Samlaut Uprising might be repeated as peasants faced land confiscations

Samlaut residents showing Radio Free Asia reporter the lands in dispute.

Source: Radio Free Asia
Reported in English by Khmerization

Sources from Samlaut on 30th July said that many Samluat peasants in western parts of Battambang province are facing losing thousands of hectares of their lands to a private development company.

Sources said a private company, Rath Sambath, is planning to develop on 5,200 hectares of farm lands the peasants claimed they owned since the Khmer Rouge still control the areas in the 1980s and 1990s.

One peasant said: "At that time, Cambodia was still at civil war, we have not achieved peace yet. But after 1993, after the peace talks (between the government and the Khmer Rouge), we came to clear the lands, some were killed, some have their limbs blown off (by landmines) in these areas."

According to the map of the Rath Sambath concessionaires, it was indicated that in 2002 the 5,200 hectares of lands were areas covered with thick forests. But according to the on-the-spot survey report, the concessionaires had covered 946 hectares of lands owned by peasants from 200 families in three communes.

A human rights investigator from the human rights group Adhoc, who investigated the case on the ground, said: "First, there must be a re-evaluation of the areas. Secondly, we appeal to the company not call any more meetings to intimidate (to coerce people to accept the comapnay's terms). Thirdly, I notice that the concession agreements (with the governent) are surrounded with secrecy, especially in regard to the documentations."

Radio Free Asia is unable to seek comments from provincial officials or representatives from Rath Sambath company.

Many analysts are of the view that this land dispute might lead to a repeat of the Samlaut Uprising when the Samlaut peasants launched a peasant rebellion in 1967 after provincial and government officials forcibly confiscated their lands. Thousands of Samlaut residents were brutally killed in the government crackdowns. Many people fled to a near by mountain called Phnom Vay Chap and set up a guerrilla base to oppose the government. Khmer Rouge leaders later claimed that the Samlaut Uprising was the cornerstone of their peasant revolution that brought them to powers in 1975.