The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) and the Cambodian League for the Promotion & Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) condemn the forced evictions by police authorities of 168 families living near Preah Monivong Hospital in Phnom Penh.

According to residents, three people suffered injuries caused by violence committed by the police while evicting some of the families on the morning of July 2, 2006. One person was reportedly removed from the scene by police and instructed to thumbprint an agreement to leave his house, and the police threatened other residents and demolished their houses regardless of whether they consented to leave or not.

Ministry of Interior forces surrounded the area and erected road blocks for four days from June 29, 2006. They pulled down residents' houses. Police officers living in the area were reportedly threatened and forced to thumbprint agreements that they would leave their houses.
ADHOC and LICADHO consider this eviction to be a cruel and inhumane act which violates Cambodia's Constitution as well as the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, signed by Cambodia in 1992. Perpetrators of these acts should be punished according to the law.

ADHOC and LICADHO appeal to the government, the Ministry of Interior, and the Phnom Penh Municipality to immediately stop the ongoing eviction of the Monivong hospital community, and to find a proper solution for these residents rather than simply forcing them to leave against their will.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Mr. Thun Saray, president of ADHOC
▪ Dr. Kek Galabru, president of LICADHO

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