On 1st April 2010, Son Chhay, an MP from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, had his land confiscated from the area because authority claimed the land belong to Apsara Authority. Three houses were burned down and 3 families evicted.Friday, 28 May 2010
By Rann Reuy
Phnom Penh Post
SIEM REAP PROVINCE
MORE than 100 demolition workers and armed officials destroyed makeshift homes on 61 plots of land in Siem Reap’s Slakram commune on Thursday, accusing their occupants of living on land that belongs to the Apsara Authority.
Oeun Pov, deputy governor of Siem Reap city, said that workers were sent to the site, which sits in front of the Apsara Authority’s headquarters in Chong Kaosou village, to remove 97 squatters who remained on the land despite being told to vacate their houses before the Khmer New Year.
“We just demolished houses and fences on 61 plots of land where the people are living now, and officials will address the issue of finding other homes in which the owners can live later on,” he said.
He added that the occupants had been offered no compensation because city officials had repeatedly told them they could not settle on the land.
Khuth Sath, 37, whose home was levelled on Thursday, said that villagers planned to protest at government officials’ offices to demand compensation. “I have lived here since 2002. I need some compensation,” he said. “We cannot be left with bare hands.”
A man living nearby, who asked not to be named, said that although his home is still standing, he has been told by officials that it will be demolished in the next phase of the eviction.
“I do not have money. If they evict us, I may have no money to buy tarpaulin to cover my children,” he said.
Oeun Pov, deputy governor of Siem Reap city, said that workers were sent to the site, which sits in front of the Apsara Authority’s headquarters in Chong Kaosou village, to remove 97 squatters who remained on the land despite being told to vacate their houses before the Khmer New Year.
“We just demolished houses and fences on 61 plots of land where the people are living now, and officials will address the issue of finding other homes in which the owners can live later on,” he said.
He added that the occupants had been offered no compensation because city officials had repeatedly told them they could not settle on the land.
Khuth Sath, 37, whose home was levelled on Thursday, said that villagers planned to protest at government officials’ offices to demand compensation. “I have lived here since 2002. I need some compensation,” he said. “We cannot be left with bare hands.”
A man living nearby, who asked not to be named, said that although his home is still standing, he has been told by officials that it will be demolished in the next phase of the eviction.
“I do not have money. If they evict us, I may have no money to buy tarpaulin to cover my children,” he said.
2 comments:
good, kick all of them out.
Only criminal people will do this to poor farmers. The people were kicked out from their lands and the authority will sell their lands to developers and put money in their own pockets. Sokk An kicked Son Chhay out of his lands and Sok An sold the land to Sok Kong for $80 per sq. meter. Corrupt bastard!
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