Hundreds of villagers in Kampong Speu province, locked in a long-running dispute with a sugar company owned by the wife of powerful businessman and ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat, pledged yesterday to bring their protest to the capital if district authorities are unable to find a solution within two weeks.

The warning came as 200 people filed a petition yesterday with Oral District Hall, calling for intervention in their dispute with Kampong Speu Sugar Company, which led to their eviction in 2011.

Community representative Cheng Sopheap said authorities will be given 15 days to reply positively to the petition.

If not, he said, "we will come to Phnom Penh and protest".

"They have moved us to a place where there is no water or farm land; it is not a proper compensation. We need our land back," he said.

Oral District Governor Muong Thy could not be reached for comment yesterday.