Ten people representing 380 families who fear they will be affected by an ING Holdings project in the south of Phnom Penh yesterday submitted a letter to the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Development and Construction requesting that the villagers’ land be cut out of the satellite city’s development design.

In the letter, villagers also demand that the ministry provide them land titles for their properties. The satellite city is expected to cover 2,572 hectares of land reclaimed from the Boeung Tompun and Boeung Choeung Ek wetlands.

The affected villagers reside in Preak Takong 1 village, on the northern edge of the wetlands in Meanchey district, and Kva village, on the northwestern edge in Dangkor district.

May Khem, a representative of families living in Kva village, said locals have lived in the two communities on the land surrounding Boeung Tompun and Boeung Choeung Ek for nearly 20 years.

“We are not against the development, and we welcome it,” he said. “But we want an acceptable solution. If relocation happens, it has to be sure that it is with the people’s agreement.”

Yav Sokchanra, an official with the ministry who received the petition, said the ministry recently created 27 teams to solve land disputes in all provinces.

The appropriate team will meet with local authorities and the development company in order to reach a solution. ING didn’t respond to a request for comment.