Cambodian villagers are asked to return back to live along the Thai

border

20 August 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A provincial official told The Phnom Penh Post on Wednesday that the Banteay Ampil district authority, located in Oddar Meanchey province, announced to 120 families of villagers in Banteay Ampil commune who left their homes since 2008 after they were threatened by Thai troops to return back home now. Huot Heang, the Chub Koki village chief said that he started to make this announcement to all the villagers who live in Chub Koki commune to return back to their village so they can help defend Cambodia’s territories. He said: “They faced hardship when they left their homes and land empty with nobody living in there, therefore, we must order them to return back to live in their home just like before.” Huot Heang indicated that the villagers left their homes when Cambodia entered into a dispute with Thailand on 15 July 2008 because the villagers are afraid of the armed clashes.” He added: “I went to check the village, and I saw that about 20 families have returned back to their old village already, but a number of families did not return yet because they have a hard time earning a living.”

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