The Council of Ministers has requested the Ministry of Environment and Kampong Speu provincial authorities to allocate land to citizens from 41 families, including those from the military.
The total land to be distributed is 264.81ha located in Trapaing Chor commune, Oral district.
The request follows a letter that Minister of National Defence Tea Banh sent to Prime Minister Hun Sen in April.
The government ordered Environment Minister Say Sam Al and the Kampong Speu provincial administration to check and process the land for 41 families.
The Post could not contact Man Mach, sub-region operations commander of Kampong Speu province who requested more information about the plan.
Kampong Speu provincial governor Vei Samnang said on Wednesday that the government has a land policy to provide land concessions to help poor citizens while striking a balance between conservation and development.
He said although there is debate about the land allocation policy, authorities still have to follow the law by not allowing land encroachment, he said.
Anti-Corruption, Natural Resource Protection and Civil Rights Protection (ACNCIPO) director Chea Hean on Wednesday said he disagreed with allocating land in Phnom Oral Wildlife Sanctuary.
He said it can present an opportunity for criminals who are preparing plans to request State land to sell to other people.
“I don’t disagree with giving land to the military or truly poor citizens. However, this case is very suspicious. They are finding clients to buy land now and I am investigating to find the people who lie to the government to get land,” he said.
Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Pheaktra said allocating land is the policy decided by the government.
He said there is a specific check, especially identification of the land and the people who will receive it before it is allocated.
