Wednesday, 01 August 2012
May Titthara
Phnom Penh Post 
Yan Kim Hon (L), who fell ill after drinking unclean water, rests at
Preah Kosamak Hospital in Phnom Penh yesterday. Photograph: Vireak
Mai/Phnom Penh Post
The villagers of Kampong Thom’s
Thamasamlieng village are being asked for patience, but after nearly
three years of broken agreements, health woes and food shortages that
one rights group says has led to starvation deaths, that patience is
wearing thin.
In December 2009, a lease granted to a Vietnamese rubber firm forced 1,750 families living on a social land concession to move from their homes in Santuk district’s Kraya commune.
Families, many with disabled members, had legally settled in the commune since 2005, an arrangement that came to a sudden stop with the granting of Tin Bean Rubber’s 75-year lease.
Last week, the displaced families sent 602 letters to the cabinet of Prime Minister Hun Sen asking for intervention, urging the government to grant the one-hectare of farmland legally entitled to each of them, instead of the current a 20 x 40 metre plot they now hold.
“Because we have not received the farm land yet, we have gone to work for the Vietnamese company to earn money,” said Sok Chandy, 34, a resident of the Thamasamlieng village. “But now, some villagers lack rice to support their families.”
A storm in May caused Chandy’s home to collapse on her husband, severely injuring him. He sought medical care at the Preah Kosmak hospital but has remained disabled ever since, leaving Chandy as the family’s sole source of income.
“We demand the authorities grant the farm land to us so that we can farm to support our families. If not, we will starve to death, because we have no income source,” Chandy said.
Villagers living in the evacuated area face food shortages and health problems due to a lack of clean water, which has contributed to bouts of fever and diarrhea.
“We have no wells, so we drink the rain water that fills in the holes left by the excavators,” she said.
Kampong Thom provincial governor Chhun Chhorn said that provincial authorities planned to grant land to them, but they have yet to do so.
“Related to the new request, the villagers may receive farming within 6 months,” Chhorn said.
Mam Sitha, president of the Cambodian Independent Anti-Corruption Committee, which submitted the letters on the villager’s behalf, said his group had documented two cases of starvation deaths in the past year and immediate action was necessary.
“This is sending a message to the government that top leaders should take urgent measures.”
In December 2009, a lease granted to a Vietnamese rubber firm forced 1,750 families living on a social land concession to move from their homes in Santuk district’s Kraya commune.
Families, many with disabled members, had legally settled in the commune since 2005, an arrangement that came to a sudden stop with the granting of Tin Bean Rubber’s 75-year lease.
Last week, the displaced families sent 602 letters to the cabinet of Prime Minister Hun Sen asking for intervention, urging the government to grant the one-hectare of farmland legally entitled to each of them, instead of the current a 20 x 40 metre plot they now hold.
“Because we have not received the farm land yet, we have gone to work for the Vietnamese company to earn money,” said Sok Chandy, 34, a resident of the Thamasamlieng village. “But now, some villagers lack rice to support their families.”
A storm in May caused Chandy’s home to collapse on her husband, severely injuring him. He sought medical care at the Preah Kosmak hospital but has remained disabled ever since, leaving Chandy as the family’s sole source of income.
“We demand the authorities grant the farm land to us so that we can farm to support our families. If not, we will starve to death, because we have no income source,” Chandy said.
Villagers living in the evacuated area face food shortages and health problems due to a lack of clean water, which has contributed to bouts of fever and diarrhea.
“We have no wells, so we drink the rain water that fills in the holes left by the excavators,” she said.
Kampong Thom provincial governor Chhun Chhorn said that provincial authorities planned to grant land to them, but they have yet to do so.
“Related to the new request, the villagers may receive farming within 6 months,” Chhorn said.
Mam Sitha, president of the Cambodian Independent Anti-Corruption Committee, which submitted the letters on the villager’s behalf, said his group had documented two cases of starvation deaths in the past year and immediate action was necessary.
“This is sending a message to the government that top leaders should take urgent measures.”
To contact the reporter on this story: May Titthara at titthara.may@phnompenhpost.com
5 comments:
A country of 12 million but we don't have enough land for everybody? let's clear some forests and give them land.
Living under this conditions is better dying than prolong suffering...Cpp must stop stealing people land and grand to the rich.Robbed from the poor giving to the rich company is completely wrong.If I were this guy I'll end my life and take bunches if Cpp's clans with me.Especially,Hun's clans.
2:33 AM, good idea but in Kratie people cleared land and Hun Sen accused them of creating a secession and that's why Mam Sonando was in jail.
Another the problem is, all the forests are now owned by the Chinese and the Vietnamese companies.
What's wrong with Hun sen's head?Does he has brains or not? Does he has consciences as humanbeing or animal being? Hunsen allowed Yuon to used land for seventy years or ninety nine years for $1.00 a year!???? Bouenk Kak 99 yrs lease with less than $.1.00 yearly.Wow! Unbelievable deal,this is a deal of the life time.Khmers suffered Yuon and Chin happily ever after....Steals from khmers given to Yuons/chins.Khmers dies of starvation Yuons and Chins thrown ways foods ate fatty like pigs.
he's not just blind eye but blind brain also. traitor of the country will goes down to history book.
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