LICADHO is gravely concerned by the killings of two people during a land eviction in Preah Vihear province and calls for the government to quickly launch a full investigation into the shootings. An initial investigation by LICADHO indicates the excessive use of force by the authorities, and the unlawful participation of soldiers in the eviction. In addition, the eviction violated an agreement signed by local authorities stating that the villagers could remain temporarily on the land until a resolution to the dispute was found.

The shootings occurred on the morning of Thursday, November 15, when more than 150 police, military police, soldiers and Forestry Administration officers violently evicted a group of 317 families who had settled on land in Choam Ksan district of Preah Vihear. According to eyewitnesses interviewed by LICADHO, the authorities made no attempt to warn or negotiate with the people on the day of the eviction.

A man, Oeun Hen, aged 31, and a woman, Thoeun Chem, 29, were shot dead during the eviction. The circumstances of Oeun Hen's shooting are unclear but, according to witnesses, Thoeun Chem was shot in the chest when she protested against the arrest of her husband, Moeun Chanthon, during the eviction; she was unarmed at the time, according to witnesses.

Within an hour or two of Oeun Hen's death, his family were instructed by authorities to quickly cremate his body near the eviction site; there was no time for them to arrange a proper Buddhist ceremony for him. Similary, the family of Thoeun Chem - who died in a village health clinic a few hours after being shot - was forced to quickly bury her body near a pagoda.

LICADHO has confirmed at least six others were injured during the eviction; five of them were shot and the sixth fell unconscious after being beaten. Two of the injured are in the provincial hospital in a serious condition, suffering bullet wounds to their legs. Two others were treated at the district hospital and discharged. The remaining two, also with bullet wounds to their legs, were treated at the provincial hospital but - against the advice of doctors - were returned to police detention.

At least 11 persons, including the two injured who are in police custody, have been arrested. Eight of them were arrested during the eviction and the other three, including a provincial deputy governor, a day earlier.

The eviction followed several days of tension between local authorities and the 317 families, who had recently come to the area from other parts of Cambodia in search of land. The families settled on vacant land near Sraham village, Kandout commune, but were told by authorities that they could not stay there.

Negotiations were held on November 10, after the families had barricaded roads in the area to protest authorities' threats to arrest one of the representatives of the families. The negotiations led to an agreement signed on that day that the authorities would permit the people to stay temporarily on the land until a resolution was found, and that no violence would be used against them. The agreement was signed by the village, commune and district chiefs and several military officers, and by representatives of the families.

However, on Wednesday, November 14, authorities arrested two community representatives as well as provincial deputy governor Meas Savoeun. Angered by this, and considering it a violation of the agreement, the families began blockading roads again.

The following morning, without any warning according to witnesses, the authorities moved in to evict the families and began shooting. The eviction was allegedly led by a military commander and most of the forces who participated it in were soldiers, according to witnesses.

LICADHO urges:

- An investigation by national authorities into the events before, during and after the eviction. The investigation should focus on: which members of the authorities opened fire and why?; why were soldiers unlawfully deployed in an eviction of civilians, and on whose orders?; why was no attempt made to continue negotiations with the people on the day of the eviction rather than the use of violence to remove them?

- The immediate transfer of the two injured persons who are in police custody to the provincial hospital.

- The transfer of all arrested persons to the provincial court, if the police seek charges to be laid against them, or their release from police custody.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Kek Galabru, LICADHO president, 012-940-645
▪ Am Sam Ath, Monitoring Technical Supervisor, 012-327-770
▪ Mathieu Pellerin, Monitoring Consultant, 012-426-787

PDF: Download full statement in English - Download full statement in Khmer