Villagers in Reusey Keo Face Forced Eviction

At least around 20 houses of people living in Bie and Deum Kor village, Chroy Changva commune, Reusey Keo district, Phnom Penh, along National Road 6A were totally dismantled and destroyed by a group of 50 police and military police led by Reusey Keo Deputy Governor Koub Slesh and using bulldozer on October 15, 2009 in order to make way for an enlarged road and traffic roundabout linking the bridge from Choy Changva peninsula to Phnom Penh, whereas those houses’ owners were standing only to watch their houses and belongings demolished. Even though those local villagers asked the authorities to bring out some of their materials and belongings for daily utilization, it was not also allowed.

As asserted by those villagers, they subsequently came to live in the area since 1980s and 1990s, thus they could not accept the inappropriate compensation at all. They said that previously the district authority asked them to receive a plot of land with 4m by 8m in Beong Tampun commune, Meanchey district as well as 500 dollars; but they denied because they demanded at least a plot of land with 10m by 15m so that they could build new home. Even though the negotiation and compensation did not yet come to an agreement, the authorities rashly demolished their homes. After the destruction, they temporarily lived in their makeshift shelter and tents.

Reusey Keo Deputy Governor Koub Slesh said the authorities were already trying to solve the problem for these villagers by compensating 500 dollars for each family and a plot of land with 4m by 8m in Beong Tumpon commune, Meanchey district, but they did not agree. However, out of thirty families living there, nine had accepted and left.

Whereas the remained residents claimed that those nine families were only home renters, thus they would agree, but they had land and home there, so they could not receive such compensation.

Based on the 2001 Land Law of Cambodia, these people lived in the area more than 5 years before the law had come into effect, this means they could own the plot of land. Article 5 of the law says, “No one may be deprived of his ownership, unless it is for the public interest. An ownership deprivation shall be carried out in accordance with the forms and procedures provided by law and regulations and after the payment of fair and just compensation in advance.”

For this reason, on October 19, 2009 these villagers were tripping to gather in front of Prime Minister’s manson in Takhmao town seeking for intervention from Hun Sen so that they could get more appropriate compensation, because the local authorities had not allowed them to meet for negotiation. While the Chroy Changva authority pointed out this would be the municipality’s authority. In relation to the protest, those residents said a member of the premier’s cabinet recommended them to submit a petition or complaint for consideration.

So far, no intervention has been made from Municipal authorities or Premier’s cabinet; by contrast, on November 5, 2009 after the Water Festival, Chroy Chanva authorities ordered them to pull down their shelters and leave the area, So that they can make way for a road-development project. In addition, the promise of compensation of 4m by 8 m land has not been yet provided.