Teenager Gunned Down by Security Forces and a 124,284-Hectare Logging ELC OLICE and Military Forces That Has Been Cancelled

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The body of Heng Chantha, 14, lies on a mat at her family’s home in Kratie province yesterday. She was shot dead by heavily armed officials who opened fire on a group of about 1,000 families they were sent to evict from the province’s Chhlong district. Two other villagers were injured during the confrontation. photo supplied Girl killed in eviction May Titthara and David Boyle sion granted in 2007 near the area Teenager gunned down by security forces and a 124,284-hectare logging ELC OLICE and military forces that has been cancelled. shot dead a 14-year-old girl the latest, but perhaps most shock- had sprayed heavy automatic gunfire The forces were ordered to evict A military police officer who took yesterday when hundreds of ing, incident in a bloody wave of at them twice. On the second occas- the residents by a joint committee of part in the operation and spoke on heavily armed officers violence that military forces have ion, a bullet hit his 14-year-old sister, Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, Nat- condition of anonymity said they stormedP a village in Kratie province committed against activists and Heng Chantha, in the stomach. ional Police chief Neth Savoeun and had been ordered to storm the vil- and sprayed automatic gunfire dur- protesters this year. “My sister was just doing something Kratie provincial governor Sar Cham lage by the joint committee on being a forced eviction. Witnesses said that about 8:30 yes- in my house, but she got hit in her Rong, which accused them of forming half of Casotim and another com- Two other people were injured and terday morning, hundreds of military stomach and she died along the way an autonomous state through a group pany that he did not name. five were arrested during the clash police, supported by a helicopter, when I took her to get medical treat- called “Democratic Association”. He said his forces acted in self-de- with residents of Prama village, in had stormed into the village, roun- ment at Snuol [district] hospital,” Te- But the residents of Prama village fence against the armed villagers, who Chhlong district’s Kampong Dam- ded people into separate groups and ang Kem Srin said. have been in a long-running land attacked a police officer last month. rei commune, some of whom were opened fire on them with automatic His sister “knew nothing”, he said, dispute with the company Casotim, “If we did not fire on them, they armed with crossbows or axes. weapons. and called on Prime Minister Hun which has an active 15,000-hectare The killing of the teenager is just Teang Kem Srin, 28, said the forces Sen to intervene. agricultural economic land conces- Continues on page 2

INSIDE 16 pages 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 17, 2012 National Girl killed Death points in violent eviction up urgency

Continues from page 1 would have killed us, because we of ELC review had experience one time already,” he said, adding that Bridget Di Certo state at the department of plan- they arrested five people, who he and Chhay Channyda ning and statistics. did not identify, but confirmed The under-secretary, Ith they failed to catch the group’s HE government needs Nody, could not be reached leader, Bun Ratha. to act – and act now – yesterday, while Chhay Sakun, On April 6, Bun Ratha was to review all econom- deputy director of the depart- arrested for allegedly inciting ic land concessions, ment of planning and statistics villagers to destroy a Casotim whichT underscore the King- in charge of economic land office, but police released him dom’s dark disease of violent concessions, declined to com- four days later after hundreds land disputes, rights groups ment and referred all questions of villagers repeatedly blocked said yesterday. about how the regulation would national road 78. Two villagers armed with homemade weapons were arrested following a violent eviction, during which a Ten days after Prime Minister be implemented back to the 14-year-old girl was shot dead by officials, yesterday in Kratie province’s Chhlong district. photo supplied In a statement released after Hun Sen signed a regulation for ministry management level. the incident, the Ministry of Inte- it so no one could get in. “I with our measures, and now we lost its credibility,” she said. an immediate and indefinite However, Council of Ministers’ rior said it was looking to inves- have been living in that area for can control that area and other Mathieu Pellerin, a consultant moratorium on any new eco- spokesman Ek Tha yesterday tigate and arrest Democratic about seven years already, now villagers had left from that area with the rights group Licahdo, nomic land concession grants said that the regulation demon- Association leader Bun Ratha, they come to take my house already,” he said. said the situation had reached a and a review of all existing ones, strated Hun Sen’s firm commit- 32, and masterminds Bun Chorn, and give the land to the com- But he was sorry a teenage new low. “It is turning out to be a teenage girl, caught up in a ment to addressing the issue. 55, Sok Tong, 61, Ma Chang, 47, pany. They were very cruel to girl had been killed by a stray the most violent year ever when protest over farmland, was shot and Khat Saroeun, 42. shoot on villagers like we are bullet that he said accidentally it comes to the use of lethal force and killed by military officials. This morning’s The five men are accused of animals,” she said. ricocheted into her. against activism,” he said. “This morning’s [death] was [death] ... highlights six offences including fraudu- She denied any plot to create Rights groups, the opposition In January, security guards linked to a conflict that arose the urgency of a lently distributing land, kid- an autonomous state and said and observers expressed disbe- dressed in military fatigues from a land concession, and review by the napping two soldiers, illegally now she was homeless. lief that the military police had opened fire on a crowd of pro- this further highlights the government of all blocking roads, nullifying vil- Kratie governor Sar Cham yet again fired on the public this testers in Kratie’s Snuol dis- urgency of a review by the land concessions lages, threatening village Rong was upbeat about the suc- year, just over three weeks after trict, injuring three people, government of all land con- chiefs and preventing officials cess of the operation, which he they gunned down environmen- one seriously. cession,” Licadho consultant “Recently, our Prime Min- from registering citizens. said had foiled the “Democratic tal activist Chut Wutty. In February, three female pro- Mathieu Pellerin said. ister issued a direct order to Sok Phany, 34, who fled the Association” – the so-called Surya Subedi, the UN special testers were shot, one through “An honest review of all land suspend ELCs, this shows the village with her two children organisation the joint commit- rapporteur on human rights, the chest, at a protest outside a concessions issued by the gov- government commitment to before the shooting, said the tee has alleged is behind a suc- who just wrapped up a trip to shoe factory in Svay Rieng prov- ernment whether technically pay more attention to the so- forces had evicted everybody cession movement. Cambodia where he investigated ince’s Bavet town, allegedly by labelled as economic land con- cial needs of our people,” Ek and set up a perimeter around “A lot of villagers are happy economic land concessions and the town governor who was cessions or otherwise is nec- Tha said. “We all must respect evictions, said he was shocked. charged but never arrested. essary,” Pellerin said. “These and execute his policy for the “I am very concerned by this Ek Tha, a spokesman at the land concessions granted by benefit of our people and the killing, which comes soon after Council of Minister’s Quick the government have led to nation as a whole.” the killing of Mr Chut Wutty. and Press Reaction Unit, called land conflict.” Rights groups were initially This is a very worrying trend the killing “heartbreaking” and After the regulation was sceptical of what change the indeed,” he said. said the culture of violence announced, which was de- regulation would introduce, Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker had to stop. termined by the Council of with some labelling it a “politi- and human rights campaigner “It is time for Cambodian Ministers a day after the mur- cal ploy”. Mu Sochua said Prime Minister armed officials to think and der of forestry activist Chut Pellerin said yesterday’s inci- Hun Sen had completely lost think and think again and again Wutty, the Post contacted gov- dent only added to doubts. control of the military and before raising guns to shoot at ernment officials to enquire “The real issue here is wheth- needed to face up, in person, to [their] own blood, own people,” about the implementation of er the government has any will his people to explain. he said, adding that villagers also the regulation. to do any type of real review,” “The prime minister has lost needed to not protest violently. At the time, officials did not he said. “A 14-year-old girl dies control of his power. He is not the Ly Hout, a representative of have answers. less than 10 days after the issue powerful person that he thinks Casotim; Khieu Sopheak, Yesterday, Minister of Agri- of the regulation – it doesn’t go he is; he has lost his credibility, spokesman for the Ministry of culture Chan Sarun could not very well to identifying wheth- people don’t listen to him any- Interior; and Choung Seang Hak, be contacted. Secretary of State er there is any real will of the Villagers gather following a shooting incident in Prama village, Kam- more. No more lives should be Kratie provincial police chief, all Chan Tong Yve referred all ques- prime minister.” ADDITIONAL RE- pong Damrei commune, in Kratie province yesterday. photo supplied wasted on a government that has declined to comment. tions to an under-secretary of PORTING BY DAVID BOYLE

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Business Sport UK to open investment office page - 7 Unexpected Champions League final back page Cops say pay docked for party politics

Kim Yuthana and Shane Worrell

THE ruling Cambodian People’s Par- ty has been accused of cutting the salaries of national police officers to help fund its political campaign ahead of the country’s commune elections on June 3. A police official at the National Police Commissionaire’s internal security department, who did not want to be named, told the Post yesterday that officers were being forced to “contribute” as much as 100,000 riel (US$25) per month to the party. The enforced deductions had begun last month and would continue until next year’s general election, regardless of their political affiliations, he said. “I’m not really happy with my money cut, because our salary – like other civil servants – is a small amount,” he said. “It is not a good policy for the ruling CPP; they can find other ways to support the party.” The officer added that the contri- butions were being deducted on a sliding scale based on position, from as much as 100,000 riel per month for higher ranking posts, to 10,000 riel for ordinary officers. Another police officer, who also asked not to be named, said he had been told the money would be used

A soldier speaks yesterday to villagers being evicted from Kratie province’s Chhlong district, the site of a deadly shooting incident on Wednesday. HENG CHIVOAN Continues on page 4 Mourning villagers flee

May Titthara and David Boyle On Wednesday, joint forces esti- group Adhoc and was still visibly in attempted to help villagers in their dis- of 15 soldiers who opened fire on them mated to have numbered close to shock, said before the forces moved pute with the Russian company when they refused to stop moving. UNDREDS of people fled 1,000 moved in, firing on those who in, residents were given no opportu- Casotim – which has a 15,000-hectare “Admidst [sic] the gunfire, several in fear yesterday from the stood in their way, to evict about 1,000 nity to leave. economic land concession about 15 villagers, including 14-year-old Heng village in Kratie province families from Pro Ma village in Chh- “They warned us that if we dared to kilometres from the village. Chantha, took cover outside where a bloody security long district’s Damrei commune. walk into this area [where we live], In a statement released yesterday, Chantha’s home. They took shelter forcesH crackdown the previous morn- Fresh details emerged yesterday of they would open fire. They sprayed rights group Licadho said based on on an elevated rattan bed, which was ing left a 14-year-old girl dead. what happened during the crackdown, gunfire at us to threaten us while we collated eyewitness accounts, forces partially obscured by a pile of wood,” Joint police and military police which authorities have said was to cap- entered, meanwhile, a girl was injured had surrounded the village the night the statement reads. forces locked down the area where ture the five masterminds of Demo- in her stomach at her house,” he said, before the eviction, blocked off all Licadho president Pung Chhiv Kek a land dispute has raged this year, cratic Association, including leader Bun referencing young Heng Chantha, access points and moved in the next said a witness claimed a soldier and claimed they had arrested sev- Ratha, who has fled into hiding. who died after being shot. morning, firing as they did. approached the pile of wood and shot en villagers accused of plotting a Pale-faced 44-year-old villager Pov Pov Ban said he was unaware of any The statement said 20 villagers broke Heng Chantha when she got up to see succession with the group Demo- Ban, who along with 10 others had plan by Bun Ratha to create an auton- away from a group of hundreds as forc- cratic Association. taken refuge at an office of the rights omous state, saying he had merely es moved in and confronted a column Continues on page 2 Sprinting to a dream Brush strokes On the menu Comic twist Village studios on the rise Balinese delight News from the stage 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2012 National Teachers to take leave and work in election

Stuart White and Meas Sokchea

ENS of thousands of teachers are expected to walk out of classrooms this month and takeT jobs working as officials in commune elections, cam- paigning for which begins today, says the National Election Committee. According to Mom Soth, a director of training with the NEC, there are more than 116,000 jobs available, man- ning polling stations and election offices. An estimated 55 per cent of them will be filled A soldier prevents United Nations representatives from entering Prama village yesterday in Kratie province’s by teachers, he said. Chhlong district, where a teenage girl was shot dead by soldiers on Wednesday. heng chivoan However, if NEC figures are correct, more than 60,000 A woman casts her ballot at a polling station at the base of the Preah teachers will be working on Vihear temple in July 2008. reuters the election, some for a few Mourning villagers flee months. By comparison, the wouldn’t seriously impede for teachers to be leaving their Ministry of Education em- student’s learning. posts. Continued from page 2 tie dispute and the 1967 Samlaut that has been used against activ- ployed a total of about 94,000 “The classes are not closed,” “In a few months, there will uprising, a rebellion in Battam- ists and protesters fighting teachers for the 2006-2007 he said. “The classes will still be high school exams, and what was happening. Heng bang preceding the Cambodian industrial disputes, land conces- run; [we] have plenty of re- normally, students need an Chantha later died in hospital. civil war that was brutally sup- sions or illegal logging. If the NEC will try to placement teachers.” extra class to prepare for the Speaking from hiding, Bun pressed by government forces. As the shooting made head- take out teachers for “Otherwise, who is able to exam,” he said. “But if the Ratha said he had not measured “That was the beginning of lines in the global media yester- ... months, then of do these jobs?” he asked, not- teachers are going to work any land to distribute to villag- the revolution of the Khmer day – largely because it comes course it will affect ing that teachers are often the for the NEC, then it will affect ers but merely helped villagers Rouge; it was about land as well, just weeks after the slaying of the education of the most qualified candidates in schools and students.” submit documents to authori- similar circumstances, land prominent environmental students. rural areas. “This is not a good idea,” he ties in their dispute with grabbing issues,” he said. activist Chut Wutty – interna- UNESCO statistics show that added. Casotim. Though villagers, after under- tional organisations con- school year, leading some to Cambodia has nearly 50 pri- Tep Nytha, secretary general “It seems ironic that I was going frisking and rigorous demned the violence. wonder whether Cambodia’s mary school students for every of the NEC, says that overall alleged to have formed an auton- checks, were allowed to attend a The UN Office of the High educational system has the teacher, a figure more than demand for qualified election omous area – how easily it was funeral yesterday for Heng Commissioner for Human teachers to spare. twice as high as neighbour- workers has grown, but teach- established. I did not have any Chantha at Pro Ma village, rights Rights said it had on several “If the NEC will try to take ing Vietnam’s, and three times ers aren’t specifically targeted money to buy weapons to make groups, the press and even Unit- occasions in the past urged out teachers for a number of as high as that of the United for recruitment. a movement,” he said. ed Nations personnel were kept Cambodian authorities to pre- months, then of course it will States. Theoretically, a smaller “The recruitment is open Bun Ratha said he had already strictly away from the area. vent law enforcement officials affect the education of the ratio of students to teachers, for the public to apply, not been imprisoned once before, When asked why people had from using excessive force. students,” said Eang Vuthy, a UNESCO materials say, “en- just teachers, but mainly and authorities had tried to been prevented from visiting “Yet another lethal event in program manager for Bridg- ables the teacher to pay more teachers have the abilities to catch him “many times” the site, Ministry of Interior such a short period of time is a es Across Borders, an NGO attention to individual stu- work for the NEC,” he said. between 2004 and 2012. spokesman Khieu Sopheak really worrying and sad develop- that deals with education ad- dents, which may in the long “And when they work for the Anonymous Chhlong district said it was standard procedure ment,” the UNOHCHR said in vocacy. run result in a better perfor- NEC, they have to ask per- military officials said they had so to have a police line, which an email, adding their officials “In Cambodia, we have a mance of the pupils”. mission from their respec- far caught seven male suspects would likely be maintained for had been barred from investigat- huge number of students in According to Eang Vuthy, tive institutions, but the NEC since the shooting: Hen Thoeun, a short time only. ing the scene but would meet the classrooms.” now is an especially poor time isn’t involved in that.” 31; Mao Veasna, 32; Khan Sovan, “I think that [it is] the police provincial governor today. Mak Vann, a secretary of 54; Poum Vanak, 53; Sanh Khen, line, after the crime scene hap- Global Witness, the US Embas- state with the Ministry of Edu- 27; Touch Ream, 48; and Khourn pened. We are working. ... Even sy in Phnom Penh and the Cam- cation, said he wasn’t familiar Sroeun, whose age is unknown. in New York, they have police bodian Center for Human Rights with the details of the matter, Independent political analyst lines,” he said. were among the other groups to but that teachers’ contribu- Lao Mong Hay suggested there The shooting is the latest in a release statements condemning tions to free elections were were parallels between the Kra- wave of bloody violence this year the killing. important, and their absences

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Business Sport Trade push towards China page 7 Drogba buries his demons page 24 Police raid ‘extortion’ racket

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

ANOTHER massive crackdown on Taiwanese and Chinese nationals accused of operating a Phnom Penh- based international extortion ring – the third in less than a year – yielded 49 arrests over the weekend, police said yesterday. Lieutenant General Chhay Sinarith, director of the Internal Security Department at the Ministry of Interior, said the suspects, who were identified to Cambodian authorities by Chinese police, were arrested by his forces in raids on eight different sites in the Chamkarmorn, Tuol Kork and Sen Sok districts of Phnom Penh. “This was the third time our Cam- bodian police have cracked down and arrested these Chinese mafia groups in Cambodia,” Chhay Sinarith told the Post. “They were using VoIP [Voice over Internet Protocol, a type of internet phone service] from Cambodia to threaten and extort money from many people in China and Taiwan.” Authorities arrested nearly 200 sus- pected mafia members using the Birds of remembrance Continues on page 4 Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema (fourth from the left) and his wife release birds at Choeung Ek yesterday for the Day of Anger. HONG MENEA Story on page 4 The Kratie conspiracy May Titthara dian government as of June 2000 as a 20 per cent stakeholder in Casotim, the rest HE man police allege was Accused secessionist to meet with the press of which was Russian-owned. behind a so-called secession on villagers with automatic weapons, the operation have said it was an in a safe place, and he will be able to Officials from the Ministry of Econ- plan in Kratie province – an killing 14-year-old Heng Chantha. eviction conducted on behalf of the hold a press conference on Monday or omy and Finance could not be reached accusation used to justify a The Ministry of Interior said they company Casotim – which has a Tuesday to demonstrate that the gov- to confirm whether or not the govern- crackdownT in which a teenager was ordered the operation because a group nearby 15,000-hectare economic ernment allegation against him – he ment still had a stake is Casotim. killed last week – plans to hold a press known as Democratic Association, land concession and long-running did not commit as alleged,” he said. Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu conference to defend himself in the next which they alleged was led by Bun land dispute with the village. “He had just been in the area Sopheak alleged in a statement released two days, his brother said yesterday. Ratha, was planning to create an inde- Bun Thav, 22, said his older brother from March 10, 2012, to May 6, on the same day as the crackdown, that Hundreds of heavily armed police pendent state in the village. Bun Ratha – who is now in hiding – did 2012. How could he establish an there were four other Democratic Asso- and military police assisted by a heli- Eight people have been arrested in not care if holding a press conference autonomous area during that short ciation ringleaders: Bun Chhorn, 55, copter stormed Pro Ma village in Chh- connection with the accusations. led to his arrest because he wanted to period?” he said. Sok Tong, 61, Ma Chhang, 47, and Khat long district’s Kampong Damrei com- But villagers and an anonymous publicly clear his name. A 2000 International Monetary Fund mune on Wednesday and opened fire military police official involved in “My older brother Bun Ratha is living staff country report listed the Cambo- Continues on page 2

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prasac.com.kh | [email protected] 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 21, 2012 National Going Gaga over morality Handcuffed men flee scene after stabbing the authorities, it does “not than a video of Daniel Pearl exhibit any nudity or lewd having his head cut off. conduct, which may be of- Well, ho hum, it seems the May Titthara whose hand was injured, were Regional Insider fensive to morals and good force is with them – or at recovering in Kampong Speu customs” in the Philippines. least, the fear. TWO members of the Disabled provincial hospital last night. Roger Mitton If you wish to check on A few Gaga groupies have Survivors’ Association were on Villager Cheam Roeung said these morals and good cus- come out online, effectively the run last night – possibly in police and military police had toms, pop into any of the waving their knickers in the handcuffs – after allegedly stab- arrested and handcuffed two T may seem that chaos Germanotta, is scheduled to bars along Burgos Street in ether and saying they are also bing two villagers before fleeing men who later ran away while in Europe is about to play in Manila tonight and Makati near the concert lo- willing to die if that’s what it in the latest chapter of a long- still handcuffed. bring down the global tomorrow, and then, after cation in the Mall of Asia, or takes to allow her to perform running land dispute in Kam- Touch Soeu Ly, president of financial order and that more gigs in Bangkok and perhaps take a short journey in Jakarta. pot’s Chhouk district. the Disabled Survivors’ Associa- Irising tensions in the South Singapore, to strut her stuff to Fields Avenue in Angeles. But no one believes them, Village representative Moul tion, said he did not know what China Sea presage warfare in in Jakarta on June 3. There you will discover whereas based on past Saroeung, 39, said an alterca- sparked the incident, but sug- our backyard. Why the objections and conduct of such an extreme actions, everyone believes tion had occurred in Techo An- gested the villagers may have But set aside the offshore raucous protests? Because lewdness that it might even the FDI. long Khmeng Leng village after hit the association members, aggro and Eurozone turmoil Gaga and her promoters have make Lady Gaga revise her Truth to tell, most Indo- the two villagers had tried to who are not disabled former for a moment and focus in- choreographed her stage routine. nesians almost certainly prevent two members of the as- soldiers themselves. stead on the more intriguing show to stimulate precisely And your visit will also re- couldn’t care less one way or sociation from tending to crops The association, which was Eroszone, which has sud- this kind of outrage. veal that most patrons are the other, although, like their on 20 hectares of disputed land. awarded the tract as a social denly become a focus of at- She’s no dumb broad. She’s Filipino males, all of good Filipino counterparts, they “The villagers told them the land concession for injured tention, particularly in the loud. She’s in your face. She’s Catholic stock, of course. would like more action taken land belongs to them, but the soldiers, had in turn given it Philippines and Indonesia. like a triple espresso laced Meantime, over in Jakarta, against religious and politi- two members of the association to two former military men, a Although these are green with flaming cognac. the city police have refused cal leaders who transgress. took knives to cut them, severely gesture that had been recogn- and pleasant lands of largely As a chart-topping singer to issue a permit for Gaga’s As revelations in recent wounding them,” she said. ised by authorities, he said. tolerant, friendly people, who writes most of her own concert due, they claim, to times have shown, far too “The dispute has existed “The villagers have occu- they both harbour a minor- material, Gaga has gar- objections from community many Catholic bishops and since 2007. Authorities have pied the members’ land for a ity of religious extremists nered global fame by the leaders, including the august Muslim mullahs have been promised they would settle the long time, and the issue is yet who routinely take umbrage well-worn path of being as National Ulema Council. getting away with the most dispute, but they haven’t.” to be settled.” at any display of sexuality, crudely provocative as is As well, but more regretta- appalling kind of lewd be- Seng Thav, 49, who received Chhouk district governor visual or vocal. legally possible. bly, activists belonging to the haviour, often involving the head, leg and chest injuries in Him Ham said his authorities Over the past week, these In the Philippines, which Front for the Defence of Is- sexual abuse of minors. the attack, and Soeung Yan, 49, are investigating the case. divinely blessed folks have is 80 per cent Catholic, and lam have said they are “ready What is galling is the hy- been raising a stink at the Indonesia, 86 per cent Mus- to be thrown in jail and be pocrisy of these people and prospect of the bisexual lim, Gaga’s sexually brazen killed” if that’s what it takes their followers, who express singer and provocateur, and religiously insensitive to stop Gaga. bogus horror at any hint of Lady Gaga, staging her lyrics and outfits have ruffled They assert that she is the sexual permissiveness, in- Villagers vs bulldozers “Born this Way” concert in feathers, just as they are in- “devil’s messenger” and that cluding Lady Gaga’s concert, their capital cities. tended to do. she appears on stage wear- yet engage it in themselves. Khouth Sophak Chakrya survive without farmland?” Gaga, an Italian-American Her Manila show will go ing only “a bra and panties” Khan Chern, one of the Kouy whose actual name is Stefani ahead tonight provided, say – a vision far worse to them [email protected] ONE hundred and thirty-five villagers from Brame vil- ethnic Kouy families from the lage, said that nearly a half- Brame, Srae Preang and Bos hectare of his farmland was Tom villages in Preah Vihear’s bulldozed and taken without Tbeng Meanchey district payment, and that the bull- gathered on Saturday and yes- dozers only stopped after Accused secessionist to meet press terday to protest the Lan Feng villagers went to ask local au- Company’s alleged bulldozing thorities to intervene. Continues from page 1 they were charged with four or “When we heard the sound Chan Sovet, an investigator for of their farmland. Pich Theara, 42, one of Lan five cases,” he said. of explosions [gunfire], myself the rights group Adhoc, said the Phan Suket, 23, the represen- Feng Company’s two foremen Saroeun, 42. All of them have Police have said the eight and my sister knelt down area – which was closed to tative of the 135 families, said who allegedly levelled the area, thus far evaded arrest. male suspects being detained below the house together, but human rights groups and the that Lan Feng Company em- denied bulldozing any of the Kratie provincial court depu- are Touch Riem, 33, Kan Sovann, my sister was shot,” she said. United Nations Office of the ployed 10 bulldozers to level villagers’ farmland. ty prosecutor Norng Thuch 54, Pom Vannak, 24, Poan Sroe- “I would like to call for the gov- High Commission for Human their farmland – consisting of “I was employed to bulldoze Banchak Santepheap said yes- un, 32, Mao Veasna, 33, Hang ernment to find justice for my Rights – remained under police one roughly 600-square-metre the company’s land, an area 20 terday that eight other suspects Phal, 48, Heng Thoeun, 31, and younger sister, because she lockdown yesterday. plot per family – to make way metres wide and 5,500 metres had been arrested since the Sa Roeun, 24. should not have been killed “We are concerned about for a sugar plantation. long, but I accidentally drove operation began and were Heng Srey Mom, the older like an animal.” armed forces who try to arrest the “Their [the Kouy’s] living is the car across their rice field,” being held temporarily in jail sister of Heng Chantha, said the Kratie provincial governor Sar villagers that want to live in the dependent on cultivation, but he said. “We neither damaged for questioning. 14-year-old was innocent of Chamrong refused to comment area, and have asked the author- now the company bulldozed their plants, nor their rice field, “I do not remember what any crime and yet had been on Sunday because he said he ities to stop continually appre- their farmland,” he said. “So because they had not been they were accused of, because shot dead. was too busy. hending them,” he said. how do our next generations ploughed or sowed.” Malnutrition hampering development Anwar summonsed again Business – page 7 World – page 13 N U MB E R 1380 ssue I tuesday, may 22, 2012 Successful People Read The Post 4000 RIELS

Sport Spurs sweep Clippers but the Heat get level back page Women in upper union positions vital

Shane Worrell and Mom Kunthear

FEMALE union leaders in the garment industry – where women con- stitute 90 per cent of the work force – are effective at bargaining for better working conditions, but their voices aren’t being heard in a union land- scape dominated by men, a labour expert said yesterday. Veasna Nuon, co-author of Build- ing Unions in Cambodia: History, Challenges, Strategies, said even in factories where women are elected as union leaders, they are often una- ble to effect much change because bargaining usually takes place further up the union chain, where men hold most positions of power. “In terms of union representation, there are more women at a lower level,” he said. “But the number of women elected at federation level is less than 10 per cent,” he said. “They have . . . almost nothing when it comes to national representation . . . men are making decisions for women.” Cambodia’s garment industry has an estimated 400,000 employees working in hundreds of factories. But while the vast majority of these workers are women, little more than half of elected union representatives at the factory level are female, Veasna Nuon said. One of these union leaders is Ti Sok- hun, a 36-year-old garment worker who works at a factory in Phnom Penh. Insuring a good view After seven years of frustration at Men attend the opening ceremony of a new insurance company at Canadia Tower yesterday in Phnom Penh. HENG CHIVOAN Story - page 7 Continues on page 2 Tales of brutality surface

May Titthara in another place, I would not live in Women stripped, handcuffed: Kratie villagers the area,” she said. ILLAGERS detained during Kratie provincial governor Sar Cham- a bloody crackdown in Kra- handcuffed them and left the mini autonomous state. Sotheavy, our money and tied our hands rong – who took the post on Friday, tie province last week in females in broad daylight for hours a 19-year-old who requested her real behind us and ordered us to stand replacing recently deceased governor which a 14-year-old was while the males were not freed until name be concealed, said she had in broad daylight for two or three Kham Phem – said the forces had only shotV dead have accused security forc- the end of the day. “never seen such brutality” as the vio- hours,” she said. been authorised to search for weapons. es of brutal acts of cruelty, including Almost 1,000 police and military lence the forces employed while Sopheap, 63, who also requested “If the forces hit, harassed and forcing pregnant women to stand police officers stormed the village, storming the village of about 1,000 her real identity be concealed, said forced people to undress, it is not a naked in the sun for hours. where residents have a longstand- families – which led to the death of the villagers would file a complaint policy,” he said. The villagers from Pro Ma village ing land dispute with the company 14-year-old Heng Chantha. against the perpetrators. The operation, ordered by a joint in Chhlong district’s Kampong Casotim, at about 8:30am last “It is so difficult to forget the event. “I experienced Pol Pot’s regime, but committee of the Ministry of Interior, Damrei commune have alleged that Wednesday in an operation they They pointed their guns at me and it was not as cruel as this. Now that the national police and the provincial military police and police forced said was to arrest the ringleaders ordered many women to take their I’ve tasted being handcuffed and men and women to strip naked, of a group attempting to create a shirt and underwear off, then seized bound in the hot daylight, if I had land Continues on page 2

National national 'factory' thugs hurt strikers page - 3 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 22, 2012 National Women in upper union positions vital: expert

Continued from page 1 “At a factory level, it is more democratic than at a national issues her co-workers faced, Ti level,” he said. “[At a national Sokhun decided last year it was level], there are so many issues time for change. that are not met,” he said. “It’s “I couldn’t stand to see female very broad.” workers constantly threatened Perpetuating the problem and looked down upon by fac- were barriers preventing tory officials,” she said. women from climbing the “I asked my fellow workers if union ladder. they would support me to be “The union job is not an easy their leader in the factory, even job. People have competing though I didn’t particularly want interests, it’s long hours, volun- to do it.” tary, and [many women] have Ti Sokhun stormed to victory family commitments and often in an internal Cambodian Fed- no support from their families to eration for Workers’ Rights lead- become a union leader at this ership vote in October to level,” he said. become her factory’s first female Dave Welsh, country director union representative. of the American Center for Inter- It was only then she began to national Labor Solidarity, said notice things change for women the industry faces a huge chal- – and even men – in her factory. lenge in getting women more Garment workers make athletic apparel at a factory in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district last year. will baxter “The difference between involved in the labour move- before I was union leader and ment at all levels. the labour law that require gen- Nuon wrote that Cambodia’s Cambodian Confederation of fident when it comes to being after was enormous,” she said. “There needs to be more gender sensitivity.” labour movement was “essen- Unions, said he encouraged involved, he said. “The factory officials, who had der diversity,” he said. Under Cambodia’s Labour tially a women’s movement such participation within his “We need to [nurture] their not paid attention to our demands “Just from a morale point of Law, factories must allow wom- under male leadership”. confederation. “We need to have leadership and [encourage par- before, began to listen. They view, if you’re looking across en to breast feed, they must pro- “It would augur well for more women union leaders, ticipation],” he said. stopped threatening workers, so the trade union movement vide them Western toilets and unions to adopt policies and because more than 90 per cent Ti Sokhun will be one person more joined the union – now we and thinking: ‘We’re all wom- they cannot order them to lift strategies that would enhance of garment workers are women. relieved when more of her co- have more freedom, attendance en. Why aren’t any of us in heavy boxes if they have recent- women’s participation of wom- If their leaders are women, they workers become involved in bonuses and other things.” leadership positions?’ then ly given birth or miscarried. Pro- en in union activities.” can easily understand women’s the union movement. Achieving major changes that it’s an issue. tection from sexual harassment “I don’t think anything has issues,” he said. “Sometimes I feel tired and I would affect the whole industry “There are certain issues that is also clearly spelled out. changed since then,” he said Women are often lacking want to abandon this work, but are much more difficult to require gender sensitivity – there In his book with Melisa Ser- yesterday. inside knowledge of how unions I think there will be no one else achieve, Veasna Nuon said. are certain issues embedded in rano published in 2010, Veasna Rong Chhun, president of the work and are therefore not con- to help the workers,” she said. Ieng Sary health woes Tales of brutality surface in Kratie Continued from page 1 lies that had lived in the area sion had led to industrial-scale since 2006. logging in Chhlong and Snuol governor, was launched under Others who had migrated to districts where officials respon- the pretext that a group called the area from Kampong Cham sible for the forest became “far prompt adjournment the Democratic Association, led and other provinces after being more ambivalent”. by Bun Ratha, was provoking a tricked by Bun Ratha had been “Anyone with a tractor or truck Bridget Di Certo separatist movement. sent home, he said. that could carry felled trees from But villagers have repeatedly But a 2010 Phd thesis suggests the forest to the Mekong was ORMER Khmer Rouge said Bun Ratha, who evaded their migration there had been able to pay a fee to Casotim to go Minister for For- arrest along with the four other economically motivated. into the forests, cut wood, and eign Affairs Ieng Sary alleged ringleaders of the group, Titled The Geographies of then sell it to the company. As has been undergo- was merely helping them stand Evasion: The Development many as 50 locally owned trac- ingF emergency treatment for up to the company Casotim. Industry and Property Rights tors and trucks participated in bronchitis since Thursday, Eight people have been arrest- Interventions in Early 21st Cen- this business,” the thesis reads. according to a medical report ed as a result of the crackdown. tury Cambodia, the thesis found Villagers had developed the read aloud at the Khmer Rouge Touch Sok, 52, alleged that that significant numbers of perception that the military tribunal yesterday. during the operation, forces had migrants, most from Kampong and the Forestry Administra- Judges adjourned proceed- also confiscated rice and gaso- Cham, had moved to Chhlong tion, which had become the ings until Wednesday, when line as well as slaughtered their district after Casotim was equivalent of informal regula- they will hear from doctors poultry. “I seem defeated, but if awarded a logging concession tors and tax collectors, worked who have been treating the I am not allowed to live in the there and in Snuol district. for the concessionaires, the octogenarian at the Khmer- area, where can I live to farm and Part of the thesis, by Robin Bid- thesis found. Soviet Friendship Hospital since feed myself? I have to return to dulph of Sweden’s University of “For the villagers, these sol- his evacuation to the facility. the area when the situation Gothenburg, examines the diers were known simply as the “Having read the report that becomes normal,” he said. impact that Casotim’s 124,000- ‘Casotim soldiers’,” it says, refer- clearly indicates that Ieng Sary Sar Chamrong said forces had hectare logging concession, ring specifically to the military. cannot be discharged from Former Khmer Rouge Foreign Minister Ieng Sary attends a hearing at begun pulling out of the area but granted in the 1990s, had on the Ly Hout, a representative of the hospital until [Tuesday], the ECCC in 2010. eccc/pool/mak Remissa that some would remain to pro- local population. Casotim declined to com- the chamber now decided tect the safety of some 200 fami- The thesis found the conces- ment yesterday. that [Monday and Tuesday] thing previously barred by Open Society Justice Initia- proceedings cannot go on,” Calmette Hospital. tive trial monitor Clair Duffy Trial Chamber president Nil “My impression is that my said the decision to adjourn Nonn said. client is probably best to have was “absolutely correct”. Ieng Sary defence counsel the week off and rest,” Karnavas “We are exploring issues Michael Karnavas told the said. “And there will be no waiv- of policies, and authority court that he had er [of his right to be over individuals. It is very been blocked from present at trial] pro- hard for the Trial Chamber visiting his client in vided for witnesses to proceed without him,” hospital. testifying to his case Duffy said. “It would be good particularly.” “If this unravels over a peri- if the lawyers were Karnavas said the od of time, there might be oth- informed about former diplomat er measures the court needs his medical condi- was very active in to consider, like severing him tion. Normally, we his defence and from the proceedings, and are not; normally, we are kept gave lawyers guidance and ad- that will come down to what in the dark,” Karnavas said of vice during proceedings. his health conditions are and his client, who has been hos- “With his present condition, how likely they are to worsen,” pitalised several times since we don’t know yet how ca- she added. his detention at the tribunal pable he is to follow proceed- Ieng Sary’s wife, Ieng Thirith, began in 2007. ings,” Karnavas said. “If he falls has already been severed from Speaking to the Post by tele- asleep in the holding cell, that proceedings in Case 002 for phone yesterday, Karnavas is not active participation. health reasons. The “first lady said that he had visited his “That would be nothing but of the regime” has been diag- client at the Khmer-Soviet a charade to suggest that he is nosed with dementia believed Villagers are forced to leave Pro Ma village, in Kratie province’s Chhlong district last week, during a military- Friendship Hospital – some- following the proceedings.” to be caused by Alzeheimer’s. led eviction which resulted in the killing of a 14-year-old girl. heng chivoan THE PHNOM PENH POST june 4, 2012 3 National Radio daze Stations put ‘Outsiders’ denied right to vote kibosh on May Titthara and David Boyle Kampong Damrei commune, said poll news Kratie there were 264 families registered in Pro Ma village and 180 who had yet to OSTS of a radio show UST under three weeks ago, resi- be recognised. scheduled to broadcast dents in Pro Ma village were run- “I have requested for those families Hcommune election ning for their lives as security to the provincial governor already, news yesterday were forced to Jforces opened fire on them with and I hope that next election they can play music instead after pres- automatic weapons, killing a 14-year- vote,” he said. sure from the government, its old girl. Im Many, Kratie observer for the elec- spokesman told the Post. About 1,000 police, military pol- tion monitoring group Comfrel, said Pa Nguon Teang, executive ice and soldiers stormed their vill- about 40 per cent of registered voters director of the Cambodian age, fired at them indiscriminately, in the province had forfeited their right, Centre for Independent Media, evicted hundreds of families and has largely because they were migrants who said Voice of Democracy, an maintained a significant presence had no identity card, were confused independent media outlet, had ever since. about voting or simply had no will to. planned to broadcast election As the most recent victims in a ser- In Pro Ma, the only people who news on Sarika FM 106.5 in ies of violent crackdowns against were allowed to vote were the fami- Phnom Penh and Angkor communities protesting against land lies that originally settled there after Ratha FM 95.5 in Siem Reap. encroachments in Kratie province, the Khmer Rouge in what is known as Management of both stat- their vote in yesterday’s commune Old Pro Ma village, which was not at- ions, however, intervened to elections could have been telling. tacked during the May 16 crackdown. stop the content being aired. But about 180 families in Pro Ma Lai Hit comes from one of those “The ministry said all broad- village, which lies inside Chhlong dis- Houy Lai Hin (centre), the mother of Heng Chantha, who was shot dead by security forces families. Like everyone else in the area, casts of the election were not last month in Kratie province, speaks to the Post yesterday. david boyle trict’s Kampong Damrei commune he had no intention of revealing which allowed. They said it was a in an area that has been deforested The migrants to Pro Ma established Military police have maintained a party he voted for, but said he was well National Election Committee as far as the eye can see, are not even three sub-villages: Chrak Dambang heavy presence in the area since the equipped to make a good choice. regulation for two days,” he considered residents and thus do not point, Andong Chrov and Sre Chin operation and many, such as 19-year- “If they do not do what they promised said, adding that the Phnom have the right to vote. Phoeng. None of these villages have old Moeun Rin, are nervous that hav- – they said they would reduce corrup- Penh station had aired music, Duch Kunthear, 60, who came to Pro been officially recognised, stoking anxi- ing migrated, they still have no formal tion – I will not support them any more, while the Siem Reap station Ma in 2006 from Takeo province during ety that they will be brutally evicted, just recognition as voting citizens. because it is my right,” Lai Hit said. closed for the day. a wave of migration to the remote vil- as about 200 other families, deemed “I’ve lived here since I was 12, but my Unofficial results yesterday sug- A spokesman from Angkor lage, said yesterday he had been wait- “newcomers”, were on May 16. commune chief did not recognise me. gested the ruling Cambodian People’s Ratha said the station’s trans- ing ever since for the acting village chief The operation was conducted on the The reason I want to vote is because I Party had won all 46 positions as com- mitter had been damaged. to formally recognise him as a resident. pretext of foiling a secessionist plot, want to show other people I am safe mune chief in Kratie province. Information Minister Khieu “I don’t want anybody looking down but villagers and rights groups alleged and I will not be forcibly evicted from Cambodia’s main opposition, the Kanharith and Sarika execu- on us any more, because we have lived it was a forced eviction ordered by the my village as [others were] the previ- Sam Raisy Party, picked up 70 coun- tives could not be reached. here since a long time ago. They should government on behalf of the logging ous time,” he said. cil seats, while the royalist Norodom SHANE WORRELL allow us to vote,” he said. and agro-business firm Casotim. Chheng Chhat, the deputy chief of Ran-ariddh Party won just two.