Land title but no home: Prey Chan resident who lost her home to Thai razor wire describes pain
Hul Malis is a 52-year-old resident of Prey Chan village, who can no longer access her home because of razor wire barricades erected by Thai soldiers. She has a land title for her property. Hong Raksmey
-Post In-depth-
Hul Malis is a resident of Prey Chan village. Despite living there for decades, she can no longer access her home because of razor wire barricades erected by Thai troops. She described the ongoing situation in her village, as well as the background of the Chong Chhan settlement, which she explained is Cambodian territory.
Thailand has used unrecognised unilateral maps and its own domestic laws to claim sovereignty over the area.
Malis, 52, was born in Knach Romas village and commune in Battambang province, but has called Prey Chan – in O Beichoan commune, O Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province – home since 1993. She makes a living selling porridge, coffee and noodles within the village.
She recounts that before she moved to Prey Chan, many families were already residing there. At present, the village has 210 households. It is the site of the former Chong Chan refugee camp and approximately 4 kilometres from Border Marker 43.
The distance to the Rithysen camp, where the Khmer Ddok Kok Thom Temple is located, is also about four kilometres. The temple is currently controlled by Thailand.
“When we first arrived, my family and I built a house in front of Prey Chan Primary School, but because the land was small and narrow, I bought land at our current location,” she said.
“Now, our land and house have been fenced off by Thai forces. My land is 60 metres by 250, and was fully planted with crops such as coconut trees, mango trees, betel palms, sugarcane, oranges and wind oil trees, among others,” she noted.
Border tensions escalated to armed clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers from July 24 to 28. On July 25, Thai tanks positioned themselves along the road, approximately 700 metres from her home.
“That night, I did not stay in the village. We had to evacuate to Wat Chansy in O Chrov district. Many other people in the village were evacuated from the village and made their way to Wat Chansy,” she recalled.
She said that on July 26, Thai soldiers attacked and destroyed a Khmer military outpost, and on July 27, she returned to her village and resumed living in her house. Some other villagers returned home, while others had not yet dared to return, fearing Thai bombing or shelling.
Even though tension had not yet eased, the Thai soldiers did not take any major actions at that time, allowing the villagers to live and rely on their land normally. However, on August 13, Thai soldiers entered and placed razor wire fences in her village, enclosing 6 houses — including hers. The six homes, three of stone and three of timber, were rendered inaccessible, along with farmland belonging to 20 families.
“The Thai soldiers chased the Khmer people out of Prey Chan village, yelling at them to leave the village so that the Thai soldiers could work. Many Thai soldiers came to sweep for landmines along the roads and streets. Then, when the people protested, they only placed wire around 6 houses,” she said.
“If my fellow villagers and I had not protested, I believe the Thai soldiers would have fenced off as much as half of the village,” she added.
Malis appealed to Cambodian leaders like Prime Minister Hun Manet and Senate president Hun Sen, as well as the international community, to persuade the Thai side to remove the razor wire from her house and land, and from those of the other villagers, so that they can return to their normal, peaceful lives.
“I don’t ask for much; I just want my own land and house back. I have correct title deed for my property. I think the Thai soldiers placed the razor wire to steal Khmer land,” she said.
This story was condensed from an interview conducted by the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam).
-The Phnom Penh Post-
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