An alleged shooting into the home of a land dispute activist in Siem Reap has “not yet seen any police action” two months on, the president of the Farmers Association for Peace and Development said yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference, Heng Chhoeun said that land activist Chan Rith, a member of his NGO, had relocated to a “safe place” after he was allegedly tailed by several unidentified people following the shooting at his Tbeng commune home in September.
“Gunfire on his home was a threat … He filed a police complaint but no action has been taken yet,” he said, adding that the military police had instead summonsed Rith over a separate fraud case. “The police have no willingness to conduct investigations.”
Banteay Srei district police chief Chim Raksa said the case, which involves a land dispute, had been brought to the court three days after the shooting, adding that investigations were in the works but had not yet yielded any findings.
“We suspect that the shooting was planned by Rith himself,” he said. “But we are still investigating.”
