Forty of the 375 families involved in a recently settled land dispute in Koh Kong province claimed on Tuesday that they have not yet received their promised cash compensation.
Hence, the families requested the authorities to change the site of the land offered as they said the settlement sites are rocky, flooded and located deep in the jungle.
Phao Nheung, a representative of the 40 families, said while others who were involved in the dispute with the Koh Kong Sugar Co accepted the land as suitable, her group feels that which was offered to them in a different area is uninhabitable and ill-suited for growing crops.
“We requested the authorities to help our families by giving land that does not have a lot of huge rocks and isn’t incapable of growing crops,” she said, adding that she hopes the authorities will speed up the process of granting the land titles and deeds.
Tit Pheng who represented 200 other families told The Post on Tuesday that his people were very satisfied because the authorities had finally resolved the long-running land dispute.
He said they had received the promised $3,000 and a two-hectare plot. However, Pheng said: “The authorities have been delayed a little in measuring the land because it’s hard to do so during the rainy season. Plus, this is an election season too.
“We already drew the plots [to determine the location]. And each family already identified their land, but it has not been measured yet,” said Pheng.
Adhoc provincial coordinator Mean Prom Mony said the families involved in the land dispute are relieved that it has been settled to their satisfaction.
However, he said the authorities should make another attempt to appease the 40 families whose land offerings were unsuitable.
“We are happy with this solution. But I request the authorities to provide better plots to the families given land that is rocky, prone to floods and deep in the jungle to choose a different spot."
“They should be given land that is capable of growing crops to earn a decent living,” he said.
