Man shot three times by government cops guarding the private Thai Bun Rong company land will receive $750 in compensation. One has to wonder if he would receive anything should there be no upcoming election (Photo: Ta Som, Koh Santepheap)Land conflict turned violent: Hun Sen apologizes
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Prime minister Hun Sen made a surprise visit to Sihanoukville on Monday 24 march. He arrived by helicopter in the afternoon, after a violent land conflict took place earlier.
On 20 March, in Commune No. 3 of Sihanoukville, a man, who was participating in a protest movement, was shot three times by a cop. The villagers were demonstrating against the construction of a fence by the Thai Bun Rong Company which is also the owner of the Intercontinental Hotel in Phnom Penh. According to the villagers, the fence trespasses on their lands. Tension rose and led to the shooting. Four other demonstrators were arrested and the injured man was transported to Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh.
Hun Sen visited the area personally to “clearly find out about the events.” In front of the villagers gathered on the disputed land, Hun Sen “apologized to the villagers for providing bad advise to his personnel.” He directly blamed the local authorities “which prevented the villagers from protesting while authorizing the company to built its fence.” He ordered the release of the 4 demonstrators and compensated them with $300 each. The man who was shot will receive $750 in compensation.
Another gesture by Hun Sen: out of the 92-hectare of lands rented by the state by the company, Hun Sen decided to provide 16-hectare to the villagers: 14-hectare for building the village and the remaining 2-hectare for building infrastructures needed by the villagers.
On 20 March, in Commune No. 3 of Sihanoukville, a man, who was participating in a protest movement, was shot three times by a cop. The villagers were demonstrating against the construction of a fence by the Thai Bun Rong Company which is also the owner of the Intercontinental Hotel in Phnom Penh. According to the villagers, the fence trespasses on their lands. Tension rose and led to the shooting. Four other demonstrators were arrested and the injured man was transported to Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh.
Hun Sen visited the area personally to “clearly find out about the events.” In front of the villagers gathered on the disputed land, Hun Sen “apologized to the villagers for providing bad advise to his personnel.” He directly blamed the local authorities “which prevented the villagers from protesting while authorizing the company to built its fence.” He ordered the release of the 4 demonstrators and compensated them with $300 each. The man who was shot will receive $750 in compensation.
Another gesture by Hun Sen: out of the 92-hectare of lands rented by the state by the company, Hun Sen decided to provide 16-hectare to the villagers: 14-hectare for building the village and the remaining 2-hectare for building infrastructures needed by the villagers.
