People who lost their lands pray for Preah And Dorng Keur to help them [-Why not pray for the Deity to destroy these land thieves?]

15 March 2010: People who were involved in the land dispute in Phnom Penh Thmei commune gathered at the Preah Ang Dorng Keur holy place to pray for the Deity to help find justice for them (Photo: Den Ayuthyea, RFA)

15 March 2010
By Den Ayuthyea
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

On 15 March morning, 22 families of teachers and other residents living in Phnom Penh Thmei commune who lost their lands, gathered and pray for help from Preah Ang Dorng Keur, a stone Avalokitesvara deity statue located in front of the Royal Palace, asking the deity to help find justice for them, and helping them so that their request sent to Hun Xen will indeed reach him and so that he would intervene in this case.

Um Kong Bun Heng, a teacher at Hun Xen Phnom Penh Thmei high school, said that the land dispute in Phnom Penh Thmei started since 1990. At that time, the ministry of Defense asked the residents to cede their lands so that it can build a barrack for army tanks. However, in reality, the land was sold to a private party instead, that is why the residents protested.

He added that, up to now, the complaint brought up by the residents and teachers asking for intervention from the institutions involved did not reach anywhere as nobody care about their plight. To the contrary, the 6-hectare land in question was sold for the construction of row houses, even though the Supreme Tribunal did not issue its decision yet.

A teacher explained about the goal of the prayer: “Now, we are praying Preah Ang Dorn Keur to help carry our words, including our extreme pain for the past 20 years. We did not get our land back because lies were raised so that Samdach Dek Cho Hun Xen cannot know about this. Today, we are praying for Preah Ang Dorn Keur to help carry our true words and to help find justice for us.”

Mrs. Sek Sopha, a teacher at the Phnom Penh Thmei high school, added: “We are burning incense on this holy day to pray for Preah Ang Dorn Keur to help us who have sent a letter to the office of Samdach [Hun Xen]. The other day, we led a procession to the house of the PM and officials from his office came to accept our grievance letter already, but we are praying Preah Ang Dorng Keur to help so that those who handle this case, would not keep it silent, may they take this case to inform Samdach Hun Xen to know about it. Samdach Hun Xen and his Chumteav [wife] help find justice for the children, the people and the teachers. Let our wish be fulfilled.”

An aged man also indicated the goal of the prayer: “So that Samdach Dek Cho Hun Xen knows and help us, that’s all.”

RFA could not ask for comment from Nov Ra, the official in Hun Xen’s office in charge of receiving complaints, because nobody picked up his phone.

Chum Saray, the Phnom Penh Thmei commune chief, told RFA that the land dispute involving 22 families in his commune is beyond his ability to resolve because this case has reached the upper levels and the court. He recognized that this dispute has lasted since long ago, and their no resolution for it yet.

Chum Saray said: “It reaches the upper level already, it’s not in my hands anymore. I saw it also, they only copied the commune, but the resolution will be done by the upper level.”

The 22 teachers and families involved told RFA that, as long as the land dispute above will not be resolved by the officials involved, in the future, they will lead a procession to Hun Xen’s house to ask for his intervention and for him to find justice for them.

"...let their children, wives, grandchildren and all their lineage die, those who grabbed the Dey Krahorm land": Curse by Dey Krahorm victims

People affected by land disputes have gathered in Dey Krahorm on 08 March 2009 to appeal for an end to forced evictions (Photo: Ouk Savborey, RFA)

Victims of land disputes pray for an end to eviction

08 March 2009
By Ouk Savborey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

About 150 people coming from communities where land dispute communities are taking place, and who are about to leave or on the verge of leaving their homes, gathered near the large Boddhi tree located in Dey Krahorm commune, Tonle Bassac district, Phnom Penh, during the 99th International Women’s Day celebrated on 08 March 2009. The people gathered to pray for an end to evictions that saw people being chased out of their homes.

A woman representing the Dey Krahorm community said that women and children are hurt by their forced eviction from their homes on the morning of 24 January 2009: “Please, spirits protecting the land and water of Dey Krahorm, prevent those who grabbed the land from the people from being able to do anything, let them vanish to naught soon, immediately, let their children, wives, grandchildren and all their lineage die, those who grabbed the Dey Krahorm land.”

Another woman representing families who are about to leave their homes in Boeung Kak Lake, added that she prayed so that the eviction that took place in Dey Krahorm does not happen in her community: “I say, for all of us women, if there is an eviction like Dey Krahorm taking place, we will suffer, because as women, we have extremely heavy charge, because in the future, our group will also face the same fate as them.”

Another man from Beoung Kak Lake community said: “Our goal is to obtain freedom, and a voice so that we will not be faced with eviction like Dey Krahorm, we don’t want any violence like this anymore.”

A representative from Group 78 (Tonle Bassac) claimed that those who want to take the land under the pretext of development, as well as the city hall, are forcing people to leave their lands without any negotiation, they hurt all the people, young and old: “If they want to take the people out of the city, they must resolve the money issue first, then they can take the people out, they should not do like Dey Krahorm or Sambok Chap. Now, the people can no longer accept that.”

Representatives from communities in various provinces claimed that any development without prior negotiation to provide proper compensation (for the people affected) will lead to an increase in poverty and it will lead to further destructions of forest, animals and the environment.

Van Sophat, a NGO representative who is observing the land dispute situation under the pretext of government development, indicated that the 150 people who came to pray at this ceremony are from the Dey Krahorm community, the Phnom Penh Thmei community, the Boeung Kak community, the Sambok Chap community, as well as other communities in Cambodia who suffer from eviction without proper compensation. They all came to ask the Cambodian government (led by Hun Sen) to respect the 2001 land law which guarantees the home ownership for the people.

Following a blessing by 5 Buddhist monks, balloons bearing slogans were released asking for an end to eviction in order to support women, for the right of women to have access to proper housing, and for supporting women as it also means supporting the country.

The ceremony took place outside the gate of the 7NG company, no company employees or police officers came to disrupt the ceremony held by these victims of land disputes.