[NOTICE: The AHRC have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Cambodian authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Cambodian authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.]
CAMBODIA: abuse of power, collapse rule of law, corruption
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned by an alleged shooting incident against the protesters calling for their land rights by Prey Vang province authorities on 5 December 2006. One hundred villagers were protesting against the unlawful taking over of the 13-hectares of land in Koh Sampov commune, Peam Chor district at that time. It is reported that at least two villagers received bullet wound and anther person was severely beaten by the police. Local government officers including the district governor is alleged to be responsible for this shooting incident.
CASE DETAILS:
On 5 December 2006, the police forces were allegedly led by Dy Sam Ol, the deputy district governor of Peam Chor, a police officer named Sem Sokhom and Hem Yorn, a Koh Sampov commune council member. Armed with an AK-47 and a Revolver, they fired bullets into the crowd of villagers in Toul Mekeung village, Koh Sampov commune, Peam Chor district, Prey Veng province. The villagers were trying to protect their 13 hectares of land from being taken by the district authorities, who it was believed, wanted to seize the land in order to rent it to the Vietnamese people. In the clash between the villagers and the authorities, three people were seriously injured. A 35 year-old man named Bay Sophal, was shot in his left armpit. A 24 year-old-man named Net Tren took a shot to his right eye brow and a woman named Dol Sderng was beaten with a wooden stick causing injury to her left leg.
The 13 hectares of land is located near the Cambodian and Vietnamese border. About one hundred families have cultivated rice and some other forms of strategic plantation in the land since 1994. Recently, the value of land in that area has increased due to a sharp growth in the casino and garment industries. This area is ideal for such an enterprise as it is close to the border and therefore, it does not get very many people living there. Consequently, interest in the property industry has increased, with land becoming a more valuable commodity. It has become extremely profitable to build housing and rent it to those conducting business in the area and as land value increases, the number of cases concerning the forceful taking of land, often involving high ranking government officers and authorities, also increase.
In a previous incident on 26 November 2006, two villagers were shot by Hun Sovan (known as Som Chea), the deputy police inspector chief of Peam Chor district in Prey Vang province with related to a land dispute. A 33-year-old victim named Chou Saran was shot and took blows to his stomach. He was immediately sent to Vietnam, for specialized medical treatment, unavailable through Cambodian medical practitioners. Another 39-year-old victim named Nhem Theoung was shot and beaten, causing damage to his right arm. Hun Sovan fled immediately after the incident and is still at large.
The AHRC condemns Dy Sam Ol, the deputy district governor Peam Chor; a policeman named Sem Sokhom and Hem Yorn a Koh Sampov commune council member; for allegedly abusing their power to evict people using brutal force and acts of inhumanity. We also strongly condemn a Peam Chor district deputy police inspector chief, Prey Vang of the province Hun Sovan, who seriously wounded two villagers in a shooting in late November. It is an embarrassment to Cambodia, that police officers committed such brutal crimes without any hesitate, while wearing police uniforms.
This type of forced eviction is a violation of the Land Law of 2001 and also contradicts Prime Minister Hun Sen’s claim that there is no violent force used in evicting people over land disputes. This is not the first time that the police and the authority in Prey Vang province have abused villagers in such a way.
The AHRC urges the Cambodian government to conduct immediate independent inquiries into these crimes relating to the alleged land disputes and bring those responsible to justice. We urge the government to ensure financial compensation to the victims mentioned above. We also urge the Cambodian government to take a strong measure with gun control and ensure that violent eviction never happens again.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant authorities listed below and urge them to immediately launch an inquiry into the alleged crimes committed by Prey Vang police officers and the local authorities. Please also urge them to take all measures to bring the authorities to justice.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ________,
CAMBODIA Two were shot and one beaten up seriously by local authority over the land grabbing
CASE 1
Name of victims:
1. Mr. Bay Sophal, aged 35, shot to his left armpit
2. Mr. Net Tren, aged 24, shot to his right eye bow
3. Ms. Dol Sderng, beaten up to her left leg with a wood stick
Alleged Perpetrators:
1. Dy Sam Ol, deputy district governor of Peam Chor
2. Sem Sokhom, a policeman
3. Hem Yorn, the council member of Koh Sampov commune
Date of shooting incident: 5 December 2006
Place of shooting incident: Toul Mekeung village, Koh Sampov commune, Peam Chor district, Prey Veng province, Cambodia
CASE 2:
Name of victims:
1. Chou Saran, aged 33, shot and took blows to his stomach
2. Nhem Theoung, aged 39, shot and beaten, causing damage to his right arm
Alleged perpetrator: Hun Sovan (known as Som Chea), the deputy police inspector chief of Peam Chor district in Prey Vang province
Date of shooting incident: 26 November 2006
Place of incident: Peam Chor district in Prey Vang province
I am writing to bring to your urgent attention the alleged shooting incident against the villagers calling for their land rights by Prey Vang province authorities on 5 December 2006. During that time, one hundred villagers were reportedly protesting against the unlawful taking over of the 13-hectares of land in Koh Sampov commune, Peam Chor district at that time. The land is located near the Cambodian and Vietnamese border and the district administration allegedly has a plan to seize the land in order to rent it to the Vietnamese people.
I was informed that the police forces were allegedly led by Dy Sam Ol, the deputy district governor of Peam Chor, a police officer named Sem Sokhom and Hem Yorn, a Koh Sampov commune council member. Armed with an AK-47 and a Revolver, the police fired bullets into the crowd of villagers in Toul Mekeung village, Koh Sampov commune. As a result, two villagers mentioned above received bullet wound and the third person mentioned above was severely injured due to the police assault.
In another incident on 26 November 2006, two villagers mentioned above were shot by Hun Sovan (known as Som Chea), the deputy police inspector chief of Peam Chor district in Prey Vang province with related to a land dispute. Hun Sovan fled immediately after the incident and is still at large.
It is so annoyed to know that police officers committed such brutal crimes without any hesitate, while wearing police uniforms.
Forced eviction is a violation of the Land Law of 2001. Furthermore, such brutal violence committed by the state officers against affected villagers is exactly contradicts Prime Minister Hun Sen’s claim that no violent force has been used in the eviction process over land disputes. I am also concerned that they are not isolated cases that police and the authority in Prey Vang province have abused villagers in such a way.
I therefore urge you to ensure that an independent and through inquiry should be conducted into the two incidents. I particularly urge you to identify police officers who opened fire at the Toul Mekeung villagers and a commander(s) who ordered the shooting, and then bring those responsible to justice as soon as possible. I also urge you to take disciplinary or/and legal actions against Dy Sam Ol, the deputy district governor Peam Chor; a policeman named Sem Sokhom and Hem Yorn a Koh Sampov commune council member; for allegedly abusing their power to evict villagers using brutal force. A proper inquiry should be conducted into the alleged corruption of the Peam Chor district government authorities over the 13-hectares of land.
I also urge you to take urgent measures to arrest and prosecute Hun Sovan, who is responsible for firing at two villagers on 26 November 2006. I further urge you to ensure that adequate compensation is given to the victims mentioned above. Lastly, I urge the Government of Cambodia to strictly enforce the Land Law 2001, inquire about all the alleged corruption involved in government officers over the land disputes and prevent forced eviction in the future. These will be the first but important step for the Government to protect land rights of its own citizens and establish the rule of law in the country.
I look forward to seeing your urgent intervention.
Sincerely yours,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTER TO:
1. Mr. Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Cabinet of the Prime Minister
No. 38, Russian Federation Street
PhnomPenh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 23 21 98 98
Fax: +855 23 36 06 66
E-mail: cabinet1b@camnet.com.kh
2. Mr. Sar Kheng
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior
275 Norodom Blvd.
Phnom Penh,
CAMBODIA
Tel/fax: +855 23 72 19 05/72 6052/72 11 90
E-Mail: info@interior.gov.kh or moi@interior.gov.kh
3. Mr. Ang Vong Vathna
Minster of Justice
No 240, Sothearos Blvd.
Phnom Penh,
CAMBODIA
Fax: + 855 23 36 4119/21 66 22
4. Mr. Henro Raken
Prosecutor General
Court of Appeal
No. 14, Boulevard Sothearos
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 23 21 84 60
5. General Hok Lundy
National Police Commissioner
General-Commisariat of National Police
Phnom Penh,
CAMBODIA
Tel/Fax: +855 23 21 65 85/22 09 52
6. Mr. Ung Samy
Governor of Prey Vang province
# Village 3, Kompong Leav commune,
Kompong Leave district,
Prey Veng province,
CAMBODIA
Tel: 855 12 887 555
7. Justice Chea Nol
Chief judge of Prey Vang Provincial Court
# Village 5, Kompong Leav commune,
Kompong Leave district,
Prey Veng province,
CAMBODIA
8. Mr. Tem Phan
Police commissioner
# Village 5, Kompong Leav commune,
Kompong Leave district,
Prey Veng province,
CAMBODIA
9. Ms Margo Picken
Director
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Cambodia
N 10, Street 302
Sangkat Boeng Keng
Kang I Khan Chamcar Mon
Phnom Penh,
(P.O. Box: 108)
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855-23-987 671 / 987 672, 993 590 /993 591 or +85523 216 342
Fax: +855-23-212 579, 213 587
10. Prof. Yash Ghai
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia
Attn: Ms. Afarin Shahidzadeh
Room 3-080, OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix1211
Geneva 10,
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 91 79214
Fax: +4122 91 79018 (ATTENTION: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE CAMBODIA)
11. Mr. Jean Zeigler
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
c/o Mr. Carlos Villan Duran
Room 4-066, OHCHR, Palais Wilson,
Rue des Paquis 52, Geneva
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9300
Fax: +41 22 9179010
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
