Cambodian authorities should help those forcibly evicted from Mittapheap 4
The 105 families of fisherfolk, beach vendors and subsistence farmers from the Cambodian village of Mittapheap 4 (Spean Ches) were forcibly evicted on 20 April 2007, to make way for development.
On the day of the evictions, around 150 members of the security forces marched on the village on the outskirts of the coastal town of Sihanoukville. They fired into the air and the ground; they beat villagers with electric batons, demolished houses and burned them. Thirteen men and five women villagers were injured, as were two policemen.
More than two years later, over 90 families still live in basic tarpaulin shelters by the road, close to where they used to live. Initially they had no drinking water supply or basic sanitation, and many of the children suffered from poor health. Now they struggle to earn a living after losing their fishing nets, and the land on which they once grew their rice and vegetables. The land they were evicted from still stands empty and unused.
On the day of the evictions, around 150 members of the security forces marched on the village on the outskirts of the coastal town of Sihanoukville. They fired into the air and the ground; they beat villagers with electric batons, demolished houses and burned them. Thirteen men and five women villagers were injured, as were two policemen.
More than two years later, over 90 families still live in basic tarpaulin shelters by the road, close to where they used to live. Initially they had no drinking water supply or basic sanitation, and many of the children suffered from poor health. Now they struggle to earn a living after losing their fishing nets, and the land on which they once grew their rice and vegetables. The land they were evicted from still stands empty and unused.