Sparrows Released During Vigil at Prey Sar Prison near Phnom Penh
Published on 10 July 2006
On July 6, 2006, more than 250 family members, villagers from Sambok Chab, NGOs workers and union workers gathered in front of Prey Sar prison to demand the immediate and unconditional release of three detainees. The three had been arrested and detained in relation to the Sambok Chap village eviction which ended on June 6, 2006 in an excessive display of force by the authorities. The event was organized by several NGOs and was initiated by the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC).
Hem Chhum (47), a journalist from the newspaper "Samrek Yuthetor" (Scream for Justice), was arrested on 7 June. Sambok Chab villagers, Chan Ra (48) and Chhen Sovan (48), were arrested on 6 June during a forced eviction by 700 police and military forces. The men have been accused by Sambok Chap village authorities for participating to the riot at the village on May 31, which caused the destruction of the authorities' administration building and a barrier fence enclosing the village.
Sok Kolyan, Phnom Penh municipal public prosecutor has charged the men with wrongful destruction to property, under Article 52 of the UNTAC Law. On June 8, the three were sent in per-trial detention to Prey Sar Prison in accordance with Article 14 of the UNTAC Law.
Whilst keeping a vigil outside the prison, grief-stricken family members of the three detainees spoke to the crowd and the media. "Now that our husbands are in prison, there will be no one to make money to support our families," said the wives of the three detainees. Family members maintained that the three were innocent, thanking NGOs for their support and pleading with the government to free them.
The gathering ended with a ceremony at a nearby pagoda with the detainees' familiesDuring the gathering, sparrows and pigeons were released to highlight the 30 days the three have been detained. NGO workers and village representatives also signed three yellow T-shirts as a show of solidarity and support for the release of the three detainees. The T-shirts were meant to be given to the three detainees but prison officials refused to receive them. However, three packages containing food, mosquito nets and soap were accepted by prison officials to pass on to the three.
During the past year LICADHO recorded 116 cases of people being detained in prison for land related issues. This apparent misuse of the law against communities affected by land grabbing, coupled with the often violent methods of carrying out forced evictions creates a climate of fear in the minds of land owners who see their constitutional right to own and live on their land taken away.
