"Boeng Tamok Resident Receives Court Summons After Defending Community Bridge from Destruction", 4 July 2023

A Boeng Tamok resident received a summons to appear in a Phnom Penh court … following a clash with district authorities over a community bridge.

The Phnom Penh deputy prosecutor summoned Am Phoeun in response to a criminal complaint that she had illegally appropriated private property and used violence against rightful real estate owners. The court names the plaintiffs as Thai Ouy, Tang Kim and Ngoun Mong — whom Phoeun said she did not know…

The residents successfully prevented the security guards from destroying the bridge by gathering around 100 people to block them, Phoeun said, claiming no violence had been used by protestors.

“I am not guilty of anything, but they came to sue me for using violence on their property, even though I was the owner of the land,” she said.

…, nine other Boeng Tamok residents faced charges for protesting when authorities allegedly prevented them from repairing their homes…

Residents of Phoeun’s village of Samrong Tbong in Prek Pnov district support themselves by fishing, even as the lake around them is being filled in as numerous plots of land given to well-connected individuals.

… Licadho operations director Am Sam Ath urged for authorities to handle the matter peacefully and with empathy towards the residents at Boeng Tamok.

“I feel that there is still no solution for the people living in Boeng Tamok,” he said. “Therefore, as a civil society organization, we want to insist and ask for a peaceful and sustainable settlement.”