The squatters donning the CPP attires and bearing the CPP banners ... but to no avail (Photo: Cambodge Soir)29-08-2007
By Ung Chansophea
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
New riots broke out in Phnom Penh during an attempt to evict squatters
On Wednesday 29 August, the authority forces, consisting of police and military officers, used force in their intervention to tear down illegal shelters. The operation took place near the new building of the National Assembly, located in Dey Kraham (Red Earth) district. The dwellers who settled there for several years alreadt, tried to oppose this operation.
In spite of their number –about 400 people – they had to back down. The police operation was ordered by Sok Roeun, the deputy-prosecutor of the Phnom Penh municipal court, and by the Chamcar Mon district governor. The latter two were defending the interest of a land owner company, the 7NG company, which plans to build a commercial zone there.
The conflict lasted several years already. Am Sam Ath, an investigator for Licadho, discussed about these confrontations: “The cops claimed that people have thrown objects at them, this provoked them to charge (the people). It is true that the operation is legal, but it could have been done without the use of violence.” Am Sam Ath also said that 3 persons were injured, including a 36-year-old woman who was handcuffed and beaten up (by the police).
One portion of the former land owners have already been relocated in the Chom Chao commune. However, the few home owners who still remain behind, refused to let go of their lands, and they do not accept the proposed payment of $8,000, an amount which they estimate to be too low. The crowd of renters who now lived in miserable tents, is adding their number to that of the land owners to oppose the eviction. Will this umpteenth confrontation – the most violent so far – be sufficient to resolve a conflict which lasted for several years now?
On Wednesday 29 August, the authority forces, consisting of police and military officers, used force in their intervention to tear down illegal shelters. The operation took place near the new building of the National Assembly, located in Dey Kraham (Red Earth) district. The dwellers who settled there for several years alreadt, tried to oppose this operation.
In spite of their number –about 400 people – they had to back down. The police operation was ordered by Sok Roeun, the deputy-prosecutor of the Phnom Penh municipal court, and by the Chamcar Mon district governor. The latter two were defending the interest of a land owner company, the 7NG company, which plans to build a commercial zone there.
The conflict lasted several years already. Am Sam Ath, an investigator for Licadho, discussed about these confrontations: “The cops claimed that people have thrown objects at them, this provoked them to charge (the people). It is true that the operation is legal, but it could have been done without the use of violence.” Am Sam Ath also said that 3 persons were injured, including a 36-year-old woman who was handcuffed and beaten up (by the police).
One portion of the former land owners have already been relocated in the Chom Chao commune. However, the few home owners who still remain behind, refused to let go of their lands, and they do not accept the proposed payment of $8,000, an amount which they estimate to be too low. The crowd of renters who now lived in miserable tents, is adding their number to that of the land owners to oppose the eviction. Will this umpteenth confrontation – the most violent so far – be sufficient to resolve a conflict which lasted for several years now?
1 comment:
You have supported CPP and Hun Sen for long.
Do you remember? One proverb said that: You plant mango tree, you will get mango fruit. You plant deum sleng, you will get sleng fruit.
Now it severs your face.
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