 |
| A group of more than 100 villagers from Kampong Svay district’s Sankoa commune protest outside Kampong Thom provincial court. (Photo by: Photo Supplied) |
Tuesday, 07 June 2011
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post
I would meet with [representatives] but if a throng of villagers comes, I will not find a resolution
More than 100 residents from four villages in Kampong Thom province marched around 30 kilometres from their commune to the provincial court and governor’s office yesterday to request the release of a community representative who was arrested in connection with a land dispute, villagers said yesterday.
Ear Sovanna, a resident of Krasainng Khor village in Kampong Svay district’s Sankoa commune, said yesterday that 53-year-old Khean Soeun, of Brasat village, was arrested under a court order from provincial prosecutor Pen Sarath for allegedly cursing staff from private company Doung Heng Sengsuna and destroying private property on May 28.
“The villagers just protected plantation land from being cleared, but the court issued an arrest warrant for [Khean Soeun] to be put in prison,” he said, adding that residents from Krasainng Khor, Brasat, Sleng Khpors and Chey villages had been affected by the dispute.
Ear Sovanna said that villagers had travelled on foot from their commune and if the court did not release Khean Soeun, they would continue to protest. Demonstrators carried photographs of Prime Minster Hun Sen and banners.
“The law is fair for those who have money, but for the poor, the law does not care or take action,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment