Authorities in northwestern Cambodia’s Battambang province have
evicted 13 families for illegally inhabiting community land, ransacking
their homes and destroying their property in the process, officials at
two domestic rights groups said Tuesday.
About 30 officials forced the families out of their homes in Boeung
Ampil village, Sdao commune, in the province’s Rattanak Mondul district
on Feb. 2, leaving them homeless and offering them no compensation,
officials from Adhoc and Licadho said.
The families had lived on the land for more than a decade, they said.
And because they no longer have homes, their ability to earn a living
has been affected as well.
Yin Mengly, Adhoc’s coordinator in Battambang province, told RFA’s
Khmer Service that no matter whether the families had lived in their
homes legally or illegally, authorities should not have expelled them
without compensation.
“So, the accusations by authorities that people are deliberately
living on community land are just a pretext for them to take the land
and sell it to someone for their own interests,” he said.
Dieb Phal, the villagers’ representative in Sdao commune, complained
about the government-ordered ransacking and evictions, adding that he
had lived on the land since 2000.
“I only need justice like other people, because authorities have
removed us from our homes, like robbers stealing villagers’ property,”
he said.
Ser Sameth, chief of Rattanak Mondul district, said authorities had
instructed the 13 families to move out many times before because they
were living illegally on prohibited land, but they did not comply.
“This case has been processed and is now out of my jurisdiction
because I have sent it to the forestry administration to resolve,” he
told RFA. The district forestry administration oversees issues involving
community land.
Although the families have asked district authorities to find other
places for them to live or pay appropriate compensation, local
government officials have yet to take action, he said.
Adhoc’s office in Battambang submitted a letter requesting that
provincial officials intervene in the matter and ensure that the
families are compensated accordingly.
In response, Chan Sophal, governor of Battambang province, said he
had already contacted relevant officials to help the evicted villagers.
Reported by Hour Hum for RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Pagnawath Khun. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.From=Rfa
0 comments:
Post a Comment