By Kuch Naren
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
More than 70 villagers in Ratanakkiri province have filed a complaint with local rights group Adhoc accusing Banlung district officials of threatening to jail villagers during a land confiscation last week, Adhoc and villagers said Sunday.
On May 9, more than 30 armed police and military police accompanied local authorities and cleared hectares of land containing villagers' crops and fencing in Laban Siek commune's Bey village, villagers said.
Guns were pointed at villagers, and the district governor, Ly Vin, warned that those who resisted the land clearing would be handcuffed and jailed, alleged villager Nuth Sokky, who claimed she liad lived on the land since 1991.
"I filed a complaint with Adhoc hoping this organization will forward it to [Prime Minister] Hun Sen to make him aware that his officials in the province are robbing villagers' land," said a second villager, I.ak Samuth, who said he represents 48 families who thumbprinted the complaint to Adhoc.
Ly Vin denied the allegations, adding that the land was state-owned property and was being cleared to develop as a tourist attraction.
"I did nothing to intimidate those villagers. I just informed them they had been grabbing state land," he said.
Ratanakkiri Provincial Governor Muong Poy said his officials simply removed fences that the villagers had started building behind their homes about three months ago in an effort to grab land on the side of a mountain.
"We will continue cracking down on mountain-grabbing activities," he said.
Villagers alleged that the provincial government acted because the price of land has recently skyrocketed in the province.
Pen Bonnar, Adhoc provincial coordinator, said the authorities should have acted in the 1990s when the villagers first moved onto the land. The authorities do not have the authority to now force the villagers to move after they have lived on that land for so long, he added.
On May 9, more than 30 armed police and military police accompanied local authorities and cleared hectares of land containing villagers' crops and fencing in Laban Siek commune's Bey village, villagers said.
Guns were pointed at villagers, and the district governor, Ly Vin, warned that those who resisted the land clearing would be handcuffed and jailed, alleged villager Nuth Sokky, who claimed she liad lived on the land since 1991.
"I filed a complaint with Adhoc hoping this organization will forward it to [Prime Minister] Hun Sen to make him aware that his officials in the province are robbing villagers' land," said a second villager, I.ak Samuth, who said he represents 48 families who thumbprinted the complaint to Adhoc.
Ly Vin denied the allegations, adding that the land was state-owned property and was being cleared to develop as a tourist attraction.
"I did nothing to intimidate those villagers. I just informed them they had been grabbing state land," he said.
Ratanakkiri Provincial Governor Muong Poy said his officials simply removed fences that the villagers had started building behind their homes about three months ago in an effort to grab land on the side of a mountain.
"We will continue cracking down on mountain-grabbing activities," he said.
Villagers alleged that the provincial government acted because the price of land has recently skyrocketed in the province.
Pen Bonnar, Adhoc provincial coordinator, said the authorities should have acted in the 1990s when the villagers first moved onto the land. The authorities do not have the authority to now force the villagers to move after they have lived on that land for so long, he added.
3 comments:
Ly Vinh, ah youn, now that people are standing up to you -- you pulled the guns on them. I see that you want to get rid of Khmer, so you can claimed the land. Now, that the people have representative -- you're denying the facts. You're coward. You're taking advantage of the uneducated, weak/frail, and poor people for yourself gain. I hope higher officials will struck you down. Shame on you bah Vinh.
Keep on fightin' people. It's really awesome that you defend your property. Don't be afraid...die a few for the good of all.
Eh! Thang Bay Vinh!!! Tao biet may la Viet Cong nam Vung trong nhom Khmer do nha! May phai can than, neu khong can than la may bi nhom nguoi nung nguoi Hmong diet may nhe! Nguoi Nung va Nguoi Hmong khong phai ngu nhu thang Mien dau nha!
Hien nay may nho may thang Mien nhu la thang Hun Sen, Chea Sim no da ngu, khong the may bi chet roi do.
Ly Vinh = Bay Vinh
PUT SOME WORD IN ENGLISH,I LOVE TO HEAR WE CURSE THE VIET. LET EDUCATE OURSELVE TO KNOW THE BAD TRICTS OF THE VIET NAMESE SO WE CAN UNITE AND KICK THEM AND THEIR DOGS.
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