Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Kampong Speu villagers seeking delay in court hearing over land dispute

Kampong Speu villagers seeking delay in court hearing over land dispute

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Kampong Speu villagers protesting to stop sanctuary land from being cleared in Oral district in October of last year. SUPPLIED

Kampong Speu villagers seeking delay in court hearing over land dispute

Six people involved in a land dispute with Brigade 70 in Kampong Speu province’s Oral district have requested the provincial court to reschedule the first hearing from January 27 to February 14 as they have not yet hired a defence lawyer.

Soeng Sokhom, a representative of the people involved in the land dispute, said on January 31 that six people had applied for postponement on January 26 so they could get legal aid from rights group Licadho.

Sokhom said the land dispute occurred as Brigade 70 soldiers came with a sub-decree and took Udom Sre Khpos community land in the district’s Trapaing Chor commune. The soldiers did not discuss the occupation with the people of the community who were trying to protect and maintain it.

He said the occupation was an encroachment on community land under the name of Brigade 70 to deceive the public and that such action had been repeated many times. He said the soldiers initially said they needed 78ha to provide for the families of 41 disabled soldiers. However, the land did not go to the families but to a few individuals who shared the profit after selling it.

“We allocated some land to them that time. But it was not given to the soldiers nor the 41 families, but to a few people who sold it for a profit,” he said, adding that the soldiers had returned to request land a second time and the community had agreed.

The third time the soldiers came, they took the land without discussing it with the community. They used machinery to clear 6 to 7ha of the community forest on November 23 and 24. About 600 people went to protest, forcing the soldiers to remove the bulldozers. Currently, there is only about 700ha of community forest left, Sokhom said.

Sokhom said the soldiers had filed a complaint to the provincial serious crime police, accusing the community people, including him, of vandalism and public insults. But about 600 people went to support the accused community representatives, prompting the provincial police chief to delay proceeding with the case.

According to the summons issued by deputy prosecutor Tin Sochetra, Brigade 70 was represented by a member named Pen Sarith who filed a lawsuit in connection with intentional damage, threats, public insults and inciting social insecurity at Trapeang Chor commune’s Po Meas village on October 19, 2021.

Sarith, the plaintiff, could not be reached for comment.

Trapeang Chor commune chief Tep Nem said the land belonged to the Ministry of Environment under the jurisdiction of the Phnom Oral Wildlife Sanctuary, and that the head of the government had granted land to 41 military families.

“The military asked for a plot of land of about 200ha for the military families. The land is not in the community, it is to the north of its land,” he said.

According to a sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen in August, 262.24ha of state-owned land in Phnom Oral Wildlife Sanctuary in Trapeang Chor commune’s Po Meas village was to be given to the families of the 41 soldiers to build houses and grow crops.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication