a former Funcinpec minister.

Villagers said yesterday that they bought the land from former Preah Vihear provincial governor Meas Savoeun five or six years ago after Meas Savoeun won the land from former Funcinpec minister Khun Haing, now a member of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, and his counterpart Chao Va in a court case.

Villager Van Socheat said that his purchase of the land was recognised by commune authorities.

Authorities Begin Dismantling 42 Homes [in Russei Keo] in Court Decision

Starting from around 6:30 am, homeowners looked on in tears as some 60 workers with axes and hammers began dismantling wooden houses. (Photo: AP)

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 31 March 2011

“In the name of the authorities, I am very happy to carry this out."

City authorities began the destruction of more than 40 houses in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district on Thursday, after the residents lost a court battle to a landowner.

Starting from around 6:30 am, homeowners looked on in tears as some 60 workers with axes and hammers began dismantling wooden houses and heavy machinery began knocking down concrete houses.

The destruction stems from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling in favor of a single landowner, Khun Haing, a former minister for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, who claims legal title to some 8,000 square meters in the northern Phnom Penh neighborhood.

Cham Muslims Homeless After Fire

Firefighters race to put out flames in the Reussey Keo district of Phnom Penh, Nov. 19, 2009. (RFA)

A fire in Cambodia's capital leaves hundreds of ethnic Muslims homeless.

2009-11-20
Radio Free Asia

PHNOM PENH—Hundreds of ethnic Cham Muslims are now homeless after a fire razed their crowded section of the Cambodian capital.

The blaze erupted early on Nov. 19 in an area dominated by the city's Muslim Cham minority, local police chief Som Bunny said.

Some 300 houses were destroyed in Reussey Keo district, Ly Rossamy, deputy district chief, said.

It lasted from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., she said, adding that an explosion of a cooking gas or electricity in the area may start the fire.

"No one was killed or injured. They all were evacuated," she said. An investigation into the cause is under way.

"Some removed their belongings and went by boat to the other side of the river. Some others moved to the main road."

Although large neighborhood fires are increasingly rare in Phnom Penh, a series of suspicious blazes several years ago destroyed a number of slum areas, forcing tens of thousands to flee.

"Each of us has [lost] hundreds of thousands of dollars," one resident said.

"We lost everything... The firefighters didn't even try to stop it."

Under Secretary of State for Vocational Training Okgna Ousman Hassan, who was at the scene, said fire trucks didn't have sufficient road access to put out the blaze.

Some 240,000 Cham Muslims live in Cambodia, making them about 1.6 percent of the population in the predominantly Buddhist country, according to a recent survey by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center.

Original reporting by Sek Bandith for RFA's Khmer service. Khmer service director: Sos Kem. Executive producer: Susan Lavery. Written for the Web in English by Sarah Jackson-Han.

Fire Destroys over 200 Houses

CPP office being burnt down? (Photo: Khmer Sthapana)

By Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
19 November 2009

More than 200 houses caught fire Thursday in a poor Cham Muslim community on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, officials said.

The fire, which started early in the day and lasted for several hours, was caused by a cooking-gas explosion, officials said. It was a fierce fire and a challenge to combat.

“The roads are too narrow to allow our trucks to get in,” said Net Vanthan, chief of Phnom Penh municipal fire brigade.

No casualties were immediately reported.

However, villagers blame fire department for not doing enough.

“The fire trucks arrived on time, but they just did nothing,” said a man on conditions of anonymity and whose house was burned down. “Two fire boats also arrived at a [nearby] river bank, but they just parked there.”

Over hundred houses fired in Phnom Penh

November 19, 2009
Xinhua

Over a hundred houses in Roeusey Keo district in Phnom Penh were fired on Thursday under strong wind season that was hitting Cambodia from the north direction to south.

"We have not known the cause of the fire yet and we did not know the amount of damage," Touch Naroath, Police chief of Phnom Penh told reporters at the scene, adding that "no casualty was caused yet."

"We are investigating the cause of fire," he said.

He also appealed to local people to be careful for their houses and property and should turn off the light and cooking gas when they left home.

Forced eviction in Russei Keo - The pictures speak for themselves

Photo: DAP News (Pro-CPP news media)
Photo: Chulthea, Koh Santepheap (Pro-CPP news media)
Photo: The Phnom Penh Post
Photo: Koh Santepheap (Pro-CPP news media)
Photo: Koh Santepheap (Pro-CPP news media)
Photo: Sovan Philong, The Phnom Penh Post

New wave of evictions in Phnom Penh

30 families had to witness the demolition of their homes (Photo: Jerome Becquet, Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

Thursday 15 October 2009
By Jerome Becquet and Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French

On Thursday 15 October morning, an area of Russei Keo district along the Tonle Sap River, 30 families were evicted from their homes which were later destroyed.

Once you cross the Japanese bridge at the exit of Phnom Penh in the direction of Kampong Cham, a troubling scene is attracting a large crowd of onlookers. In fact, the cops were directing a demolition gang busy at work. Distinguishable by their bright green T-shirts, the demo workers went on from one house to another, tearing out the tin roof, emptying the houses of all the furniture before loading them into moving trailer trucks.

70-year-old Phalhiot live here for the past 15 years. His family is respected by the authority, nevertheless, he couldn’t believe what he saw: “We negotiated with the city hall twice. They proposed to give us a 32-square-meter plot located next to the purification station in Meanchey district, in exchange for the plot of land that my family is living on right now. Our plot here is about 3 times larger than the one proposed to us,” he said with indignation.

Nevertheless, Phalhiot is one of the privileged residents because he was able to take down his house to rebuild it elsewhere. Meanwhile, several others did not have this opportunity. Phirom is among the unlucky ones: “They destroyed my wooden house with a bulldozer. Everything went by very quickly. Nobody listened to my complaints about my rights for relocation. I no longer have a roof to live under.”

According to a representative of the authority, 10 families out of the total of 30 families involved accepted the relocation proposal. “There were 5 warnings, and the eviction ultimatum was set on 7 October, it has been extended by one week,” he claimed. According to the latter, the cops intervened today because the road widening project must start as soon as possible to make way for a round-about.

Naroth, an investigator for Licadho, stressed that these new evictions – which are taking place after the recent evictions in Oddar Meanchey and Ratanakiri – are adding more fuels to the current land dispute chapter that is highly criticized by the civil society.

SRP warns that it will lead flooded residents to demonstrate

02 Nov 2008: A man travels by boat in Russei Keo district, Phnom Penh city (Photo: Chea Makara, RFA)

02 Nov 2008
By Chea Makara
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

On Sunday, the opposition SRP warned that it will lead Phnom Penh residents who have been victimized by flooding from the filling of lakes to demonstrate if the government does not put an end to these lake fillings along the capital suburbs. The opposition party indicated that the lake fillings were undertaken for land development and it also accused that these lake fillings led to the current severe flooding in Russei Keo district.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that the government must stop the lake fillings in Phnom Penh city for land development purposes. Currently, lake fillings are taking place in Boeung Proyab, Beoung Kak and Boeung Paungpeay. He said that theses lakes must be preserved as water reservoirs to prevent flooding.

Sam Rainsy indicated also that flooding will be more severe in the future once the filling of Boeung Kak Lake will be completed: “We sent our questions to the government, and we sent a petition asking for a government representative to come and provide answers. If there is no result, we will hold a demonstration and we will invite all the victimized residents in Phnom Penh to demonstrate to demand that all these companies end their lake filling activities immediately, otherwise, the residents will not accept this situation.”

Kob Sleh, the Russei Keo deputy district governor, rejected the accusation leveled by the opposition party, and he blamed the flooding in the district on the intense rainfalls in Phnom Penh city during this rainy season. Furthermore, land filling activities led to the cutting of the water drainage system into the drainage channels consisting of the O’Veng channel, the Bak Touk channel, the Kob Srov channel and the 598 channel. All these channels connect to the Kob Srov dike.

Kob Sleh indicated also that the filling of Boeung Kak Lake does not affect the current flooding and that Boeung Kak Lake is a dead Lake and is not connected to any drainage system.

Kob Sleh said: “They don’t know the geography, they kept on talking, they have a way of talking. They did not talk like a constructor, but they talk like critics. They can talk about it, but they should look at the geography also, where does the extent of the flooding in Russei Keo, in particular along the north of Phnom Penh in Russei Keo, where does it come from?”

Kob Sleh indicated that the water is receding gradually after the authority was able to release the water into the lake, and he said that the water will continue to recede in one week if there is no additional rainfall.

He added that, up to now, flooding covers the Svay Pak district (Red Lantern district) all the way to the Kob Srov dike, and water will not recede as long as the sewers cannot be unplugged at Lou (Sewer) village located in Svay Pak district, near National Road No. 5, in order to drain water into the lake.

It should be noted that Russei Keo district has been flooded for more than 2 months already, and residents must travel by boat, while others must live in makeshift tents because their houses are flooded.

The areas that are severely affected by the flood are: Pochentong, Phnom Penh Thmei road, Hanoi road, Boeng Proyab Lake, Teuk Thla, Phsar Toch, Tuol Sangker and Tuol Kok, to name a few.

Sam Rainsy visits flooded communes

Children walking to school in flooded areas (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

SRP MPs visiting the flooded areas (Photo: SRP)

02 Nov 2008
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Sess Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

On Sunday 02 November, SRP MPs along with their party leader visited Tuol Sangker commune in Phnom Penh, to meet flood victims.

When reached over the phone by Cambodge Soir, SRP MP Ho Vann from Phnom Penh explained that “for the past two months, water flow problems persist and the City Hall has not reacted yet up to now. Young students could not go to school as they normally do and businesses could not function normally anymore. If this situation continues, serious hygiene problems will happen, (especially) for drinking water and also due to prolonged contact by the residents to stagnant water, (this affects) children in particular.”

According to the SRP, development projects in the city were the source of these problems, especially since the Phnom Penh lakes were filled. According to Ho vann, “these projects did not integrate replacement water drainage system. Furthermore, in some zones where water is not pumped out, muddy water spots are left behind and this prevents a quick drainage of water.”

Also, according to Ho Vann, the situation is caused by the launching of “Korean and/or Japanese” projects “supported by corrupt and unscrupulous politicians.” If the government or the City Hall do not react quickly, the SRP said that it is ready to launch a protest movement that will be supported by residents from the flooded zones.

For Fire Victims, No New Year

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
16 April 2008

There was no new-year merriment for the hundreds of victims of a Phnom Penh fire last week. Their homes were destroyed in the seven-hour blaze, many of their belongings gone in smoke.

“We used to organize for the Khmer New Year joyfully,” lamented Pov Norn. “But now we have no courage, and no way to celebrate New Year. All our money has been destroyed.”

Hundreds of families have built makeshift homes of blue tarpaulin in a large field near their burned homes. A giant plastic water basin sits in the middle of the camp.

“We prayed for our ancestors to pardon us this year, as we cannot organize a New Year ceremony,” said Um Phon, sitting in one of the shacks. “We prayed to them to go and see other members of the family who have not had their homes burned.”

At least 450 houses were destroyed in the April 11 fire, leaving 500 families without shelter. Officials have said they were unable to fight the blaze because narrow roads prevented their trucks from reaching the homes.

“We regret this, but we will help them as much as we possibly can,” said Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Man Chhoeurn.

Authorities are looking for a way to rebuild a village for the victims, he said, adding that the new site would have wider roads.

Source of Russei Keo blaze: An irate massage parlor customer

Cambodia: Worst ever fire hits Phnom Penh, thousand people homeless

PHNOM PENH, April 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 200 small wooden houses in the poor community of Russey Keo district in northwestern Phnom Penh were burnt to ashes on Friday during this year's worst fire disaster but police have reported no human casualties so far.

The fire started from a massage parlor around five o'clock in the morning and quickly spread to other houses in the community, Cheng Hong, deputy district governor, told reporters at the scene, but unable to estimate the range of damage.

"We didn't know the exact number of houses ruined by the fire," he said, but confirmed that there was no information of human death.

Local police authorities and other government officials were unavailable for comments on casualties and damage.

Witnesses and neighborhood residents told reporters that a customer lost his property at the massage parlor and became angry. He walked away for a while, then came back with gasoline, burned the massage parlor with it, and at last managed to run away.

After the fire was started, all the massage girls also fled the house that they rented from a local person to run their business, they said.

Hundreds of families and at least 1,000 people were affected this time, while some people rescued their belongings and others just had no chance to do so, they said.

Most of the people in the community worked for garment factories and they rented the houses for daily life and stay, they added.

Sok Phy, who lived next to the massage parlor, said that this was the second time that massage parlors caused fire and damage in the community in recent years.

Last year, she said, a dozen houses were ruined by a fire from a massage parlor.

"This time, we didn't have the chance to stop the fire, because it spread to other houses so fast," she added.

Community security guard Vuth Vibol said that his house was entirely burnt down during the fire and he only rescued his pet cat.

"I knew the fire from my neighbor. He called me. I fled and found my cat on the sidewalk," he said.

Some of the residents locked their houses and went to their homeland for the upcoming Khmer New Year which falls on April 13 to 16, he said, adding that their properties were completely lost.

All the wooden houses were built next to each other in a disorderly manner, which helped the fire spread fast and also prevented the firefighters from entering the scene in time, said Thay Savut, senior firefighting officer.

"We couldn't reach the fire place to douse the blaze because the area was so small and had no real roads. We could only water some houses beside the main streets," he added.

Russei Keo blaze: Residents report fire dept. refused to put out flames because people couldn't pay them bribes

Fire Destroys Hundreds of Slum Homes

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
11 April 2008

A seven-hour fire burned down several hundred homes on the outskirts of Phnom Penh early Monday, and residents say the fire department did little to stop it.

The fire started around 5 am Monday and continued burning until around noon, destroying an entire village of makeshift homes.

Residents said the fire department refused to put out the flames because the people couldn't pay them bribes.

"I asked the firemen to extinguish my house, but the firemen said they did not have water," Chhen Saray, said as she wept. "The firemen extinguished only the houses of the rich, not the poor."

The fire comes just days before the start of Khmer New Year, a traditional time of nationwide celebration. No casualties were reported, and the cause is under investigation.

A fire department official denied claims of negligence, saying his men were hard-pressed to stop the fire in an area with streets too narrow for his trucks.

"The firemen had difficulty extinguishing the fire, because the roads leading the slum were too small," said Sok Vannra, first deputy chief of the Phnom Penh fire department. "We were fighting the fire from 5:30 am, and we almost had no water to drink, but we are still criticized by the residents."

A second resident said her house was saved by firemen only after her uncle, who knew some other firemen, convinced them to put out the flames. Her uncle later paid five men $10, she said.

Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Mab Sarin said Friday the city had no plans to develop the area.

"The Phnom Penh municipality has instructed district governors and deputy governors to consider finding a proper place for victims to stay," he said.

Thousands homeless after Cambodian slum fire: Video footage following the blaze

Thank you "local1x" for posting this dramatic video!

Video footage from the blaze in Russei Keo district, destroying 200 homes

Thank you "local1x" for posting this dramatic video!

Blaze in Russei Keo distict, destroying 200 homes

A woman cries as she is led away from her burning house in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008 . At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Smoke rises from burning houses in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008 . At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A woman holds a fire hose as she tries to put out a fire that engulfed the neighbourhood in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008. At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Firefighters and residents try to put out a fire that engulfed the neighbourhood in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008 . At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Blaze in Russei Keo distict, destroying 200 homes

Cambodian military police hose down a burning house in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008. At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Residents look at smoke rising from a burning house in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008. At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A woman carrying her belongings runs past a firefighter as she flees her burning house in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008 . At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A firefighter listens to a handheld radio set as a woman carrying her belongings flees her burning house in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008 . At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A firefighter hoses down a burning house in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008 . At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Blaze in Russei Keo distict, destroying 200 homes

A man waters down his burning house in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008 . At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A woman carries a gas canister as she flees her burning house in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008. At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A man talks on his mobile phone as a fire engine drives past a burning house in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008 . At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A girl carrying her belongings flees her burning house in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008. At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A man looks at the remains of burnt houses in Phnom Penh April 11, 2008. At least several hundred people were affected by the blaze that hit the Rusey Koe district in the Cambodian capital, police said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

More Than 20 Families Forced From Homes

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
22 February 2008

Cambodian police and military police launched tear gas into a crowd of residents, injuring several, prior to forcibly evicting them from their Phnom Penh neighborhood early Friday morning, rights investigators and witnesses said.

Around 500 security forces armed with batons and riot shields forcibly evicted the families, in Russei Keo district, firing multiple rifle shots into the air and accompanied by a water cannon and bulldozer, witnesses said.

"I no longer have a home to live in," said one evicted resident who, like others, asked not to be named.

"Where is the justice for the protection of the people?" asked another. "They don't help the people, but they come to destroy the people. I saved money from one cent to build the house, for 20 years."

Police fired around 27 canisters of tear gas, according to a statement by the rights group Adhoc.

"I protected my house," said a third resident. "When they forced me out, I refused. They stoned me in the head."

Russei Keo District Chief Khlang Hout said the forces were carrying out a court order.

"The court verdict is an independent power, and we have a duty to cooperate with the court to do this," Khlang Hout said.

Chan Saveth, an investigator for the group, called the eviction "very brutal" and condemned "the carrying out of a court verdict with the blood and tears of the people."

Police arrested 11 people during the eviction, and at least seven were injured, Adhoc said.

Keo Remy, vice president of the Human Rights Party, called the eviction "a violation of the people's rights and additional tragedy for them."

"The land problem is more important than the political problem right now, because the land problem is related to personal interests, and [those who take the land] can use all means, through both a company and powerful men, to capture land," Keo Remy said.

The value of land in Cambodia doubled from 2006 to 2007, Adhoc has said.

Authority demolishes homes in Russei Keo [-More illegal and violent eviction]

Demolition in progress (Photo: Sophorn, RFA)
Demolition in progress (Photo: Sophorn, RFA)
Scene after the demolition (Photo: Sophorn, RFA)

26 Dec 2007
By Sophorn Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Villagers from Samaky village, Russei Keo commune, Phnom Penh city, claimed that that about 100 police officers armed with electric batons, axes, knives, crowbars and rifles, chased them out of their homes before demolishing their houses.

Saing Sithon, a Samaky villager, told RFA, in the open filed of his demolished home, in the morning of Wednesday 26 December, that he lived in this village since 1988, and he never had any problem. However, on Wednesday morning, the cops came with excavators to demolish his home and he was not offered any compensation in return.

Saing Sithon said: “They tore it down, they bulldozed it out, they brought an excavator to clear it out. During this demolition, the cops were wielding axes, knives, and they each had a pistol on their hips, they were all armed with guns, they had shields, and their guns. The district governor personally came, he threatened us to tear down our houses.”

Chan Samnang, the Russei Keo commune chief, indicated that 25 families in the village saw their homes demolished, and these families lived there since 1990. She claimed that she does not have the ability to help her constituents.

Moan Chhoeun, the deputy Phnom Penh city governor, said that he did not know about the demolition of the villagers’ homes. He said to contact the Russei Keo district governor instead. Kaub Sles, the deputy Russei Keo district governor, refused to comment on this issue.

According to Phnom Penh SRP MP Ho Vann, the action taken by the Russei Keo police force to demolish the villagers’ homes is tantamount to the destruction of private properties.

Ho Vann said: “They should complain (to the court) to ask for compensation because those who destroy the villagers’ properties must pay back damage compensation. The lawyers should prepare their complaints and bring them up to the court to punish those who illegally used force for one thing. Secondly, they must pay back true home values in compensation because this is a destruction of someone else’s property. I will write two letters, one will be sent out through the president of the National Assembly, and one to the Ministry of Interior which is responsible for this demolition. Next, I will send a letter to the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, which was the former owner of this old dock, so that it finds an appropriate solution for its own workers.”

It is often observed that the authority evicts thousands of families out of Phnom Penh city while claiming that the land these people lived on either belong to the state, or are earmarked for development.