The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 534
“Preah Vihear: Finally, the authority’s patience ended after unsuccessful five-day negotiations, demanding that more than 300 families leave the site at the Preah Vihear temple mountain at the Ou Chheu Teal area, Sra’aem Village, Kantuot, Choam Khsant, but the citizens refused to leave.
“Around 8:30 a.m. on 15 November, officials from different forces rushed, accompanied by gunfire, into an area of houses of citizens who had tried to cut trees to block a road and a bridge, using knives, sticks, and axes as weapons to resist the officials. However, the assault accompanied with gunfire resulted in two people dead, one woman, who is the wife of the citizens’ representative Man Chanthan, who died on the spot, and one man named Oeun En, 28, who died at a hospital. Moreover, seven other citizens were seriously wounded – those whose hands or legs were hurt were taken to Choam Khsant District Referral Hospital and to Preah Vihear Referral Hospital. Furthermore, 317 cottages and houses built along six kilometers of the road were burned down.
“During the assault against the land grabbing at Ou Chheu Teal, fifteen people, including Man Chanthan, were arrested. The total number of people arrested is as follows: two people were arrested before, and fifteen were arrested during the assault. According to a report, only one of the officials was wounded. Choam Ksant District officials said that the officials involved were 283 police, military police, and forestry administration officials altogether; after starting the operation, they completed it at 1:30 in the afternoon of the same day. Hundreds of citizens – young, old, male, and female – were arrested and carried by car to Sra’aem and Kor, approximately 20 kilometers from the place of the assault. The citizens, who were carried to Sra’aem, call for assistance, as they have nothing with them, not even sufficient clothes and food. Some of them cried for losing their children, and some cried for losing their mothers, because, according to a report, some citizens even ran into the forest away from their children. Mr. Kao Lung, the Choam Ksant district governor, who was asked what kind of solutions the authorities have for the citizens, said that there is no solution at all, because they had negotiated, offering them land in exchange for leaving, but they did not agree; therefore, at this time, they have to go back where they came from.
“An official said that the citizens had two guns – one AK gun and one CKC gun – to fire at the officials which led to them firing back. Concerning the guns, it is not confirmed whether they have been confiscated or not. The campaign was led by Mr. Sar Sam Ol, a deputy provincial governor, Mr. Pol Khamnare, a forestry administration official, and Mr. Kao Lung, the Choam Ksant district governor. One official said that the officials from different forces have been deployed in the area, they have not yet been withdrawn, and they are to maintain public order and also to arrest the people who escaped to hide in the forest. The officials denied a report that foreigners had been taken hostage by the citizens.
Information about the Detention of a Deputy Provincial Governor
“Mr. Meas Savoeun, a deputy provincial governor of Preah Vihear, who was brought to Phnom Penh on 14 November by National Military Police forces, was taken to court on the morning of 15 November. After questioning Mr. Meas Savoeun from morning till evening of the same day, Mr. Chiv Keng, a judge and the president of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, issued a verdict to detain Mr. Meas Savoeun temporarily in Prey Sar Prison on the accusation of grabbing state land and destroying trees [clearing forests to claim land].” Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6194, 16.11.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 16 November 2007
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1494, 16.11.2007
- A Woman Comes to Calmette Hospital and Claims that She Is Khiev Samphan’s First Wife [she is prevented by officials from visiting Khiev Samphan]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6194, 16.11.2007
- Suppressing Those Who Cut Trees to Claim Land: Gunfire Kills Two People and Wounds Seven – 15 People Arrested, and Hundreds of Houses Burned Down
- Verdicts Released for Temporary Detention of Ieng Sary and His Wife [Ieng Thirith] for One Year Each, While Khiev Samphan’s Health Gets Somehow Better
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3313, 16.11.2007
- War of Land Disputes in Preah Vihear Killed Two People, Wounds Four People, More Than 200 Arrested, and a Number of People Escaped into the Forest
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4438, 16.11.2007
- World Bank: Cambodian Economy in 2008 Will Still Have High Growth
- More Than 40 Political Parties Have Registered at the Ministry of Interior [to participate in 2008 Election]
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3153, 16.11.2007
- Hun Sen Gets Angry at Khmer Intelligence Web Site [which often post his words]
- Hun Sen Armed Forces Shoot Two Citizens to Death, Wound Four, and Arrest Eight in Land Disputes in Preah Vihear
