A Change of Guard

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Monday 22 December 2014

Homes Destroyed in Blaze; Villagers Suspect Arson [Deliberately burned by the authority who found an easy way to evict the residents]

BY  AND  | DECEMBER 22, 2014
Twenty-six homes in a village in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district burned to the ground Saturday night in a fire that villagers suspect was started in retaliation for their refusal to obey an order by City Hall to vacate the area.
In late November, more than 600 people living in Kilometr Pram Muoy commune’s Boeng Chhuk village received a notice from City Hall signed by district governor Thuy Sokhan ordering them to vacate their homes to make room for a planned road expansion—or face eviction.
Villagers receive relief goods from the Cambodian Red Cross yesterday after a fire destroyed 26 houses in Boeng Chhuk village in Phnom Penh's Russei Keo district. (John Vink)
Villagers receive relief goods from the Cambodian Red Cross yesterday after a fire destroyed 26 houses in Boeng Chhuk village in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district. (John Vink)
But so far, no apparent effort has been made by authorities to follow through with the threat.
Villagers said Sunday, however, that they believe the fire Saturday night, which started inside one of the homes, was a vengeful act of arson.
“Most of the people suspect someone planned to burn the houses because we didn’t leave, but we don’t have evidence,” said Chhim Sophon, 40, who lost the house he had lived in with his wife and three children.
Din Srey Nuch, 19, who lived in the house where the fire originated, said she and her husband left shortly before it started.
“The villagers who opened the door said they saw that the fire started on a pile of clothes in my room, and they smelled gasoline,” Ms. Srey Nuch said.
“We never sold gasoline or kept gasoline in the house,” she added.

Toch Vanna, 40, who also lost her home in the blaze, said fire trucks arrived at about 7 p.m.— an hour after the fire started— but made no attempt to extinguish it until about 8 p.m.
Prum Yort, chief of the municipal fire police, who led 15 trucks to the scene, acknowledged that firefighters were late in responding, blaming traffic congestion, and the condition of the road leading to the village.
“We ran into a lot of traffic and the road in that area has a lot of potholes,” said Mr. Yort, adding that the blaze was extinguished at about 7:20 p.m., contradicting reports from residents.
“Our officers are still investigating the case,” he said. “We cannot say whether it was an accident or someone started it on purpose.”
Mr. Sokhan, the district governor, said Sunday that district officials delivered “gifts” to the villagers affected by the fire, but added that the order to vacate the area still stands.
“We are still ordering them to leave as soon as possible,” he said before hanging up on a reporter.

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