Destroying Tent Homes, Police Meet Resistance
By Pin Sisovann
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Around 50 police officers were deployed at 9:30 pm Wednesday to destroy 26 tent homes in Tonle Bassac commune's Village 15, where thousands of residents are earmarked for eviction by city officials, officials said Thursday.
Continuing the municipality's campaign of emptying valuable land of poor residents to make way for multimillion-dollar private developments, the officers moved in to clear the tents but were met with resistance from villagers, said Uch Sokhon, Chamkarmon district police chief.
The tent dwellers claim they have been left homeless since the wooden shacks in which they previously rented space were recently vacated in Village 15.
A five-month-pregnant woman, Chan Mom, 31, sustained a dislocated arm and strained neck in a scuffle with an officer, who allegedly grabbed her by the hair and arm to take her away but was then stopped by other residents. "I stood to prevent the waters hired by the police from taking down my tent," Chan Mom said, adding that she asked police to let her stay the night and move in the morning.
Neighbor Sir Lin, 35, said police dismantled her tent and left her with nowhere to sleep. She also appealed to the government to make provisions for families who rent space inside the soon-to-be-cleared village.
"We are poorer than the house owners. We don't want [compensation] equal to the owners, we just want some land to go to," she said.
Tonle Bassac commune police chief Ieng Pheng denied he injured the pregnant woman, countering that she had taunted police by bending over and slapping her buttocks in front of his officers.
"It is absurd," Ieng Pheng said. "We did not invade their homes," he added. "We must keep social order. Those people were living on the street."
Ieng Pheng claimed that the woman feigned injury to rights workers and a Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker.
SRP lawmaker Ho Vann accused the police of acting like criminals and using the cover of darkness to carry out their unlawful behavior.
"It was a serious violation of privacy to invade their homes at night," Ho Vann said. "Even to arrest a criminal, the police wait until morning," he said.
Continuing the municipality's campaign of emptying valuable land of poor residents to make way for multimillion-dollar private developments, the officers moved in to clear the tents but were met with resistance from villagers, said Uch Sokhon, Chamkarmon district police chief.
The tent dwellers claim they have been left homeless since the wooden shacks in which they previously rented space were recently vacated in Village 15.
A five-month-pregnant woman, Chan Mom, 31, sustained a dislocated arm and strained neck in a scuffle with an officer, who allegedly grabbed her by the hair and arm to take her away but was then stopped by other residents. "I stood to prevent the waters hired by the police from taking down my tent," Chan Mom said, adding that she asked police to let her stay the night and move in the morning.
Neighbor Sir Lin, 35, said police dismantled her tent and left her with nowhere to sleep. She also appealed to the government to make provisions for families who rent space inside the soon-to-be-cleared village.
"We are poorer than the house owners. We don't want [compensation] equal to the owners, we just want some land to go to," she said.
Tonle Bassac commune police chief Ieng Pheng denied he injured the pregnant woman, countering that she had taunted police by bending over and slapping her buttocks in front of his officers.
"It is absurd," Ieng Pheng said. "We did not invade their homes," he added. "We must keep social order. Those people were living on the street."
Ieng Pheng claimed that the woman feigned injury to rights workers and a Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker.
SRP lawmaker Ho Vann accused the police of acting like criminals and using the cover of darkness to carry out their unlawful behavior.
"It was a serious violation of privacy to invade their homes at night," Ho Vann said. "Even to arrest a criminal, the police wait until morning," he said.
3 comments:
People need homes on secure land. Government needs to house them in a better shelter in exchange. This will be win win deal.
Also Phnom Penh needs to expand its public transportation to link up all sub urban arterial perimeters to curb people fear of isolation and distance.
Give them sense of confidence and security before thye in return repay government with instability and chaos.
It takes one painful tooth to inflict pain to the entire body,watch out,a reborn Thammik is coming to save the poor and powerless.
"she had taunted police by bending over and slapping her buttocks in front of his officers"
I highly doubt a woman who is five months into her pregnancy would do such a thing, thats just immature, but whats more immature is Ieng Pheng's claim! It is laughable, He really sounds like a little kid/brat.
Every human being has three basic needs! 1)food 2)shelter 3)sex
Now what is so wrong about giving Cambodia people with all these basic needs?
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