The Siem Reap provincial prosecutor questioned five Run Ta Ek and Rolous residents on Monday following their protest against the demolition of houses by the Apsara National Authority on April 24, 2024.

According to the summons issued by deputy prosecutor Ngel Sovanrith, the residents were questioned for “obstructing public officers, illegal detention, issuing threats, insults, conditions as well as attempting murder” in Ta Ek village, Run Ta Ek commune, Banteay Srey district, Siem Reap province on April 24.

Following the questioning, the five now await further instructions.

Some 200 people gathered outside the court on the day of the questioning to show their support on Monday.

Yun Horn, a resident of Ta Ek village, one of four questioned, told CamboJA News that it was unreasonable for Apsara Authority to sue people in court as the residents have “no ability to detain people or kill the authority”.

“They [Apsara] are accusing us too much. No one detained anyone or tried to [kill] anything,” Horn said. “How could this happen when there was a village chief, a commune chief, a police officer and a district police chief at that site?”

Horn urged Apsara Authority not to use the legal system against them as they were only seeking the right to live like other ordinary citizens. He claimed that it was very difficult for them to live because Apsara Authority “often restricted” them, including repairing their houses or building toilets.

“We just want housing rights. If we don’t have a home, where should we stay when there is a thunderstorm? So, please don’t sue us,” said Horn.

Yim Soth Ronakchit, who was at court to show his support, said the legal action by Apsara Authority was an “injustice” because they did not commit the act they were charged for.

“It was unfair for those living in this area because they were protecting their land and house,” Ronakchit said. “At the time, 40 Apsara officials arrived in the village but neither one nor five people could [detain and try to assassinate the officers]. How can empty-handed people harm Apsara when they don’t have any weapons?” said Ronakchit.

Another resident, Oeut Dunn, also said the legal case was an injustice, as people were being restricted from building a house on their land.

“I urge the authorities not to persecute the people and allow them to build better homes,” Dunn said.

According to Ly Vannak, spokesperson of Siem Reap province, five people appeared in the Siem Reap provincial court, but none of them was arrested. Regarding the summons, Vannak said the court was following procedures.

The spokesperson confirmed that the five people were sued by Apsara Authority relating to the obstruction of the authority’s work, though he was not certain what would happen next.

Sath Thida, deputy prosecutor of Siem Reap Provincial Court, declined to comment, although provincial court spokesperson Yin Srang referred the questions by CamboJA News to her.

Apsara Authority spokesperson Long Kosal refused to comment on the telephone but asked CamboJA News to meet him personally so that he could bring the reporter to Run Ta Ek to “check and study the legal documents and regulations”.

Kosal advised CamboJA News to “learn” and “understand” the issue and not “ask questions on the same issue”.

“I think you should look at the real situation. You can come to Siem Reap and I will take you on a tour around [the site]. I can’t answer on the phone,” he said.

In November 2023, Siem Reap Provincial Court questioned four villagers, including a commune police officer for allegedly obstructing public work, and “intentionally” causing damage and violence.

Ing Kongchit, a coordinator for Cambodian human rights group Licadho, told CamboJA News that whenever people see Apsara Authority officials at their place, they get scared, so they would not dare cause them harm. Although, they do engage in “heated conversations”.

“They were exercising their right to defend their land and house as prescribed by the law. They were gathering peacefully,” said Kongchit, adding that the people were not at fault unless they used force against Apsara officers.

Kongchit was certain that the people in Run Ta Ek and Rolous communes did not commit any illegal act. He expected the Siem Reap provincial prosecutor to drop the charges like other cases.

He said Apsara Authority sued the people with the intention of demoralizing the people so that they would not dare to protest against the authorities. The authority resorting to the court system made it impossible for the villagers to exercise their rights to protect their land and house.

He suggested that they allow the people to build and renovate their houses by submitting applications.

Since August 2023, the Apsara Authority has filed 14 lawsuits in court, including six cases against Rolous commune residents and four others in Ampil commune, Prasat Bakong district. Four people live in the old Run Ta Ek area.

He said this was something the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) should review as well as consider easing the conditions. The authorities should stop evicting people from the residential areas far from the temple, and give them title deeds.

“[The] authorities should stop evicting people in light of their right to self-determination. Another thing – for those who have already moved, the authority should have a policy to help them earn money and be part of the job market in the area,” said Kongchit.

In order to preserve the approximately thousand-year-old monument from harm that might impact Angkor’s UNESCO World Heritage status, the government started evicting a reported 10,000 households from the temple park in the town of Siem Reap in the second half of 2022.