Government Ignores the Difficulty of Boeung Kak Villagers

Up to now, it has been seen the Cambodian government has failed to intervene local villagers, who live in Boeung Kak area and who have been negatively and severely impacted by Sukaku Inc. Over and over again, from a group of villagers to another have been trying to seek assistance from the government, but their endeavor for that and their suffering have been still the same.

Villagers Blocked of Access to Kampong Chhnang Province

On Tuesday, September 14, 2010, around 300-400 villagers from Boribour district were blocked of access to Kampong Chhnang province in order to submit complaints with the provincial authorities to seek for intervention on their land, which was allegedly grabbed by Pheapimex Co. Ltd.

Workers to Strike for Minimum Wage

Garment workers at about 40 factories in several provinces and around Phnom Penh, who have subsequently failed to meet their demand for a minimum wage from $75 to $93, are now on strike to continually request for that. The strike is planned to hold within a whole week, from Monday, 13 to 19 September 2010 in Kandal, Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu province and districts in Phnom Penh.

Two More Villagers Charged in a Land Dispute with Ly Yong Phat

Two more villagers in Amleang commune, Thpong district, Kampong Speu province, who have also been involved in protesting against the Phnom Penh Sugar Company, were reportedly summoned to Takeo Provincial Court for questioning in the accusation of having lived on the land, which belongs to the company owned by Cambodian People’s Party Senator Ly Yong Phat.

Land Encrochment in Takeo

On September 7, 2010 a villager, named Prum Sang Na, 34, who lives in Trapeang Trav village, Pot Sar commune, Bati district, Takeo province, reported on the phone that local authorities, communal chief and district governor in the above area in conspiracy with a land broker, have grabbed their 25-hectare land. This has affected 251 families since 2000 [but now the number has increased by about 300 families].

Impact of Social Land Concession in Preah Vihear

At least more than 400 families are living in fear and facing forcefully evicted and intimidated by a group of 10 staffs [agents] of a local non-governmental organization, called Aids and Drugs Research Protection Organization (ADRPO), which was founded by Sar Chhuon Lem or Pen Lem, the president of the organization. Sar Chhuon Lem or Pen Lem is all so known as Excellency, General, Neak Okhna and the consultant of Mr. Chea Sim. The position is equal to Secretary of State. He is also the General Director of Pen Lem Import, Export Company.

Impact of Social Land Concession in Preah Vihear

At least more than 400 families are living in fear and facing forcefully evicted and intimidated by a group of 10 staffs [agents] of a local non-governmental organization, called Aids and Drugs Research Protection Organization (ADRPO), which was founded by Sar Chhuon Lem or Pen Lem, the president of the organization. Sar Chhuon Lem or Pen Lem is all so known as Excellency, General, Neak Okhna and the consultant of Mr. Chea Sim. The position is equal to Secretary of State. He is also the General Director of Pen Lem Import, Export Company.

Villager Arrested in a LandConflict with Heng Development Company

On Saturday, September 4, 2010 a villager representative was arrested in a land dispute between Heng Development Company with those 2,676 families in 7 communes, Kandal Stung district, Kandal province.

Nguon Nhel Warned to Sue Opposition Lawmakers

On Wednesday, September 1, 2010 First Deputy President of the National Assembly Nguon Nhel reportedly considered lodging a complaint against Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers for defamation related to his 71 advisers.

Kim Sokha Charged with Defamation

On Monday, August 30, 2010 the president of Human Rights Party Mr. Kem Sokha was summoned for questioning by Phnom Penh Municipal Court of First Instance for the accusation of defamation, breach of trust and the utilization of fake documents. The summons was issued by Deputy Prosecutor Sok Roeun to ask Mr. Kem Sokha to come out for interrogating on September 6, 2010.

Police Broke up Villagers from Boeung Kak Lake

Around 200 people from Beoung Kak area in 8 villages, Srah Chork commume, Daun Penh district, on August 23, 2010, were planning to organize a public forum at the National Institute of Education in order to discuss together and find out way to solve their problems of which they said it resulted from the sand dredging by Sukaku Inc to fulfill the lake; and at the moment it is flooded all over. However, the plan was prohibited by Srah Chork authorities.

Sam Rainsy Party Activist Pre-Detained in Banteay Meanchey

Related to a land conflict in July 2009, an activist of Sam Rainsy Party was pri-trial detained by Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court for the accusation of incitement and disinformation. Mr. Him Sokha, 40, was arrested on Sunday, August 8, 2010 when he went back to his home in Poipet commune, Poipet city, Banteay Meanchey.

Journalists Fined for Disinformation and Defamation

On August 17, 2010 Phnom Penh Municipal Court of First Instance opened a hearing of journalists for Meato Phum Newspaper for disinformation and defamation in accordance with the complaint by Meas Sopheap, chief of military Battalion 204 who was also alleged of illegally logged, kept and transported timbers to neighboring country [Vietnam].

Serious Rights Violation in a Land Dispute in Kampong Cham

Serious rights violation occurred on August 8, 2010, in a conflict land area in Steng Trang district, Kampong Cham province, where around 100 villagers were intimidated to leave the farmland of 41 hectares. A group of around 20 police and military police officers utilized guns and electric batons to brutally compel them out of their rice field. In the event, three people were injured.

Land Representative Arrested in Battambang

On August 9, 2010, a villager representative in a land conflict was arrested by Battambang provincial police when he and other three deserters appeared in the village, Daun Ba commune, Kois Kralor distrtict, after they had been running away from being cuptured for a long time in relation to a land conflict in the area.

Union Leaders to Face Legal Action

Resuming the request of increasing minimum wage, which once held in a public forum on July 25, 2010, Cambodian Labor Confederation President Ath Thun said that he would plan to hold the other strike to protest against the latest government’s decision of the industry’s minimum wage. The schedule of the strike was due on August 25, 2010.

Police Broke off Protest at Premier’s Mansion

On August 8, 2010 around 100 villagers from Kois Kralor district, Battambang province came to Phnom Penh to hold protest in front of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s mansion in order that they could request the premier to intervene on their problem of which their land has been grabbed by a group of officials. However, instead of getting support, they were prohibited and forcedly forced to move out of the area by a group of about 50 police officers, garden securities and plain-clothes officials from Daun Penh district.

Village Chief Threatened People to Sell their Land

Tumpuon ethnic people, who live in Pou Traeng and Pou Las village, Dak Dam commune, O’Rang district, Mondulkiri province, were threatened and cheated out of selling their farmland and village land to a rubber plantation company by village chiefs and some elders.

Human Rights Party President Blocked

On July 4, 2010 the Human Rights Party president was blocked of his access to visit villagers in Prey Yuthkar commune, Koh Andet district, Takeo province by local authorities. The purpose of this visit was to discuss issue, as well as expressing opinions; especially problems that those people had faced in their own area.

Attempted Killing of Three Journalists

On February 4, 2010 three local journalists in Kratie province reported received death threat from Border Military Official as they accidentally encountered timbers were transported in a mini-van at around 12:00 mid-night on a small rout in Sre Roneam village Khsim commune, Snoul district, Kratie province. Tension rose up after these three reporters came up to them and asked questions.