SRP MP demands the release of 12 villagers jailed in the land dispute case in Chikreng district

Injured victims of cops opening fire on protesting villagers in Chikreng commune, Siem Reap province (Photo: Savyouth, RFA)

21 May 2010
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Based on Hun Xen’s past claim indicating that there will be no arrest of any paties involved in land disputes, a SRP MP demanded that the minister of Justice intervenes for the release of 12 villagers who were arrested stemming from a land dispute in Chikreng distict, Siem Reap province.

In a letter sent by Mrs. Ke Sovanroth, SRP MP for Siem Reap province, sent to the minister of Justice through the intermediary of Heng Samrin, she raised the issue of a land dispute taking place in Chikreng district, Siem Reap province, in which 12 villagers are now being jailed. She indicated that the jailing of these villagers is contrary to Hun Xen’s advice.

She indicated that these villagers ought to be released so that they can pursue their jobs to feed their families as the rainy season is fast approaching. She also pointed out that the minister of Justice already sent 3 intervention letters, but to no avail as the Siem Reap province court refused to apply the minister’s interventions. She demanded that Ang Vong Vattana, the minister of Justice, take rightful measures to release the jailed villagers.

Land disputes over dry season rice fields between villagers in Anlong Samnor and Chikreng communes, located in Chikreng district, exploded into violence in March 2009 when the court issued an order to confiscate lands to give villagers in Anlong Samnor. Several Chikreng commune villagers protested the court order and they were sprayed with bullets by the cops and military cops. Several villagers were tied up and beaten before they were sent to jail.

According to Mrs. Ke Sovanroth, none to the cops who sprayed the villagers with bullets were ever arrested or prosecuted according to the law. She added: “They commited criminal offenses, but they were not arrested, as for the 12 villagers, not only did they lose their lands, they were also sent to jail.”