The land conflict at Suong canal 78 located in Trapeantros village, Anlong Samnor commune, Chikreng district, Siem Reap province over 92 hectares between 175 families of Chikreng villagers against land businessmen of 42 families are backed by district and provincial authority, that has been taken place since 2005 until now still unresolved and not yet provided fair resolution and justice to poor people.
The continual conflict has been emerging twice serious violence in which there was a violent protest during 17 days and there was a quarrel for rice between deal parties. The armed forces were deployed to prevented 175 families’ party from accessing the land and shot at least 3 people injured seriously and totally 46 people were arrested in which 34 people were released, 3 were on bail and 9 are still imprisoned.
Background of Land
In 1986 Ministry of Interior had separated 8 villages amongst 16 villages from Chikreng commune into new commune of Anlong Samnor but people who received the land by contribution of local authority still continuing their occupation on the same land not yet be removed or confiscated. Regarding people from Chikreng also continue to farm on the land, some people plant the raining season rice since 1986 until 2004-2005. The dispute is started on April 16, 2004 after local authority rejected application for a formation of association of farmers for dry season rice and Ministry of Agriculture also denied second application of 175 families’ people dated February 14, 2005 with the reason of infringement of land of other villagers. In contrast in 2005 land businessmen, named Chan Thoeun, Ly Savy and Chea Im arranged 42 families of Anlong Samnor to bulldozing the land and construct the canal. Chikreng villagers disagreed and file complaint to district and provincial authority for resolution; the authority did not only take action but also issued authorization letter No.002 dated February 21, 2006 signed by Mr. Oung Oeun, deputy provincial governor, Mr. Kao Sophoin, district governor, Mr. Ieng Setha, agricultural officer and Mr. Vat Vann, cadastral officer, give license to Mr. Ly Savy, Chea Im, Kang Noy, Chea Chanreun, Chea Pork, Prum Yang, Iev Tith and Chan Thoeun as the canal’s owner. The license of authority was a grant motive of land dispute between people and land businessmen. According to farmers clarified that some people from outside bought directly the land from Ly Savy, Chan Thoeun and Chea Im who are canal owners; the sale and buy of land from land businessmen did not signed by local authority. Among those who are canal owner there are only Ly Savy and Chea Im were alleged of grabbing the land with Mr. Chheng Savoeun,175 families’ leader.
Mr. Hab Long, 55 who also has the land at the site confirmed that in the past this land is really belong to Chikreng villagers who cleared the land before UNTAC period, some people plant raining season rice and some keep land in free, specifically the dry season rice are planted just only in 3 years after canal have been constructed. The farmers at the site Mrs. Chuch Run, Teacher Phlong Ponlork, new comers said that they bought the land from Ly Savy and Chan Thoeun located in Speanthnoat commune, out of challenging area.
Breaking 1st Violence
On December 2008, the armed forces round up 3 people, one is journalism of Sangkum Khmer Mr. Sinh Samley, and other two villagers, Mr.Sim Leab and Mr. Chan Leab alleged with 4 crimes: 1-Infringement of private property, 2-Using violence against peaceful land’s owner, 3-Incitement to commit the felony successfully and 4- Incitement to commit felony and misdemeanor unsuccessfully. The charge was produced by the court following the complaint of Mr. Ly Savy and Chea Im to issue a temporary injunction to prevent the land for benefit of Ly Savy and Chea Im that make Chheng Savoeun’s party disagreed to court injunction.
Lasted for 17 days starting on January 14-29, 2009 Chikreng villagers hold a violent protest round up Siem Reap court’s compound urging steadily to release 3 arrested, Mr. Nguon Nara, investigating judge denied when Mr. Kao Soupha, people’s lawyer applied for bail. Then after on Jan 29, 2009 the Inquiring assembly of appeal court decided on bail of 3 arrested. The bail also requested by human rights organizations, minister of information, and intervention letter from National Assembly and Ministry of Interior. That day H.E Sou Phirin, Siem Reap governor gave 1000,000.00 Riels to people and promised to resolve land dispute in soon.
On February 02, 2009 H.E Sou Phirin along with Mr. Oum Mara, Bun Tharith, deputy provincial governors come down to resolve land conflict in Chikreng district office attendance by the both parties and their lawyers, Kao Soupha, and Sok Hay, lawyer of land businessmen under observe of human rights organizations and journalism. That day lawyer of the both had raised the righteous motives, Kao Soupha argued that his clients had first occupied the land and continued for long time when Sok Hay argued that his client had land titles. In result the provincial governor intimidated and curse at victim’s lawyer stop saying the righteousness in the meeting, he decided three options:
1-92 hectares of land will be given to Ly Savy and Chea Im
2-Make statistic of poor people for social land concession out of land dispute
3-Ly Savy and Chea Im will be harvested and pay for seed to Chikreng villagers’ party.
About 70-80 people of 175 victim families did not accept the bias and unfair decision of provincial governor, therefore they decided to take land by their selves and to collect the crop on March 14, 2009 that was happened a clash with two farmers, Mr. Em Sothea and Mr. Chey Sovann, who bought land from Ly Savy. The both confirmed that they plant rice on the disputing land that is guided to fight for rice on March 18, 2009. Chey Sovann and Em Sothea complaint to police allegedly Chheng Savoeun of leader to rob rice and beat injured. The armed forces were dispersed to round up victim families from 18 to 22 March 2009.
The Event on Sunday March 22, 2009
On March 22, 2009 the amount 100 armed forces mixed by police, gendarme, soldier and provincial intervention troop were deployed around the site to arrest Chheng Savoeun with the presence of Mr. Oum Mara, deputy provincial governor and Mr. Ty Sovinthal, prosecutor under the mission to announce a provincial array No.061 dated March 16, 2009 to keep the disputing land under the control of authority called (white area). The troop start round up the site from dawn at 5:00AM and after at 9:30AM the troop start fire at people when prosecutor and deputy provincial governor were on the way. During firing Mr. Kao Sophoin, district governor was also there.
According to witness and authority reported that the troop commenced to fire first with the purpose to arrest Chheng Svoeun, leader of demonstrators then crowd of people rush into help Chheng Savoeun, the troop secondly shoot with spray bullets at people. There were at least 3 people were found injured named Luon Men was shot injured in both thigh, Tuy Khom was shot injured in temple, and Luon Venh was shot injured in left shoulder and he was also tied against pole of hut and 43 people were tied with nylon wire, whereas the remaining people were escaped and dare not come back to home. When prosecutor and deputy provincial governor had arrived the site it was found that the injured with bloodshed were not yet sent to hospital, human rights official and media intervened to prosecutor to send victim to hospital but it was denied and human rights and media were prevented from taking picture and were threat to arrest if did not respect. 34 people were released after sending to district police inspection office and 9 people were sent to prison: 1-Mr.Mey Pheak,23 2-Mr.Nhem Poak, 27 3-Mr. Vann Chan, 29 4-Mr.Chan Nat,23 5-Mr.Ma sek, 25 6-Mr.Sek Soy, 21 7-Mr.Chheng Savoeun, 30 8-Mr.Chea Khom and 9-Mr. Ouch Ky, 32.
The witnesses and victim at the site said that it was police who start fire first and the soldiers shot injured at people but now criminal police is investigating the real perpetrator shot injured people.
Reported by Mr. Leng, OUCH
