Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Officials say compensation to come in Kandal airport land dispute

Officials say compensation to come in Kandal airport land dispute

Oeung Sary and hundreds of other villagers attend a protest last month urging Kandal provincial authorities to resolve their land dispute with tycoon Seang Chanheng.
Oeung Sary and hundreds of other villagers attend a protest last month urging Kandal provincial authorities to resolve their land dispute with tycoon Seang Chanheng. Pha Lina

Officials say compensation to come in Kandal airport land dispute

District officials in Kandal Stung, the site of a massive planned airport project that may displace hundreds of villagers, said this morning that they will negotiate compensation for area residents.

Villagers and officials met at the Kandal Stung District Hall in Kandal province to discuss the dispute, one of several that have erupted in the district since the government in January announced the construction of an airport and mixed-use development on 2,600 hectares.

About 300 area families have been locked in a dispute with oknha Seang Chanheng and her Heng Development Company, which sold some of the land for the new airport to well-connected land developer Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation.

Bun Theng, head of the district council, asked residents to cooperate with village and commune officials as they gathered information about the land's history.

“When we get surveying done and agree on the principles, we will invite the partner to participate to distribute the money," he said. "The partner has to prepare the money in order to solve this dispute.”

District Governor Bou Nareth said officials hope to solve the dispute "as soon as possible, because the company wants it to be quick while the people want it to be quick too”.

“If we can be done this week, it would be better," Nareth said.

Officials today did not specify who the "partner" was or how much compensation the company was offering. Local residents and landowners told The Post in January that land prices soared after the airport announcement to $150,000 to $300,000 per hectare.

Updates to follow.

MOST VIEWED

  • Kep selected for ‘world-class’ 2.7km beach development

    Kep province has been selected as the first site of a new coastal development initiative, with a “world-class” 2.7km beach planned for the near future. The Kep Provincial Administration met with the National Committee for Coastal Management and Development to discuss the development of the

  • Tensions high ahead of historic Kun Khmer match up

    The long-awaited November 5 matchup between Kun Khmer legend Prum Samnang and Myanmar-Canadian boxer Dave Leduc has become the most anticipated fight of the year. The Wurkz Sena Kun Khmer promotion, which will be held at the Town Arena at Chip Mong 271 Megamall, will see six

  • Manet: Cambodia safe for travel

    Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged that Cambodia and China have cooperated to tackle internet scamming, fraud and other cross border crimes, but insisted that the “Kingdom of Wonders” is completely peaceful and safe. He welcomed tourists to come and explore its rich heritage. During a

  • UNESCO formally list Battambang gastronomy

    Battambang, renowned for its cultural heritage, has achieved a significant milestone as the first Cambodian municipality to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The UCCN unites nearly 300 cities prioritising creativity and cultural industries in local development plans and international cooperation. On World Cities Day,

  • Angkor causeway symbol of Cambodia-Japan ties

    In a historic moment marking another milestone in the 70-year-long diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Japan, King Norodom Sihamoni celebrated the formal inauguration of a causeway located to the west of the world-renowned Angkor Wat. While presiding over the November 4 ceremony, the King emphasised the

  • Manet calls for Cambodia’s railways to get back on track

    Prime Minister Hun Manet has instructed the relevant authorities to expedite studies into upgrades to the Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk railway line. He suggested that the maximum speed on the line should be increased to 80km/h, in order to expedite the transportation of