Police officers can be seen here removing women seafood sellers by force on 08 Sept. (Photo: RFA)10 Sept 2006
By Or Phearith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Seafood sellers in Sihanoukville had sued the landowner of willingful fraud and deceit, they also sued the Khan Mittapheap authority of using violence against the sellers on 06 and 08 September.
In a lawsuit letter thumbprinted by 16 people who are selling crabs, shrimps and shellfishes, and handed directly to the RFA headquarter this past Sunday, the sellers are demanding that Tan Simorn, the landowner who rent land where small shacks are built by the seafood sellers, pay for the damage to their shacks destroyed by the authorities. The sellers are demanding $1,500 in compensation for each shack. They accused Tan Simorn of sweet talking them to come set up their shops on his land in 2004 with a rental lease contract of $35 to 40 per month. Tan Simorn also signed the lease for a duration of 50 years. However on 06 and 08 September, the Khan Mittapheap authority forced them to tear down their shopping shacks.
In response to the lawsuit, Tan Simorn claimed that it was because the sellers did not pay their rent to him: “They did not pay [the rent] for four months, I did not ask for the money, what do they want? They do not want to get out and they are not paying [their rent].”
Another lawsuit thumbprinted by four persons is accusing the deputy police chief and the police officers of the 3rd district for using violence to remove their shopping shacks under the incitation of Tan Simorn.
Neak Sokunthea, a seller, claimed that the landowner sued to have the shacks be removed without providing any explanation to the sellers: “There is no resolution yet, but he called his men to remove and burn down the shacks.”
Kin Neav, a seller who claimed that she just gave birth seven months ago, told about the hardship she suffered when she tried to prevent to destruction of her shopping shack.
Kin Neav said: “Women who are 6-7 month pregnant, they beat them and drag them. There were two cops. I just gave birth 6-7 month ago, they lifted me up by the arms and tossed me in the car. A kid who saw the scene, ran over to help. Prom Sirivuth ordered his underlings to use their guns to shoot at the 12-year-old kid.”
The sellers said that they handed over their lawsuits to all level of municipal authorities, however, nobody cares about their demand. Four representatives of the sellers have been sent to Phnom Penh this Sunday to distribute their letters to the prime minister and the National Assembly. The letter accused the district authority and the local police station of using violence on pregnant women and shooting on children.
RFA cannot contact the Khan Mittapheap deputy police chief to ask for clarification. However, Kong Samoeurn, the district governor, said that he does not know anything about this issue. As for the city governor and his deputy, they all claimed that they are too busy to talk.
The shacks of the seafood sellers are located in front of the train station. They established there after they were forced to vacate their previous location to make place for the development of the port.
In a lawsuit letter thumbprinted by 16 people who are selling crabs, shrimps and shellfishes, and handed directly to the RFA headquarter this past Sunday, the sellers are demanding that Tan Simorn, the landowner who rent land where small shacks are built by the seafood sellers, pay for the damage to their shacks destroyed by the authorities. The sellers are demanding $1,500 in compensation for each shack. They accused Tan Simorn of sweet talking them to come set up their shops on his land in 2004 with a rental lease contract of $35 to 40 per month. Tan Simorn also signed the lease for a duration of 50 years. However on 06 and 08 September, the Khan Mittapheap authority forced them to tear down their shopping shacks.
In response to the lawsuit, Tan Simorn claimed that it was because the sellers did not pay their rent to him: “They did not pay [the rent] for four months, I did not ask for the money, what do they want? They do not want to get out and they are not paying [their rent].”
Another lawsuit thumbprinted by four persons is accusing the deputy police chief and the police officers of the 3rd district for using violence to remove their shopping shacks under the incitation of Tan Simorn.
Neak Sokunthea, a seller, claimed that the landowner sued to have the shacks be removed without providing any explanation to the sellers: “There is no resolution yet, but he called his men to remove and burn down the shacks.”
Kin Neav, a seller who claimed that she just gave birth seven months ago, told about the hardship she suffered when she tried to prevent to destruction of her shopping shack.
Kin Neav said: “Women who are 6-7 month pregnant, they beat them and drag them. There were two cops. I just gave birth 6-7 month ago, they lifted me up by the arms and tossed me in the car. A kid who saw the scene, ran over to help. Prom Sirivuth ordered his underlings to use their guns to shoot at the 12-year-old kid.”
The sellers said that they handed over their lawsuits to all level of municipal authorities, however, nobody cares about their demand. Four representatives of the sellers have been sent to Phnom Penh this Sunday to distribute their letters to the prime minister and the National Assembly. The letter accused the district authority and the local police station of using violence on pregnant women and shooting on children.
RFA cannot contact the Khan Mittapheap deputy police chief to ask for clarification. However, Kong Samoeurn, the district governor, said that he does not know anything about this issue. As for the city governor and his deputy, they all claimed that they are too busy to talk.
The shacks of the seafood sellers are located in front of the train station. They established there after they were forced to vacate their previous location to make place for the development of the port.
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