This case study discusses the mass eviction that took place on 21 March 2005 in Kbal Spean village, near the Thai-Cambodian border at Poipet. The eviction resulted in the shooting deaths of 5 villagers, injuries to at least 40 more (including 14 seriously injured) and the temporary detention of 30. Journalists and staff of various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) witnessed the eviction, and the case was heavily reported in the media. The extent of the violence and injuries shocked the public; however, to date no successful prosecutions have been brought for offences committed at the time.
The Kbal Spean case is unusual, but at the same time it also highlights the typical fate poor communities can suffer in rural Cambodia. It is unusual because the extent of the violence that transpired during the eviction has not occurred in any other eviction for some time. It is also different from the current trend of land cases occurring in the capital, which typically involve the government taking property without paying fair compensation. This case, however, involved a private dispute. It is one of many cases where poor communities have gone to the courts hoping that their rights will be protected, only to lose the land on which their livelihood and very survival are based. The case also highlights how little assistance is given to poor communities by the government.
The case study aims to cover the following issues and topics:
The case was extremely complicated; it involved 218 families, over 100 members of the security forces, three courts, various government officials and at least 10 NGOs. Due to time constraints, it was not possible to meet with all those involved. The information contained in this report was obtained directly from sources and from investigations conducted immediately after the incident.
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