Cambodian evictions spark human rights protest

Nationwide concern is growing in Cambodia after provincial authorities in Odar Meanchey equipped with rifles and guns evicted 214 families, destroying and setting fire to their homes, claiming the land for the Angkor Sugar Company.

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC)- a coalition of 21 NGOs- says the actions were a serious breach of human rights which also saw three people arrested, two beaten and injured and a number of the evicted forced to hide in the forest. Some were given shelter in a nearby Pagoda, only to be evicted again and left short of water, food, shelter and medicine.

CHRAC is calling on the authorities to provide social land for the victimised and the poor. In a statement they say the Government has hundreds of thousand of hectares of land to grant to private companies and that Social land concessions should be preserved. The Committee is also lobbying for the release of those arrested.

‘CORD’s team in Cambodia is alarmed at the developments in Odar Meanchey Province, which has left so many families without homes and without hope. In many cases, it is widely reported that even their personal possessions were burned in the fires, as they were not allowed by authorities to retrieve them,’ said CORD’s Regional Director, Noel Matthews.

‘We remain deeply concerned about those villagers who are still in hiding, in Pagodas and in the forests, afraid for their lives as well as for those who are today in prison,’ he added.

CORD remain committed to working with our partners in the grass roots networks and with local and international organisations across Cambodia in seeing the rights of the villagers respected and protected and their freedom restored.

‘Real peace and prosperity can only be achieved in Cambodia where there is justice, freedom and respect for the rights of all sections of society,’ said Noel.