Tuesday, 25.3.2008: Samdech Dekchor Declared to Provide 125 Families With 16 Hectares of Land, After Unjust Bullets of Private Company Had Been Fired
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 553
“Sihanoukville: Samdech Akak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen arrived in Sihanoukville on 24 March 2008 to directly solve a land dispute in Kompenh, Sangkat III, Mittapheap, between 125 families and the Thai Boon Roong Company.
“While meeting with the villagers, Samdech Dekchor expressed his regret for some negative actions taken by some representatives of the authorities which caused clashes with villagers, and they caused also injuries and four people were even detained for a short period of time.
“Samdech also allocated some areas for constructing roads and for building a rest hall for travelers on two hectares of land. Samdech also ordered the other three detainees to be released before he flew back to Phnom Penh.
“Samdech was sad and apologized to the victims, and he said that this is because he did not admonished his officials properly; otherwise such things would not happen. He scolded the authorities for letting private companies build fences as they like, while protests were going on. He said, ‘It’s like tying people’s hands and allowing a company to do what they want.’ Samdech also provided the victim, who was wounded by gunshots by the military police working for the company, with US$500, and the three detainees with US$300 respectively. He also ordered to build a road within the village.
“Samdech ordered that property titles must be issued to those people within a week, even if the authorities have to work day and night. Enthusiasm developed; loudspeakers played for the people to dance, cheerful because of these news. Repetitive Bravos for Samdech Dekchor were happily shouted by the people; and they expressed their commitment to follow the path that was cleared by the wisdom of Samdech.
“It is noted that one villager was injured during the clash between the police with the people of this village. The incident happened on 20 March 2008, around 9:30 p.m., while villagers went to destroy the fence built by the Thai Boon Roong Company, because they claimed that this company has grabbed their land.
“Vat Pheap, 37, was a victim of that incident. He was fired at three times. One injury was on his left arm while the other two injuries were on one foot and on the right thigh. He is now receiving medical treatment in a hospital. The people claimed that they have been living on the disputed land since a long time ago. Later, however, the Thai Boon Roong Company constructed a concrete fence around the land. Even though the citizens complained against this, the company did not stop the construction. On the contrary, the company hired an armed police force. Before the incident, the citizens broke the fence in order to open the way, so they could walk again over the land. At that time, many armed police pointed their guns at the citizens, and then took some of them away in a van. Among them were: 1) Neung Sann, male, 2) Sok Chandara, male, 3) Um Sareoun, female, and 4) Heang Sotheary, female. Four of them were taken to the headquarter of the municipal armed police. At that time, relatives of those people filed complaints to get the four citizens released. Police fired at Vat Pheap; he fell down on the ground. Among those who were caught was an American-Khmer citizen, who was also there, but he was released afterwards.
“The land crisis is getting worse nowadays, as many hectares of land are claimed by private companies all over the country. Many companies do not develop their own land, but just construct a concrete fence around it. Some people, who do not have their own land, then go to live on other people’s land. This is also causing land disputes.” Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6305, 25.3.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Chakraval, Vol.16, #2765, 25.3.2008
- Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Flew by Helicopter to Announce the Provision of Land to 125 Families Who Have Had Disputes with the Thai Bun Roong Company in Sihanoukville
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1601, 25.3.2008
- Director of Provincial Fisheries Department Allows Truckloads of Spoiled Frozen Thai Fish to Be Imported to Cambodia [Banteay Meanchey]
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #122, 25.3.2008
- [Human Rights Watch Asia Division Director] Brad Adams: Arrest of Sam Rainsy Party Officials Is Really Political
- Hun Sen Pays People to Create New Parties to Confuse People
- Rice Price Increases to Riel 5,000 [approx. US$1.25] per kg, Making People Complain; as for the Power Holder [Hun Sen], He Just Tries to Go on Boasting [about high prices of land]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6305, 25.3.2008
- Samdech Dekchor Declared to Provide 125 Families With 16 Hectares of Land, After Unjust Bullets of Private Company Had Been Fired
- Neutrality in Disputes among Monks: Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Calls Not to Build New Pagodas because of Disputes in Pagodas
- Black-Clad Thai Soldiers [special border protection unit] Arrested 16 Khmer Citizens on Accusation of Entering Thailand Illegally [22 March – Kamrieng, Battambang]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3421, 25.3.2008
- 17 Sam Rainsy Party Parliamentarians Support Pongro Commune Chief Mr. Tuot Saran [accused of intimidation] to Stay Outside Prison
- Sam Rainsy Party Plans to Lead Large Demonstration in Early April against Price Increases
- Strongman [Hun Sen] Starts to Collect Votes in Pagodas [by supporting constructions] after Samdech Chief Monk Tep Vong Allowed Monks to Exercise the Right to Vote
- Human Rights Watch Concerned about Elections in Cambodia
- Hun Sen’s Sub-Decree [allowing civilians to use guns] Will Increase Number of Robbers
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4549, 25.3.2008
- King Visits Brunei Darussalam
- Samdech Dekchor: ‘Buddhism Has Important Role in Social Development’
- Officials Believe that Price of Rice Increases because of Provokers
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3278, 25.3.2008
- More Than 13 Hectares of Land Taken from Businessman Theng Boon Ma for 125 Families in Order to Attract Votes
- One-Week Deadline [given by Prime Minister Hun Sen] for Banteay Meanchey Authorities to Solve Land Disputes for 335 Families
Have a look at last week’s editorial
The Mirror 
Read the latest news about Cambodia on the website Cambodia.
P.
26 March 2008
Thanks for sharing an important observation:
“Samdech Dekchor Declared to Provide 125 Families With 16 Hectares of Land, After Unjust Bullets of Private Company Had Been Fired” – in the headline, it should have been “inhuman bullets.” The shooting was not only “unjust” but “inhuman” – shooting without mercy for the victims.
We have not had any information whether or not the armed forces involved have been called for clarification of responsibilities and justice.
Norbert Klein
27 March 2008