A GROUP of 70 villagers from Oddar Meanchey province who were removed by police from Wat Botum pagoda on Sunday said they planned to stay in the capital this week and confront officials from various ministries to which they have recently sent letters of complaint.

The villagers had been staying in the pagoda for about one month after armed officials destroyed their homes in early October as part of an ongoing land dispute with the Angkor Sugar Company.

Representative Huoy Chhuoy said the police who removed them from the pagoda on Sunday told them they had “too many packages, which were impacting the city’s beauty”.

The villagers are now staying in a garden outside the pagoda.

An Srean, another representative, said the villagers would today begin paying visits to offices that have not responded to complaint letters sent in the last month, including the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Justice. Daun Penh district officials could not be reached Monday.