Land Fight

Around 35 families who were instructed to vacate their homes in Russey Keo district’s Boeung Chhouk village by May 25 have accused the chief of nearby Tuol Kork village of threatening them with arrest if they continue to resist eviction, villagers said Wednesday. Seng Sna, a representative of the residents, said that Tuol Kork village Chief Pol Dim warned them on Sunday that “the district will take action soon”, and that “anyone found to be a ringleader will be jailed”. “I am afraid of prison,” said Seng Sna. “I told him that prison is for only those who violate people.” The families, who say they live in Kilometre 6 commune, were given an eviction notice last month by officials from Tuol Sangke commune. The notice accused them of living illegally on land that belongs to a woman named Lao Tong Ngy. Nuth Puthdara, the deputy governor of Russey Keo district, said he did not know when the eviction would take place, but that the issue was a “commune matter” and thus should not be handled at the district level. Pol Dim could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.