Families regain land as claims given approval

Tue, 10 October 2017

Soth Koemsoeun

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More than 200 families who have been locked in land disputes with sugar firms will have at least some of their land returned to them after the Ministry of Land Management approved their claims yesterday, though hundreds more families are still waiting for resolution.

Officials have been working since August to resolve hundreds of years-long land dispute cases between villagers and sugar firms in Kampong Speu, Koh Kong and Preah Vihear provinces.

Phav Nhueng, a community representative from Koh Kong province who accepted an offer from the ministry yesterday, said she was happy to have her case resolved, but said 175 families in the province are still waiting to hear from the ministry.

“The farmland is still in the company’s hand without knowing when it will be totally resolved,” Nhueng said.

Kampong Speu Provincial Governor Vy Samnang said another 177 families in the province have accepted offers, but that more than 100 families are still waiting to hear back.

According to the ministry, 11 families in Preah Vihear province and 16 families in Koh Kong province accepted resolutions offered yesterday.

Senior Adhoc official Soeng Senkarona said he was glad the ministry was making progress but said many families were still left in the lurch.

“It’s not only these three provinces, but also other provinces that have this problem,” Senkarona said.

Discussions will continue at the ministry today.