"Villagers from six provinces stage protest over land disputes", 1 January 2020

Hundreds of villagers from six provinces ... rallied in front of the Land Management Ministry to seek help in resolving long-standing land disputes affecting them.

Moeun Ratana, Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community secretary who observed the protest, said that the farmers, representing 27 communities, were from Preah Sihanouk, Kampong Speu, Prey Veng, Tboung Khum and Kandal provinces.

He noted land disputes affect around 10,000 people in the communities, and 600 representatives gathered to hand over petitions to ministry officials.

“Their land disputes have gone unresolved for several years and involve companies, tycoons and officials over economic land concessions,” Mr Ratana said.

Mok Mon, from Kampong Speu, ... said that he represents more than 500 families in dispute with a sugar manufacturing company since 2010.

He claimed that the company grabbed five-hectares of agriculture land from him after he refused its offer to buy it.

“The compensation offered was very little if compared with the market price,” Mr Mon said.

Soeng Sokhum from Kampong Speu province said that he and other villagers had come to Phnom Penh eight times previously to petition for land concessions.

Ministry spokesman Seng Lot could not be reached for comment ...

Last week the ministry announced that it had issued 456,210 land titles so far this year.

The ministry’s annual report said that it also resolved 105 out of 817 land disputes it received; the National Land Dispute Authority solved two out of 81 cases...