Border Demarcations Encroached Villagers’ Land

Relevant to the border demarcation by both countries’ committees- Cambodian and Vietnamese, Cambodian people, who live along the border, are worried that their rice field will be encroached into Vietnam due to the new border demarcation; for instance the house of Mr. Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly in Prey Veng is also considered to have built in Vietnamese territory; and it became the subject to be confiscated recently.

A villager from Koh Kbal Kandal village, Samrong commune, Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province, who felt afraid that her land may be encroached over the measurement, Mrs. Meas Srey, 38, widowed with two children asserted that On November 28, 2009 two officials from joint Border committee secretly came to measure and planted some poles on her rice field. The demarcation is supposed to be the border mark 185.

When she came and asked those authorities for the reason, they pointed at her and told her that because she had protested a lot and informed to the media, then her problem would not be solved.

On November 30, 2009 Mrs. Meas Srey as well as some other villagers filed a complaint with Provincial Governor Cheang Am about the demarcation on their rice fields. She asserted she may lose her rice field about one hectare and some other villagers four or five hectares, but they felt afraid to talk about that.

Another villager, Mr. Chin Soveth said that those authorities measured secretly, they did not let anyone know their purpose. Therefore he was afraid that the villagers’ rice fields may be encroached because of the markers.

Whereas second Samrong commune councilor from Sam Rainsy Party also mentioned he was never informed about the matter.

On November 26, 2009 a group of officials from the Council of Ministers from Phnom Penh, accompanied by Border Defense authority, visited the place, where 6 poles were uprooted in October.

That day, the authorities did not allow journalists and right group to participate and get information about their activity at all.

The above-mentioned events showed the lack of transparency of those authorities; especially the Border committee and both Cambodian and Vietnamese governments.

1- When they came to plant those poles, they should have told this information to villagers and other stakeholders about its activity and the purpose; and also explained clearly whether or not local villagers’ rice fields would be encroached;

2- If the demarcation did not eat into the local land, then the authorities should not have complained against villagers and commune councilors.

3- On November 26, 2009 journalists and right activists were not permitted to get information. This violates freedom to information, which states in the Cambodian Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Cambodian Constitution, Article 2 states, “The territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia, shall absolutely not to be violated within its borders as defined in the 1/100,000 scale map made between the year 1933-1953 and internationally recognized between the years 1963 - 1969.

Border issue has close relation to Cambodian standard of living for about 80% are formers. They strongly depend on their rice field for rice plantation. If their rice field were invaded, they would not fall into serious poverty.