Homes, Trees Destroyed, Villagers Say

About 50 police, soldiers and environmental officials yesterday demolished two houses and cut down thousands of trees belonging to families who are locked in a land dispute with MDS Import Export Co, owned by tycoon Try Pheap, villagers in Pursat province claimed. …

Fellow villager Khouch Tithida said the authorities and company had been hiding evidence showing how long the families had lived on the land. She too threatened violence if further evictions occurred. …

Phoung Sothear, provincial coordinator of human rights group Adhoc, described the treatment of the villagers as “a serious violation of their human rights”. …

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013053165987/National/homes-trees-destroyed-villagers-say.html