Chi KrengChi Kreng (CK) district in Siem Reap (SR) province is one of the poorest communities in the province. For years, the CK villagers have struggled to secure and protect their land rights. In 2004, the villagers had requested land titles for their 457-hectare farmland, where 175 families have occupied and farmed land since 1986.
However, on two occasions, the local authorities refused to issue the land titles despite ample evidence that the land belonged to the villagers. On March 22, 2009 approximately 100 mixed police personnel forcibly evicted the CK villagers from their homes. During this incident, police shot and seriously injured four CK villagers who were peacefully protesting the eviction.
On the same day, nine (9) CK leaders and representatives were arbitrarily arrested for robbery of rice and other criminal offences that allegedly took place on March 18, 2009. The eviction and land grabbing in CK directly involved the provincial governor and relatives to the deputy provincial governor.
From 2009 until 2011, 12 key CK leaders and representatives were arrested, charged and convicted of multiple criminal acts despite lack of evidence presented in trials. In all CK HRDs faced nine (9) separate criminal cases. Chi Kreng community attempted to free their imprisoned men, leading to violations of the community’s freedom of expression and the loss of their rice fields.
By July 2011, all detained Chi Kreng men were released from prison. LC and LICADHO continue to work with the community, recognizing that the negative impact of such an experience does not end at the close of a court case.