The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 548
“About ten citizens suffered from violence and injuries, and were arrested in the morning of 22 February 2008 when they were resisting the implementation of the order of the Supreme Court which had decided to evict them out of their residences located on more than one hectare of land in Bonla S’et village, Khmuonh commune, Russey Keo, Phnom Penh.
“The citizens, who faced violence at gun-point from hundreds of police forces, were evicted on the morning of 22 February 2008 by the armed forces who used two excavators to bulldoze the 23 houses of the citizens of 23 families residing in the location since 1993. In 2005, Chhin Vibol had lodged a complaint to the court in this case, alleging that the citizens lived on his land. The citizens lost the case at the court continuously and also lost at the Supreme Court; therefore, people were evicted out of their residences on 22 February 2008.
“Victims of the violence said that armed forces and police were led by Deputy Prosecutor Hing Bun Chea, Deputy Prosecutor of the Court of the Phnom Penh municipality, and by Russey Keo Deputy Governor Keut Chae. The victims said that the authorities used 10 machine guns and 2 excavators to evict the citizens out of their houses. After they refused to leave, police shot a gun up into the air to threaten the people, and they shot 27 teargas-bombs towards the citizens. Police also threw bottles of gasoline into their houses; then two excavators were immediately used to bulldoze the houses of the citizens. These measures of the police spurred the anger of the citizens.
“Mr. Chan Soveth, an investigating official of the local human rights group ADHOC and officials of the Human Rights Action Committee, who went to observe the situation of Bonla S’et village, said that more than ten citizens suffered from being violently beaten by police. Some citizens were hand-cuffed and immediately pushed into a waiting vehicle.
“Mr. Chan Soveth said that the ten people arrested by the authorities on the morning of 22 February 2008 include:
1-Keo Nel, male, 50, who suffered head and body injures
2-Saem Sum, male, 55, was severely injured
3-Paeng Sam Ang, male, 40, was severely injured
4-Paeng Sam An, male, 45, was injured
5-Meoung Smy, male, was injured
6-Meoung Path, male, was injured
7-Mann, male, was injured
8-Seoung, male, was injured
9-Uk Savin, female, 30, was arrested and released
10-Long Srey, 42, was arrested and released
“Mr. Chan Soveth condemned and criticized the use of violence by the armed police force led by the Deputy Prosecutor Hing Bun Chea, the Russey Keo District Governor Keut Chae, and the Four-Star General Peng Vannak, who is the deputy director of Light Penal Crime Department in Phnom Penh, for causing bloody wounds on citizens. He also condemned the serious violation of human rights. Civil society organizations cannot accept such solutions.
“Mr. Chan Soveth said that civil society organizations are greatly disappointed when seeing that the authorities caused serious injuries, arrested citizens, and destroyed the property of these people. Such activities are serious violations of human rights, adding that the authorities did not respect the law.
“Phuong Pha, female, 51, who suffered head injures, said that policed had stoned her and kicked her. She added that police did not only beat, but also arrest people. She continued that people were not even given time to collect their properties from their houses.
“Phuong Pha said that the government did not help to protect the legal position of the citizens. All of these citizens’ families are formerly from the military, and they came to live on this location since 1993. The court decided that Chin Vibol won the case, as they secretly handled the ownership titles of the land that these citizens were living on. The court did not conduct a thorough investigations, but it based its decision on false documents.
“Another victim, Sek Seoun, female, 37, said that she lost her hope and did not know where she should go to live, because she lost her house, her properties, and the land that she has tried to secure for many years. All her properties were destroyed by the police at the blink of an eye. The same victim requested that civil society organizations help to seek justice for her and other victims because the Deputy Prosecutor Hing Bun Chea led the armed forces that carried out the order of the court, which caused bloodshed of some citizens, and the destruction of their houses. These people were given only one day before police come to evict them.” Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3395, 23-24.2.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1575, 23.2.2008
- Eleven Funcinpec Resistance Members Will Go to Meet Samdech Euv [former King] in Beijing [24-29 February]
- US Provides Mosquito Nets to Citizens in Koh Kong District [Koh Kong]
- Party of [Murdered] Ms. Bhutto and Party of Mr. Nawaz Sharif Will Create a Coalition Government
Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6279, 23-24.2.2008
- Cambodia Does Not Lack Respectable People; Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Encourages Further Construction of Statues of Famous Khmer Scholars
- Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Tells Ministry of Economy and Finance to Check Allowances [to be of benefit] for Wives and Children [allowances to be increased]
- Paññasastra University and Troy University from America Cooperate with Each Other
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3395, 23-24.2.2008
- Armed Force Use Violence, Machinery, and Teargas to Evict Citizens of Bonla S’et Village Out of Their Residences
- Big International Non-Government Organizations Criticize Human Rights Violations in Cambodia
- Allowances for Public Servants’ Wives and Children Are Considered to Be Increased Only Now When Elections Approach
- Diplomats: Ruling Party Starts to Fear Sam Rainsy Party [over its popularity for the 2008 elections]
- Eng Chhay Ieng [secretary-general of Sam Rainsy Party] Criticizes Cambodian People’s Party for Not Respecting Political Ethics [by buying Sam Rainsy Party officials’ feelings with money and positions]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4523, 23.2.2008
- Japanese Investment in Cambodia Is at 0.2% [among all investments in Cambodia – notices Senior Minister Sok An]
- Human Rights Party Declares to Hold Extraordinary Congress to Select Prime Ministerial Candidate [on 27 February]
- A Man Entered a House and Stabbed a Housemaid All over Her Body; He Was Beaten Dead by the House Owners [who say he was a robber, Daun Penh, Phnom Penh]
- Washington Hotel Has Operated Karaoke Parlors for Nearly Four Years without License [along National Road 6A – Russey Keo, Phnom Penh]
Sakal, Vol.15, #3186, 28.2.2008
- Cambodia and Thailand Will Discuss Issue of Preah Vihear Temple in Late February
Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #628, 23.2.2008
- Son Chhay [Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian from Phnom Penh]: Hun Sen Vows to Continue to Abuse the Constitution [by continuing to appoint his personal advisors]
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