Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a mixed civilian and military force beat villagers and torched their homes in a forced eviction at Anlong Krom in Chey Sena village, Ta Ken commune, Chhouk district Kampot province, on 17 and 18 November 2008. Seven villagers were injured, three of whom needed hospitalization, and over 200 homes were burned down.
CASE DETAILS: (Based on the information received Mr. Am Sam Ath, LICADHO, Phonom Penh)
On 17 November 2008 at about 7:30pm a mixed civilian and military force of about 50 to 60 armed men under the command of Army Brigade 31 was trucked into Anlong Krom, Chey Sena village, Ta Ken commune, Chhouk district, Kampot province to forcibly evict some 280 families from their homes and lands. The villagers protested against this eviction, only to be met with violence from the police and the military. Some of the armed men beat the villagers with their rifle butts or wooden sticks while the others torched their homes. They cordoned off the whole area to prevent the villagers from seeking or receiving any outside assistance.
Seven villagers were injured in this assault, three of whom needed hospitalization. Among these three, one named Im Chandara, 21, sustained serious injuries about the head with an open wound of some 20 centimeters long requiring 15 stitches. The second, named Prak Yok, 52, had a tooth broken off and bruises on his legs. The third, named Hun Rin, 51, had bruises on his chest. Over 100 homes were burned down on that day. The next day the same group returned to torch over 100 more homes.
All the villagers were told to vacate the area, but the people made homeless overnight by the authorities had nowhere to go. They had to stay outside under the sun during the day and under the rain during the night, sleeping in the ashes of their burnt out homes.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The authorities have claimed that the villagers were “illegally squatting” on State forest land belonging to Bokor National Park. They have denied any responsibility for providing replacement housing. This is a violation of the right to adequate housing under Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to which Cambodia is a party. Some villagers claimed they had been living on the land since 2000.
The authorities did not take any measures to prevent their settlement when they started to build their homes in order to make a living in the area. Furthermore, they did not resort to any due process of law, to ascertain the illegality of such settlement and secure an eviction order. And they did not notify them to vacate the area ahead of their eviction.
The civilian officials joining in the eviction came from the Kampot provincial Departments of Environment and of Forestry.
The same army unit was responsible for an assault on villagers and the arrest of four of them in the same area in June 2008 when it had executed a forced eviction of another group of villagers (See AHRC-UAC-148-2008).
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write your letters to the authorities listed below to request them (1) to investigate the assault on the villagers of Anlong Krom, Chey Sena village, Ta ken commune, Chhouk district, Kampot province, and the destruction of their homes by fire, (2) to take action against the perpetrators, (3) to provide replacement housing to the homeless villagers, and (4) to stop all forced evictions.
Please be informed that the AHRC has also written a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture and the Right to Housing, and the Special Representative for human rights in Cambodia and the OHCHR in Cambodia calling for intervention in this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ____,
CAMBODIA: Soldiers beat villagers and torch their homes in Kampot province
Victims: some 280 families including injured villagers named Im Chadara, 21; Prak Yok 52; Hun Rin, 51, Anlong Krom, Chey Sena village, Ta Ken commune, Chhouk district, Kampot province
Officials involved: Provincial authorities, Department of Environment, Department of Forestry, and Brigade 31 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Kampot province
Date of incident: November 17 and 18 of 2008
I am writing to express my deep concern relating to the assault on villagers and the destruction of their homes by a group of police and military composed of about 50 to 60 armed men under the command of Army Brigade 31 at Anlong Krom, Chey Sena village, Ta Ken commune, Chhouk district, Kampot province. They forced some 280 families from their homes and lands on 17 and 18 November 2008.
The villagers resisted this forced eviction but their resistance was met with violence. Some of the troops beat the villagers with rifle butts or wooden sticks while others torched their homes. The same group cordoned off the whole area to prevent the villagers from seeking or receiving any outside assistance.
Seven villagers were injured in this assault, three of whom needed hospitalization. Among these three, one named Im Chandara, 21, was seriously injured about the head with an open wound of some 20 cm long requiring 15 stitches. The second, named Prak Yok, 52m, had a tooth broken off and bruises on his legs. The third, named Hun Rin, 51, had bruises on his chest. Over 100 homes were burned down on the first day. The next day the same force returned to raze over 100 more homes.
All the villagers were told to vacate the area. But the people made homeless overnight by the authorities had nowhere to go. They were forced to stay in the rain during the night, sleeping in the ashes of their burnt out homes and under the sun during the day.
I have learned that the authorities have claimed that these villagers were “illegally squatting” on State forest land belonging to Bokor National Park. They have denied any responsibility for providing replacement housing. This is a violation of the citizens right to adequate housing under Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Culural Rights to which Cambodia is a party. Some villagers claimed they had been living on the land since 2000. The same army unit was responsible for an assault on another group of villagers and the arrest of four of them in the same area in June 2008 when it had executed a forced eviction.
I find it deplorable that an assault by a group of armed civilians and the military was carried out against the villagers resulting in personal injuries and the complete ruin of their homes by fire. I therefore urge you to investigate this violence and destruction, take action against the perpetrators and provide replacement housing for the homeless villagers.
I also urge you to stop all forced evictions and investigate, using the due process of law, before any eviction of people from their homes and lands is carried out. You should also meet their right to housing, which is one of your country’s international human rights obligations.
I trust that you will consider my above request in a positive light.
Yours sincerely,
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Cabinet of the Prime Minister
No. 38, Russian Federation Street
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: +855 23 36 0666
Tel: +855 2321 9898
E-mail: cabinet1b@camnet.com.kh
2. Mr. Sar Kheng
Deputy-Prime Minister
Minister of Interior
No.275 Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax/phone: +855 23 721 905 / 23 726 052 / 23 721 190
E-Mail: info@interior.gov.kh
3. Mr. Tea Banh
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of National Defence
Russian Federation Street
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: +855-23 883184
Tel: +855-23 883184 / 428171
E-mail: info@mond.gov.kh
4. Mr. Ang Vong Vathna
Minister of Justice
No 240, Sothearos Blvd.
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: +855 23 36 4119 / 21 6622
E-mail: moj@cambodia.gov.kh
5. Mr. Im Chhun Lim
Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning & Construction
No 771-773, Monivong Blvd.,
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: +855-23 217035 / 215277
Tel: +855-23 215660 / 215659 / 215278 / 217035
E-mail: gdlmup-mlmupc@camnet.com.kh or gdadmin-mlmupc@camnet.com.kh
6. Mr. Chan Sarun
Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries
#200 Norodom Blvd.
Sangkat Tonle Basak
Khan Chamkarmorn
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: +855-23 217320
Tel: +855-23 211351 / 211352
E-mail: maff@everyday.com.kh
7. Mr. Mok Mareth
Senior Minister
Ministry of Environment
#48, Samdech Preah Sihanouk
Tonle Bassac
Chamkar Morn
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Fax: +855-23 427844
Tel: +855-23 427894
E-mail: moe-cabinet@camnet.com.kh
8. Mr. Henro Raken
Prosecutor-General
Court of Appeal
No 240, Sothearos Blvd.
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: +855 23 21 66 22; +855 23 21 63 22
Tel: +855 11 86 27 70
9. General Neth Savoeun
National Police Commissioner
General-Commisariat of National Police
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax: +855 23 22 09 52
Tel: +855 23 21 65 85
10. General Sao Sokha
Commander
Military Police
Mao Tse Tung Blvd
Khan Tuol Kok
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 12 36 3636
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
