Pao Phalla, director of Kandal province’s land management department, has been transferred to a bureaucratic position in Phnom Penh, though officials this week differed on who had initiated his removal.

An order signed by Land Management Minister Chea Sophara on October 20 instructed that Phalla be reassigned to the ministry’s general department of cadastres and geography. On Tuesday night, ministry spokesman Sarun Rithea said in a message that the move was made at the request of provincial authorities.

However, Provincial Governor Mao Phirun said that while he removed Phalla from office, he did so at the request of the ministry. “I was the one that removed him,” Phirun said. “There have been no problems, but the ministry wants him to work at the ministry.”

Rithea could not be reached yesterday to comment on the apparent contradiction.

However, Adhoc provincial coordinator Men Makara said that there had been frustration among Kandal residents about a slowdown in processing land disputes. “There are still lots of land disputes that have not been solved yet,” Makara said.

Phalla could not be reached for comment.