The National Assembly yesterday agreed to forward to the Ministry of Interior a request from five Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers to visit the five Lorpeang villagers jailed over their involvement in their ongoing land dispute with KDC International.

According to the August 18 letter, sent to Minister of Interior Sar Kheng through acting National Assembly President Nguon Nhel, permission was sought by CNRP lawmakers Ho Vann, Men Sothavarin, Phy Vanndara, Ngao Kimcheang and Ngim Nheng to visit the villagers at the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Prison on August 21.

Vann said the purpose of the visit would be to further investigate the villagers’ dispute with the agri-business – owned by the wife of Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem – which began in 2002.

“After the visit, we will protest for the release of those arrested villagers, and we will protest in order to help them to get back their land. We have a plan, and as a first step, we have to go [to the prison].”

Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak could not be reached yesterday, but Kuy Bunsorn, director of the ministry’s prisons department, said that he had not yet received the request.