Signs Remind Villagers of Official’s Word

Residents of Phnom Penh’s Group 78 village have put up protest signs in their community demanding that Deputy Municipal Gover­nor Pa Socheatvong keep a promise he allegedly made that they would not be evicted from their land.

Group 78 villagers have been battling for more than two years to be able to stay in the Bassac commune site after City Hall threatened to evict them over claims that the land belongs to the government and a private company.

The two signs, placed at the entrance and in the middle of the village, read, “According to a meeting April 22, 2008, HE Pa Socheat­vong, deputy governor of Phnom Penh, said G78 will not be evicted.”

“We have put up signs for the national and international public to see what will happen,” said Lim Sambo, 53, one of four representatives who met Pa Socheatvong on April 22.

“We want to develop this area,” he said of the village, adding that the signs are intended to ensure everyone knows whether Pa Socheat­vong keeps his promise after the election.

Because that promise was not written down, villagers are still worried about future eviction, said Com­mun­ity Legal Education Cen­ter attorney Ly Ping, who also at­tended the meeting with Pa Soch­eatvong.

Ly Ping said that be­cause the villagers had occupied the land since the 1980s, the residents have the legal right to own the land in accordance with the 2001 Land Law.

“And if the state wants the land for public purposes, villagers must receive appropriate and just compensation,” he said.

Pa Socheatvong said Monday that the municipality had, as yet, “no plan to forcefully evict” Group 78 residents, though he added that they must move, as the land is the property of the state and a private company.

Pa Socheatvong would neither confirm nor deny whether promises were made to villagers April 22.

Amnesty International released a public statement Monday asking all political parties contesting the July elections to let voters know how they plan to address forced evictions.

“Forced evictions…perpetuat[e] marginalization and [deepen] poverty,” the statement read.