Evicted children from Borei Keila protest

Around 80 children and other former Borei Keila residents protested on the street outside the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday morning (September 5), the day one of their representatives appeared in the court for incitement allegation lodged by a development company Phan Imex.

Approximately 100 Phan Imex and authority forces including some armed police men forcibly relocated 133 families from Borei Keila on January 3.

“We need our homes. Court must be justice. Please give us justice and stop accusing and imprisoning our mothers,” children sat shouting with loud speakers as their representative Mrs. Toem Sakmony, 65, was appearing in the court.

  

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court last month issued a letter for Mrs. Toem Sakmony, summoning her to appear in the court for question on Wednesday morning (August 5) after Suy Sophan, owner of Phan Imex, sued her for incitement [other persons] to commit crime.

The children sang a few songs and poems recounting their grievances and pain, and they called for the government to solve their problems. Meanwhile, the other protestors stood holding banners that described the injustice and the actions of dismantling and damaging their homes by the forces.

However, Mrs. Toem Sakmony was placed under the pre-trial detention at Prey Sar prison for “incitement charge”. Protestors felt panicked and terrible about the unexpected detention, saying that it is unjust and they will continue their protest until the court stops charging them unreasonably.