"Preah Vihear land dispute villagers to be released", 26 April 2019

The Preah Vihear provincial governor has said that 14 villagers who were arrested with their representative for clearing land in a dispute with a private company will soon be released on bail.

Provincial court prosecutor Ty Sovinthal said … that the 14 would be released next week after an intervention by involved parties.

The Preah Vihear provincial prosecutor added that the court was preparing documents for the release of the 14 villagers and their representative Loy Ly Huor. They had been detained for clearing land in the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary.

“Loy Ly Huor has committed an offence, but because the provincial governor has intervened with the court his release will come within one or two weeks. A government lawyer intervened on behalf of the 14 and is preparing a request to have them released on bail,” Sovinthal said…

Ly Huor, a provincial land community representative, was arrested on Wednesday for confinement and torture, as well as stealing weapons. He has been held in the provincial prison.

The villagers have been detained since mid-January on charges of clearing state land and land belonging to Metrei Pheap, a private company.

Provincial Environment Department director Song Chansocheat told … that Ly Huor had been detained but did not elaborate further…

Preah Vihear provincial coordinator for human rights group Adhoc, Lor Chann, said on Thursday that the re-arrest of Ly Huor, despite the guarantee of government officials, was unfair as the prosecutor had said it would not happen…