Showing posts with label Vietnamese fishermen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vietnamese fishermen. Show all posts
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Police raids against illegal fishing
21 Jan 2009By Pen Bona
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French
A large-scale police raid was held simultaneously in three provinces with the objective of stopping illegal fishing which endangers the renewal of natural resources.
More than 200 people were arrested on Wednesday 21 January by the police force during this operation, a first of its kind. The operation took place in the province of Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Kampong Thom, and it was conducted by the ministry of Interior with the cooperation of local authorities. In addition to the arrest made, the police also seized fishing instruments. Those who were arrested are currently being under provisional detention before being brought up to the court. Among them, some are Vietnamese citizens.
Illegal fishing practice is on an alarming rise for the past several years. It contributes greatly to a noticeable reduction of fish population in the Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong River.
More than 200 people were arrested on Wednesday 21 January by the police force during this operation, a first of its kind. The operation took place in the province of Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Kampong Thom, and it was conducted by the ministry of Interior with the cooperation of local authorities. In addition to the arrest made, the police also seized fishing instruments. Those who were arrested are currently being under provisional detention before being brought up to the court. Among them, some are Vietnamese citizens.
Illegal fishing practice is on an alarming rise for the past several years. It contributes greatly to a noticeable reduction of fish population in the Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong River.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Fisheries officials summoned by the court for the murder of 3 Vietnamese
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
By Duong Sokha
Cambodge Soir
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
“After the incident, the prosecutor told me that he conducted an investigation on the spot and he identified 5 officials involved in the shooting. Even if the fishermen committed a crime, they should have been arrested, but not subjected to violence,” Nhuong Samroeun, an investigator for Licadho, said. Tup Chansereyvuth, the prosecutor in the case, declined to comment on this affair. “If you want to know more, come to Pursat,” he simply said. Following the incident, relatives of the victims went to burn the building of the fisheries district department office. A brother of the dead couple was arrested by the Kompong Luong commune authorities and he is now under temporary detention by the provincial justice department for criminal arson, and the destruction of properties belonging to others.
Trinh Ba Cam, the Vietnamese embassy spokesman, confided yesterday that officials from the embassy, in collaboration with the local authorities and the Ministry of Interior, went to the spot to investigate. “Those who shot were fisheries officials, and these Vietnamese were simple fishermen. It is a regrettable act, and we wish that the Cambodian authorities conduct a serious investigation and that the law is applied on these officials,” the Vietnamese diplomat said.
Nao Thourk, the director of the fisheries department, assured earlier that his officials denied being the shooters, and he also announced that he would bring lawsuit against these illegal fishermen, as well as those who burnt the fisheries office. When contacted yesterday, he said that he cannot provide an answer because he was busy in a meeting.
By Duong Sokha
Cambodge Soir
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read Cambodge Soir’s original article in French
“Those who shot were fisheries officials, and these Vietnamese were simple fishermen ... we wish that the Cambodian authorities conduct a serious investigation and that the law is applied on these officials” - Trinh Ba Cam, VN embassy spokesman, who is suddenly available to talk, but was never available to discuss about Khmer Krom issues in Vietnam in the past.The prosecutor of the Pursat court would have asked the judge to issue a summon for the fisheries officials suspected of involvement in the 23 April shooting which killed 3 Vietnamese fishermen. A young couple and a 21-year-old man were killed by the bullets when a group of fisheries officials caught them by surprise trying to cast their nets in the protected zone which is prohibited from fishing. However, since then, the fisheries officials have all fled.
“After the incident, the prosecutor told me that he conducted an investigation on the spot and he identified 5 officials involved in the shooting. Even if the fishermen committed a crime, they should have been arrested, but not subjected to violence,” Nhuong Samroeun, an investigator for Licadho, said. Tup Chansereyvuth, the prosecutor in the case, declined to comment on this affair. “If you want to know more, come to Pursat,” he simply said. Following the incident, relatives of the victims went to burn the building of the fisheries district department office. A brother of the dead couple was arrested by the Kompong Luong commune authorities and he is now under temporary detention by the provincial justice department for criminal arson, and the destruction of properties belonging to others.
Trinh Ba Cam, the Vietnamese embassy spokesman, confided yesterday that officials from the embassy, in collaboration with the local authorities and the Ministry of Interior, went to the spot to investigate. “Those who shot were fisheries officials, and these Vietnamese were simple fishermen. It is a regrettable act, and we wish that the Cambodian authorities conduct a serious investigation and that the law is applied on these officials,” the Vietnamese diplomat said.
Nao Thourk, the director of the fisheries department, assured earlier that his officials denied being the shooters, and he also announced that he would bring lawsuit against these illegal fishermen, as well as those who burnt the fisheries office. When contacted yesterday, he said that he cannot provide an answer because he was busy in a meeting.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Fisheries administration office burn down to the ground after 3 Vietnamese fishermen shot dead
Scene at the burnt down fissheries administrative office (Photo: Thmor Keo, Koh Santepehap newspaper)Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Pursat province: A Vietnamese man among a group of 4 was arrested by the authority and sent to the court on 24 April morning. He is accused of involvement in the burning down of the fisheries administration office located in Kompong Luong commune, Krakor district, Pursat province on 23 April. The suspect name is Nguyen Giang Doeur, a 23-year-old male living in Pram village, Kompong Luong district, he is a fisherman and the son of the couple who were shot dead by fisheries officials.
According to a report from Krakor, the suspect was arrested a few hours after the incident, 3 other men in the group fled, and the 6 fisheries officials who were using thei guns in self defense also fled after shooting dead 3 Vietnamese fishermen.
Warning: the next page contains a graphical photo which may not be suited for the faint heart, please use discretion in viewing it.
The 3 dead Vietnamese fihsermen (Photo: Thmor Keo, Koh Santepheap newspaper)
On 23 April, a violence took place between fisheries officials and the fishermen. During the incident, three Vietnamese fishermen was shot dead: (1) 32-year-old male Nguyen Vang Kong who is the husband of 31-year-old Vo Thi Bong who was also shot dead, and 30-year-old male Nguyen Van Huor. The three fishermen lived in Pram village, Kompong Luong commune, Krakor district.
A fisheries official from Koh Ka’ek told us that the violence took place because a group of Vietnamese fishermen went in to set their nets in a state reserved lot near Kompong Prak village, Sna Ansa commune, Krakor district, Pursat province. When the fisheries officials, in cooperation with the Koh Ka’ek commune police, went in to prevent them from setting nets, three boats loaded with Vietnamese fishermen (each boat has a crew of 5 fishermen) started ramming the fisheries boat, the fishermen also pulled out knives, axes, and swords trying to harm the fisheries officials. Surrounded by the Vietnamese fishermen, the officials then used their guns to defend themselves. The shooting led to the death of 3 Vietnamese fishermen. After the shooting, the Vietnamese fishermen took their boats and went to the fisheries administrative office in Kompong Luong commune, and burnt it down. The blaze also destroyed the home of a villager living nearby.
On 24 April, General Mok Chito, the criminal police chief, and a number of officials went in to investigate the incident.
According to a report from Krakor, the suspect was arrested a few hours after the incident, 3 other men in the group fled, and the 6 fisheries officials who were using thei guns in self defense also fled after shooting dead 3 Vietnamese fishermen.
Warning: the next page contains a graphical photo which may not be suited for the faint heart, please use discretion in viewing it.
The 3 dead Vietnamese fihsermen (Photo: Thmor Keo, Koh Santepheap newspaper)A fisheries official from Koh Ka’ek told us that the violence took place because a group of Vietnamese fishermen went in to set their nets in a state reserved lot near Kompong Prak village, Sna Ansa commune, Krakor district, Pursat province. When the fisheries officials, in cooperation with the Koh Ka’ek commune police, went in to prevent them from setting nets, three boats loaded with Vietnamese fishermen (each boat has a crew of 5 fishermen) started ramming the fisheries boat, the fishermen also pulled out knives, axes, and swords trying to harm the fisheries officials. Surrounded by the Vietnamese fishermen, the officials then used their guns to defend themselves. The shooting led to the death of 3 Vietnamese fishermen. After the shooting, the Vietnamese fishermen took their boats and went to the fisheries administrative office in Kompong Luong commune, and burnt it down. The blaze also destroyed the home of a villager living nearby.
On 24 April, General Mok Chito, the criminal police chief, and a number of officials went in to investigate the incident.
VN demands a full investigation into the shooting of 3 VN fishermen, isn't this an interference in Cambodia's internal affairs?
Arson Suspect Detained After Shoot-Out
Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
24/04/2007
Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
24/04/2007
Pursat provincial authorities were holding one Vietnamese suspect after a shootout with a group accused of burning a fisheries office in the wake of a crackdown, officials said Tuesday.
Three Vietnamese men were killed in the shootout with police in Pursat province, following an earlier scuffle with authorities over operations against illegal fishing. A rights worker confirmed the arrest of a fourth man Tuesday.
Court officials were not available for comment, and an official at the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh said the incident should be fully investigated.
Three Vietnamese men were killed in the shootout with police in Pursat province, following an earlier scuffle with authorities over operations against illegal fishing. A rights worker confirmed the arrest of a fourth man Tuesday.
Court officials were not available for comment, and an official at the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh said the incident should be fully investigated.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
3 Vietnamese killed in illegal fishing stand-off in Cambodia
Tuesday April 24, 2007
(Kyodo) - Three Vietnamese were killed in a stand-off with Cambodian authorities during a raid on illegal fishing in the country's northwest province of Pursat, local police said Tuesday.
Hem Vuthy, chief of Pursat provincial police, said the confrontation began Monday morning when a group of Vietnamese fishermen attacked a five-member team from the fisheries authority cracking down on illegal fishing in protected fishing lots.
"The Vietnamese fishermen attacked the members of the authority with swords," said Hem Vuthy, referring to a report he received.
Three Vietnamese, including a woman, were soon after shot dead, he said.
After the incident, the fishery's office stationed in the province was burned down by the Vietnamese fishermen, he said.
Some hundreds of Vietnamese families have engaged in fishing in Pursat Province since the 1980s, he said.
Pursat is about 190 kilometers northwest of the capital Phnom Penh.
Hem Vuthy, chief of Pursat provincial police, said the confrontation began Monday morning when a group of Vietnamese fishermen attacked a five-member team from the fisheries authority cracking down on illegal fishing in protected fishing lots.
"The Vietnamese fishermen attacked the members of the authority with swords," said Hem Vuthy, referring to a report he received.
Three Vietnamese, including a woman, were soon after shot dead, he said.
After the incident, the fishery's office stationed in the province was burned down by the Vietnamese fishermen, he said.
Some hundreds of Vietnamese families have engaged in fishing in Pursat Province since the 1980s, he said.
Pursat is about 190 kilometers northwest of the capital Phnom Penh.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Kampot: in their search for votes, the SRP and the CPP promise to fight against Vietnamese poachers
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir
Unofficial Translation from French by Tola Ek
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir
Unofficial Translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read Cambodge Soir’s original article in French
In Kampot, the political parties involved in the campaign for the commune election are targeting most of all the Cham ethnic fishermen who are Muslim and are holding the majority. These fishermen demand that the candidates finally come down hard on poachers from the neighboring country.
Kampot province – Beyond the political rifts, the candidates who participate in the 01 April commune election have at least one thing in common: in a maritime province, such as Kampot, it is imperative for them to court the fishermen for a hope of winning. In the commune of Troeul Ko which consists mainly of Cham fishermen, the four main political parties – the CPP, the SRP, and to a lesser extent, the Funcinpec and the NRP which are facing logistics problems – are holding public forums dedicated to the problems of the violations of Cambodian maritime territories perpetrated by the Vietnamese fishermen. When it comes to looking for votes, the techniques used are all the same from one of the political spectrum to the other.
60-year-old Aim Yeat who is on the top of the SRP list, explains at the end of a broadcast of a recorded message from party President Sam Rainsy, his campaign strategy. Each day, he goes door-to-door with the 14 other candidates on his party list, to explain his party’s program in the commune: fight against the intrusions of Vietnamese fishermen by mobilizing the administrative services involved. He recalled the incident which took place at the end of 2005 pitting Vietnamese and Cham fishermen, and causing several deaths and injuries. According to him, the local authorities, the CPP, did not a lift a finger [to intervene] and they even blame the incident on the Cambodian fishermen.
The speech is more or less the same on the CPP side. Nak Sen, a representative of 300 fishermen families and a CPP official, explains that through his action at the head of the community, he prevented “90% of illegal fishing by the Vietnamese in Cambodian waters.”
Sorng Sovat, the top of the Funcinpec list in the commune, admits that his party is facing difficulties to lead the campaign since its rift with those faithful to Prince Ranariddh. However, he also plans on asking the government to resolve quickly this problem with the Vietnamese fishermen. He hopes to preserve his seat, the only one in his party, which was won during the last commune election. Back then, the CPP took 4 seats and the Funcinpec took the remaining one. The NRP did not take any action in the current commune election.
If numerous people in the commune are not interested at all about politics, and that they are dedicated to their fishing work, some are nevertheless following the campaign, hoping that their daily difficulties will be resolved. Loh Ry, who just returns from fishing, explains that he wants to have a “good” commune council that listens to its constituents, but who do not claim membership to any party. “The new commune chief must intervene as soon as there is a problem at sea with the Vietnamese fishermen who use illegal equipments and destroy our resources. Before, I could bring back five kilos of fish every day, today, it’s only 2 or 3 kilos. Those who ask for our votes must do all they can so that the generation of our children will have something to eat,” he explains. Loeup Mat, another fisherman, recalls that “Khmer Islam” people do not own land to plant crops, they depend mainly on fishing.
Ly Moeut, a third fisherman, denounces the authorities’ inaction following the 2005 incident. “We sent a letter to the Prime Minister asking him to intervene, but the issue is still going nowhere. I call on the new commune council to take care of this issue,” he warned before denouncing the passivity of the current commune council.
Kampot province – Beyond the political rifts, the candidates who participate in the 01 April commune election have at least one thing in common: in a maritime province, such as Kampot, it is imperative for them to court the fishermen for a hope of winning. In the commune of Troeul Ko which consists mainly of Cham fishermen, the four main political parties – the CPP, the SRP, and to a lesser extent, the Funcinpec and the NRP which are facing logistics problems – are holding public forums dedicated to the problems of the violations of Cambodian maritime territories perpetrated by the Vietnamese fishermen. When it comes to looking for votes, the techniques used are all the same from one of the political spectrum to the other.
60-year-old Aim Yeat who is on the top of the SRP list, explains at the end of a broadcast of a recorded message from party President Sam Rainsy, his campaign strategy. Each day, he goes door-to-door with the 14 other candidates on his party list, to explain his party’s program in the commune: fight against the intrusions of Vietnamese fishermen by mobilizing the administrative services involved. He recalled the incident which took place at the end of 2005 pitting Vietnamese and Cham fishermen, and causing several deaths and injuries. According to him, the local authorities, the CPP, did not a lift a finger [to intervene] and they even blame the incident on the Cambodian fishermen.
The speech is more or less the same on the CPP side. Nak Sen, a representative of 300 fishermen families and a CPP official, explains that through his action at the head of the community, he prevented “90% of illegal fishing by the Vietnamese in Cambodian waters.”
Sorng Sovat, the top of the Funcinpec list in the commune, admits that his party is facing difficulties to lead the campaign since its rift with those faithful to Prince Ranariddh. However, he also plans on asking the government to resolve quickly this problem with the Vietnamese fishermen. He hopes to preserve his seat, the only one in his party, which was won during the last commune election. Back then, the CPP took 4 seats and the Funcinpec took the remaining one. The NRP did not take any action in the current commune election.
If numerous people in the commune are not interested at all about politics, and that they are dedicated to their fishing work, some are nevertheless following the campaign, hoping that their daily difficulties will be resolved. Loh Ry, who just returns from fishing, explains that he wants to have a “good” commune council that listens to its constituents, but who do not claim membership to any party. “The new commune chief must intervene as soon as there is a problem at sea with the Vietnamese fishermen who use illegal equipments and destroy our resources. Before, I could bring back five kilos of fish every day, today, it’s only 2 or 3 kilos. Those who ask for our votes must do all they can so that the generation of our children will have something to eat,” he explains. Loeup Mat, another fisherman, recalls that “Khmer Islam” people do not own land to plant crops, they depend mainly on fishing.
Ly Moeut, a third fisherman, denounces the authorities’ inaction following the 2005 incident. “We sent a letter to the Prime Minister asking him to intervene, but the issue is still going nowhere. I call on the new commune council to take care of this issue,” he warned before denouncing the passivity of the current commune council.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
By Vietnam's press own admission, Cambodia's Tonle Sap lake is invaded by swarm of Vietnamese fishermen
Thursday, February 8, 2007A tough go for Vietnamese on floating houses in Cambodia
Thanh Nien News (Vietnam)
The largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, the Tonle Sap in Cambodia swarms with fishermen of Vietnamese origins eking out their daily existence on floating homes in extreme hardship.
Around 30km south of Pursat province, in Krako district, Thanh Nien newspaper met Nguyen Thi An, who said her family has always clung to fishing on this lake, also known as the Great Lake.
Apart from a black and white TV set, she owns practically nothing of value. Her eight children are all into fishing.
According to a commune official, over 6,000 people of Vietnamese origins live in the region, all on boats, sometimes dubbed floating houses.
Though there are no addresses here and their houses can literally move anytime and dock anywhere, an unwritten rule on location is deeply engrained.
Accordingly, boats that are tattered will be allowed by their sturdier counterparts to dock next to the shore, those in good condition dock further out and so on. This is understandable, as weak, makeshift boats cannot bear big waves far offshore.
Visiting this shoreward “houses” is a sore sight. Rows of dilapidated boats inched their way deep against the bank.
Tran Thi Hanh, 36 years old, owns what can at best be called the trunk of a boat. She had to hold the boat together with nylon bags to prevent it from breaking apart and water from seeping through.
She recalled one day when she was robbed, literally, of hook, line, and sinker and had to loan from her poor neighbors before her goods were sequestered.
Her husband had to hire himself out to ruthless employers.
Drawing on her painful experiences, she tipped Thanh Nien how to win a job interview.
“When an interviewer asked ‘are your eyes potato eyes or human eyes’, if the answer is human eyes, you will be disqualified. It must be potato eyes as they are always open. Then you have to work nearly 24 hours a day”
Poor opportunity for children
This lake also has schools offering elementary education. Nguyen Viet Dat proudly owns a school but his like many others is simply an 18 sq.m plank on a fishing vessel where students from 1st to 5th grade cramp inside.
Dat said textbooks are few and far between. Three and four students thus have to share one book. However, even this is better than a few years ago when he had to write everything on the blackboard as there was no book.
His school did not have any textbooks until recently when the Association of Vietnamese Expatriates in Cambodia supplied a few.
He said his “school” is still better than three others which received no support from the association and have to do without books.
Schools here only taught elementary education. Those wanting to further their education have to return to Vietnam or enroll in a more decent, pukka school in Cambodia.
Very few were able to do that, he added.
Of the 600 children here, only one-third attend “school”.
His heart seemed to skip a beat when asked about the incoming Tet or the Lunar New Year, a traditional, major holiday for the Vietnamese coming in nine days time.
This year, business is not good, fishermen suffer losses and so there’s little of Tet here. “Whenever Tet is mentioned, all of us feel sad and miss our homeland”.
Asked why they did not return to Vietnam since life is so hard here, Huynh Luy, president of the expatriates association explained that the repatriates would not have legal papers once in Vietnam, besides it will be very difficult for their children to be admitted to schools there.
Reported by Thanh Dong - Translated by A.N.O.N
Around 30km south of Pursat province, in Krako district, Thanh Nien newspaper met Nguyen Thi An, who said her family has always clung to fishing on this lake, also known as the Great Lake.
------------When Cambodia was at war years ago, she returned to Vietnam for shelter, and after the guns were silenced, she returned.
"Asked why they did not return to Vietnam since life is so hard here, Huynh Luy, president of the expatriates association explained that the repatriates would not have legal papers once in Vietnam, besides it will be very difficult for their children to be admitted to schools there."
------------
Apart from a black and white TV set, she owns practically nothing of value. Her eight children are all into fishing.
According to a commune official, over 6,000 people of Vietnamese origins live in the region, all on boats, sometimes dubbed floating houses.
Though there are no addresses here and their houses can literally move anytime and dock anywhere, an unwritten rule on location is deeply engrained.
Accordingly, boats that are tattered will be allowed by their sturdier counterparts to dock next to the shore, those in good condition dock further out and so on. This is understandable, as weak, makeshift boats cannot bear big waves far offshore.
Visiting this shoreward “houses” is a sore sight. Rows of dilapidated boats inched their way deep against the bank.
Tran Thi Hanh, 36 years old, owns what can at best be called the trunk of a boat. She had to hold the boat together with nylon bags to prevent it from breaking apart and water from seeping through.
She recalled one day when she was robbed, literally, of hook, line, and sinker and had to loan from her poor neighbors before her goods were sequestered.
Her husband had to hire himself out to ruthless employers.
Drawing on her painful experiences, she tipped Thanh Nien how to win a job interview.
“When an interviewer asked ‘are your eyes potato eyes or human eyes’, if the answer is human eyes, you will be disqualified. It must be potato eyes as they are always open. Then you have to work nearly 24 hours a day”
Poor opportunity for children
This lake also has schools offering elementary education. Nguyen Viet Dat proudly owns a school but his like many others is simply an 18 sq.m plank on a fishing vessel where students from 1st to 5th grade cramp inside.
Dat said textbooks are few and far between. Three and four students thus have to share one book. However, even this is better than a few years ago when he had to write everything on the blackboard as there was no book.
His school did not have any textbooks until recently when the Association of Vietnamese Expatriates in Cambodia supplied a few.
He said his “school” is still better than three others which received no support from the association and have to do without books.
Schools here only taught elementary education. Those wanting to further their education have to return to Vietnam or enroll in a more decent, pukka school in Cambodia.
Very few were able to do that, he added.
Of the 600 children here, only one-third attend “school”.
His heart seemed to skip a beat when asked about the incoming Tet or the Lunar New Year, a traditional, major holiday for the Vietnamese coming in nine days time.
This year, business is not good, fishermen suffer losses and so there’s little of Tet here. “Whenever Tet is mentioned, all of us feel sad and miss our homeland”.
Asked why they did not return to Vietnam since life is so hard here, Huynh Luy, president of the expatriates association explained that the repatriates would not have legal papers once in Vietnam, besides it will be very difficult for their children to be admitted to schools there.
Reported by Thanh Dong - Translated by A.N.O.N
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