Former nine Boeung Tamok villagers have been sentenced to one month jail for protesting against a land acquisition, despite agreeing to accept the government’s land exchange policy. The verdict caused confusion and sadness among the community.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Uong Vutthea found them guilty of “opposing public office” on July 16. Only seven villagers were present in court.
The defendants were not immediately arrested after the verdict was announced, and were ordered by the judge to “leave the courtroom” and “go home”.
Vutthea said they were charged for “opposing public office” after a hearing where they were questioned, and sentenced to one month in prison. However, the court did not clarify whether the villagers need to serve time in prison or if the sentence is suspended.
On June 26, eight Samrong Tboung villagers appeared in court for their seventh hearing to defend against criminal charges following a protest to stop a canal excavation project.
In February 2025, the villagers were fined five million riel, which they paid, and sentenced to eight months in prison (but the sentence was suspended) for using violence against public officials.
Sea Davy, who was in tears, said she is very sad and shocked that the court was “still not able to deliver justice to the community”, and that the verdict on the evicted residents is unacceptable.
She was also confused whether the one-month sentence was a suspended sentence or a prison sentence. However, she felt that even if the community was detained for a day, it was still unfair to them, as they were not living illegally on the land and had agreed to exchange it in accordance with the government policy.
“We are really hurt by the development. The court did not give us justice. It only looked at the officials’ complaints; the ones who violated our rights and punished us. There is no justice for the community,” Davy said, adding that they are victims of the land dispute.
She questioned why the court did not open an investigation on the authorities who harm villagers, instead punishing the villagers who are women.
According to her, all the families accepted the government’s exchange policy as of August 2024.
Kong Toeur, 61, said she was upset that the community had already agreed to exchange land with the authorities, but was still subject to the law. If she had to serve time in prison, her health would worsen because she is old and suffers from a chronic illness.
“There is no justice. I cannot accept it because I have already exchanged the land, why should I be imprisoned? The Prek Pnov district authorities once told me that when the land is exchanged, there will be no penalty,” Toeur said.
Am Sam Ath, operations director of rights group Licadho, said the conflict arose from a land issue where people were defending their homes, so the authorities should be patient and resolve it peacefully. The authorities should not sue and accuse people by using the judicial system to suppress land issues, adding that it is “not a good solution”.
“I see that they should not be accused and punished because their land issue has been resolved. What has been criticized in the past regarding land issues is the use of the judicial system to suppress people rather than resolve them peacefully,” said Sam Ath.
The policy established by the Phnom Penh municipal government states that the authorities have allocated some land in the district for displaced residents to build houses, along with $10,000 compensation depending on the size of their land.
