Dispute with tycoon was settled by the court, Land Ministry says

Villagers protested in front of Land Ministry last week. Hong Menea

The Ministry of Land Management on Monday said it cannot help the 292 families involved in a land dispute with Oknha Sieng Chan Heng’s Heng Aphivath Company in Kandal province’s Kandal Stung district, because a court verdict has already found the land to be the rightful property of the company.

A letter from the ministry, dated June 25, said: “The Land Ministry will not [help the families] based on a decision on April 22, 2008, by Huot Vuthy, Kandal provincial prosecutor.”

Amid the row, in April 2008, Kandal Provincial Court investigated the dispute and found the land to rightfully belong to the Heng Aphivath Company, with the verdict also stating that none of the villagers had land titles.

Y Vanny, a representative of the villagers, said the ministry’s decision was unjust and they would continue to seek a solution.

“I do not know what to do anymore . . . We will discuss this further. This decision makes us very disappointed,” he said.

Contact author: Soth Koemsoeun

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