About 200 villagers and monks marched to the Kompong Chhnang Provincial Court on Tuesday to call for the release from jail of two villagers and protest the summoning of eight more to appear before the provincial court.
The villagers are embroiled in a long-running land dispute with the powerful KDC company, and stand accused of causing violence and destruction of property in clashes with the company’s workers.
Oum Sophy, a representative of the villagers, led the march, which snaked along 30 km of roads from the otherwise tranquil Lor Peang village to the provincial town, where the court is located. Ms. Sophy’s husband Snguon Nhoeun, is one of the eight men who were summoned by Investigating Judge Nhuong Chanthy to appear in court Tuesday.
“We demand that the court release the two jailed villagers because they did nothing wrong as the company has accused them,” Ms. Sophy said in reference to 30-year-old Mang Yav and 34-year-old Seang Heng, who were charged and detained on July 22 for their alleged involvement in violent clashes on July 17, in which 10 KDC workers were injured.
“We will not allow the eight people to appear at the court today, because the court is unjust and not neutral in its judgments,” she added.
Her husband, Mr. Nhoeun, participated in the march but did not attend the questioning.
“The court summoned me to appear today for questioning, but I decided not to go inside, because they are biased and work only to serve the company,” he said.
KDC is owned by Chea Kheng, the wife of Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem. Villagers say that she illegally grabbed 145 hectares of their farmland in 2002. Their lengthy dispute with her heated up last month when workers began erecting a stone wall around the disputed land to cordon it off, sparking a series of clashes between villagers and workers.
Mr. Nhoeun said the villagers would continue their protest outside the court today after seeking refuge at Wat Aranh Ngikaram in the city.
Court officials could not be reached for comment.