into Khmer territory at O'Smach to prevent Khmer workers from building a fence near the borders.
7th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization
Six Cambodian families living in the border village of O'Smach in Ouddor Meanchey province opposite Thailand's Kap Cherng district of Surin province were prevented by black-clad Thai Royal Guards from growing vegetable aroud their houses.
The Thai border guards said that the village where the Cambodian villagers are living are disputes areas, but the Cambodian border guards said that the areas are Cambodian territories and the Cambodian villagers have been living there since 2000, but only got the problems with the Thai soldiers after the Thais invaded Preah Vihear areas in July 2008.
Mr. Phorn Thol, Deputy Chief of Border Police gurading the O'Smach areas, told Reaksmei Kampuchea on 4th March that the six Cambodian families had been living there since the year 2000 and they had grown their vegetable around their houses since then. But later, Thai soldiers came to forbid them not to grow vegetable, not to clear the lands or make extensions to their houses because they said that the areas are in disputed territories.
Mr. Phorn Thol also said that Thai soldiers forbid the villagers from fishing in the natural pond or not to use the pond named Ang Dop Pram (Fifteen Reservoir) located on the border on top of the Dangrek Mountains.
Before the 1997 coup, Ang Dop Pram was a Khmer territory and Cambodian villagers as welll as Khmer border guard soldiers can use the pond and fish from the pond.
Mrs. Singh Hort who live in Phum Dey Pram Mett (Five Metres Village) in O'Smach district, told Reaksmei Kampuchea that the disputes happened after Thai soldiers invaded the Preah Vihear areas in July, 2008 and since then the villagers in her areas are living in double-hardship. In the areas, villagers are foraging for wild mushrooms, wild plants, tree tars, wild flowers and wild fruit to sell to Thai people across the borders, but after the Thai invasion of the Preah Vihear areas in mid 2008, they have difficulty selling those products to Thai people.
They said that in the past they can grow vegetable around their houses and can use the water from Lake Ang Dop Pram, but now they are prevented from growing the vegetable around their houses and are not allowed to use the water in that pond. Now, they have to buy foods and all consumer goods and everything from Thailand.
The six Cambodian families are families of Cambodian border guards who are protecting the borders in the areas. Their livelihood worsened due to global economic crisis and due to Thai soldiers not allowing them to grow food around their houses.
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