On January 5, the Cambodian Human Rights Committee filed complaints with bodies under the United Nations, requesting help to stop what it described as Thai military destruction of homes and civilian and cultural infrastructure, theft of Cambodians’ property and prohibitions on residents returning home. It also demanded Thai compensation for Cambodian victims.
In its January 5 press release, the committee alleged that despite the ceasefire agreement, Thailand continued unlawfully using military force and escalating destruction of Cambodian homes, property and civilian and cultural infrastructure. It particularly accused Thai troops of breaking into homes and stealing motorcycles, walking tractors and other belongings in Prey Chan village, Chok Chey village and the Boeng Trakuon area of Banteay Meanchey, as well as parts of Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Pursat. It said these acts of aggression had forced hundreds of thousands of Cambodian civilian families from their homes, depriving them of land and property. The committee said the Thai military’s actions were wholly contrary to declarations, agreements and international obligations of states parties protecting the right to adequate housing and the right to own
private property.
In its complaints to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing in Geneva, Switzerland, the committee requested urgent action on the effects of Thailand’s alleged violations and destruction affecting adequate housing and property rights in Cambodia. It called for an immediate end to forced evictions, destruction of homes and bans on residents returning. Thailand must withdraw its forces from Cambodian territory, immediately stop destroying civilian homes and ensure Cambodian displaced people can return safely and with dignity, the complaints said.
Cambodia also demanded that UN human rights mechanisms identify the situation in complaints and reports as a serious violation of the right to adequate housing connected to armed conflict, and urge Thailand to provide reparations to Cambodian victims, including compensation and guarantees of non-recurrence.
The committee stressed to the UN human rights mechanisms: “Inaction and delays in responding to Thailand’s blatant aggression against Cambodia’s territorial integrity and civilian population have been and are eroding trust in the human rights protection system. In this situation, silence is not neutrality, but permission for impunity, injustice and double standards, rendering international law ineffective and threatening world peace, security and order.”
By: Nget Pisant
