Friday, June 29, 2012
Boeung Kak 13 Vow To Continue Demonstrations
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| As the 13 women gathered for a meeting Thursday, Tho Davy, 25, said that her time in jail had “not traumatized” her, but had instead strengthened her will to continue protesting. (Photo: by Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer) |
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| Lao Meng Khin (R) and Choeung Sopheap (L) are the root cause of the land-grabbing in Boeung Kak Lake with the blessing of Hun Xen |
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
“I have to join and support my people, and also I’m a member of the Boeung Kak community.”
Thirteen Boeung Kak protesters released
from jail Wednesday say they
will continue their demonstrations until they obtain more land
on a real estate development in the capital.
Representatives wasted no time
in meeting after their release from prison following a decision by the
Appeals Court Wednesday.
“The
strike to get land is legal,” said Heng Mom, one of the
representatives given reprieve from a two and a half year sentence after
a more than a month in jail. “I have to join and support my people, and
also I’m a member of the Boeung Kak community.”
The Boeung Kak development
project, which required the removal of thousands of families and the
filling in of a massive lake, has turned into a nettling problem for city and national
authorities, with a well-organized and motivated group of protesters
continuously demonstrating for housing rights against a development
company linked to a ruling party
official. The thirteen women were arrested in May
when they tried to resurrect a house that had been demolished by
authorities trying to make way for the development.
Demonstrations have often turned
violent, leading to injuries and detention, but last month’s arrests
and sentencing marked an escalation in the dispute. It also galvanized
more demonstrators, who gathered outside the court and in other public
venues in protest, even while the jailed women went on hunger strike.
As the 13 women gathered for a
meeting Thursday, Tho Davy, 25, said that her time in jail had “not traumatized” her,
but had instead strengthened
her will to continue protesting. “If Prime Minister Hun Sen has a
solution for Boeung Kak lake, I will stop,” she said. “If not, I will go on.”
The protesters say they want
fair demarcation of more than 12 hectares granted to families on the
133-hectare development that was granted by Hun Sen earlier this year.
That plan has met heavy criticism from families who say they were
excluded through underhanded deals and corruption.
“Some
villagers were cut from the more than 12 hectares,” said Tol
Srey Pov, another freed protester. “So we will continue our strike.”
City officials could not
immediately be reached for comment.
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