Villagers Questioned After Land Dispute Arrests

Eight villagers arrested for illegal land occupation were questioned in Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Thursday, while the first aid supplies were delivered to the 231 families whose homes were bulldozed earlier this week.

The human rights group Ad­hoc called Wednesday for the re­lease of the eight, who were ar­rested Tuesday during a court-or­dered eviction of three plots of land in Russei Keo district’s Phnom Penh Thmei commune. “We asked the court to please release the eight men…[because] the police who carried out the court’s order are a little bit cruel,” Adhoc investigator Chan Soveth said.

Prosecutor Siem Sok Aun said the eight were questioned but not yet charged.

Meanwhile, the municipality and human rights NGOs distributed rice, plastic tents and medicine to villagers who have been living at the site of their leveled homes, said Deputy Municipal Governor Pa Socheatevong. Some residents, particularly children, had become sick after two nights exposed to the rain, villager Born Proeun said Wednesday.

Villagers reported two police trucks encircling the cleared land Tuesday night. They said police were searching for resident Leng Vuthy, who was particularly outspoken against police following the eviction. Commune police chief Hang Mony said police were patrolling the area, but not looking to arrest villagers.

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