Sam Rainsy, Opposition Leader, is seen addressing a crowd of villagers whose land was illegally grabbed. The villagers came from different provices and were gathered in front of Botum Vatey Pagoda. (Photo Sav Bory/RFA)By Ros Dina
Cambodge Soir
20 Feb. 2006
Translated from French by KI-Media
Cambodge Soir
20 Feb. 2006
Translated from French by KI-Media
Inhabitants of Sihanoukville who had settled for two months near Wat Botum pagoda in a makeshift encampment, in the hope of finding in Phnom Penh a resolution to recover the lands where they were chased from, were dispersed Friday morning by the police force. Around 10:00 AM, three trucks chartered by the city of Sihanoukville and escorted by police officers, arrived at the encampment, with the order of rounding up the protesters and bring them back to their village. However, things did not go the way the authorities expected. Nobody wanted to get aboard these trucks. "We do not want to return back to Sihanoukville because we are afraid of the authorities using force against us, even against the children. Also, before leaving, we want an official letter to learn where we will be settled," one of the protesters explained. The protesters tried to obtain a delay, assuring the authority that in the afternoon, they will meet with someone from the ministry of Interior for a last negotiation.
But the police officers did not want to listen to them. Seeing that the protesters did not want to board the trucks, the authorities decided to dismantle their encampment. "We are not allowing anybody to settle in this garden because it disturbs public order and it creates an unhealthy area," one of the police officers explained using a loudspeaker before his colleagues were deployed to force people to collect their belongings and get out of the place. The evacuation of the encampment was done peacefully, but one cannot miss the protesters' feelings, mainly among the women: an expression of deep anger mixed with disarray.
On Tuesday, the co-minister of Interior had ordered the governors of the provinces where the protesters came from to resolve this problem so that these protesters who had lost their lands, can return home before the weekend. On Thursday, only the inhabitants of Sihanoukville remained behind. "I arrived in Phnom Penh three days ago to convince them [the protesters] to return home, but I did not succeed," Reach Sovann, the deputy governor of Mitapheap district of the city of Sihanoukville, explained. [When asked about] the solution proposed to the protesters' problem, the deputy-governor remained vague, he indicated that he only has the task of bringing the protesters back to Sihanoukville, where he assured that temporary housing awaits them.
But the police officers did not want to listen to them. Seeing that the protesters did not want to board the trucks, the authorities decided to dismantle their encampment. "We are not allowing anybody to settle in this garden because it disturbs public order and it creates an unhealthy area," one of the police officers explained using a loudspeaker before his colleagues were deployed to force people to collect their belongings and get out of the place. The evacuation of the encampment was done peacefully, but one cannot miss the protesters' feelings, mainly among the women: an expression of deep anger mixed with disarray.
On Tuesday, the co-minister of Interior had ordered the governors of the provinces where the protesters came from to resolve this problem so that these protesters who had lost their lands, can return home before the weekend. On Thursday, only the inhabitants of Sihanoukville remained behind. "I arrived in Phnom Penh three days ago to convince them [the protesters] to return home, but I did not succeed," Reach Sovann, the deputy governor of Mitapheap district of the city of Sihanoukville, explained. [When asked about] the solution proposed to the protesters' problem, the deputy-governor remained vague, he indicated that he only has the task of bringing the protesters back to Sihanoukville, where he assured that temporary housing awaits them.
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