Poor Villagers Converge on Assembly Park

More than 1,000 rural villagers who say they have run out of food and money have converged near the National Assembly and Royal Palace to ask the government for food and a trip back home.

The group, which began arriving from several provinces two weeks ago, swelled to about 1,200 by Monday, Daun Penh Deputy Governor Sok Sambath said.

Some of the families received shelter and aid from various political groups and NGOs, and some have found shelter at Wat Botum, but most have been left out in the open, Sok Sambath said.

“I could not sleep last night be­cause it was raining. I was under the tree all the time and some people used a small plastic bag to roll on the ground to sleep on after the rain stopped,” said Keo Pheap, a Koh Kong province farmer.

Although Licadho and the Sam Rainsy Party have offered some food to the group, many say it has not been enough because they have gone hungry.

Sok Van Thy, a Kompong Cham farmer who says flooding destroyed his crops, said he wrote a letter to the government asking for aid, but officials refused to accept it because it had been written by hand.

“If we had money to pay for a computer for typing, we would not come here and let them look down on us. We are not robbers. We are just here asking for food,” he said.

When past disasters struck, Sok Van Thy said he foraged in the woods, but the law forbids it. Other farmers said their efforts to get relief have been hindered by government bureaucracy.

“We went to the Royal Palace, but they pointed to the National Assembly, and the National Assembly said, ‘Go to the Royal Palace,’” Kompong Speu farmer Vath Sor said.

The municipal government has ordered the group to disband and return home, Sok Sambath said.

“We have no refuge for them to stay here. If they stay here they’re going to meet illness and the cost for their treatment will be higher than they expect,” Sok Sambath said.

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