Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Kampong Chhnang villagers demand return of tractors

Kampong Chhnang villagers demand return of tractors

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The tractors were impounded by authorities on March 26. Supplied

Kampong Chhnang villagers demand return of tractors

Farmers and the authorities in Svay Rompear commune, Kampong Leng district, Kampong Chhnang province said they would continue to seek court permission to recover five tractors that authorities had impounded on March 26, after a committee had investigated and acknowledged that the rice fields the locals were ploughing were old land that they had been farming since 1989.

Lvea village chief Nin Ngun said the court had released five villagers that Kampong Chhnang provincial military police detained while they were driving tractors to plough the rice fields at Talat village, Svay Rompear.

The Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court released them on April 9 after intervention from the provincial governor Chhour Chandoeun.

“District authorities acknowledged that the rice fields in that area are those we have depended on since 1989. We did not just occupy them recently. This acknowledgement gives justice to us farmers who depend on the rice fields for our farming which supports our livelihood,” Ngun said.

Talat village representative Suth Seunh said releasing the five villagers was not enough and authorities must also give back the tractors.

“We requested intervention from the provincial court to urge the military police to give back the five tractors so the farmers can plough the land before the rainy season’s arrival,” he said.

Provincial authorities on April 13 checked and evaluated the location that the military police claimed was occupied land.

After the inspection and having listened to explanations from 200 families on the history of the rice fields in the location and getting statements from the village, commune and district authorities, the committee decided to allow the villagers to continue farming as long as they don’t rent the land or attempt to sell it, Ngun said.

Kampong Chhnang provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries director Ngin Hun told The Post on Tuesday that according to the inspection and acknowledgement from local authorities about the history of the land, it was confirmed that the villagers have depended on it since 1989.

Therefore, the committee acknowledged that the rice fields have always been farmed by them.

“According to the law, if farmers depended on the land for a long time, sub-decree 1044 states they can continue to depend on the land but not sell it or occupy new land,” Hun said.

Kampong Chhnang provincial Department of Justice director Hang Socheat said he maintains his claim that the location was flooded forest that was newly occupied.

He said that during 1987, while he was a soldier, the land was flooded forest and his forces used to fight against the Khmer Rouge there. From 1990 to 1991 his forces again fought against the Khmer Rouge at the location.

“I swear that the region was flooded forest and no one did any farming there. I was surprised when villagers and authorities claimed that they did farming in this area since 1989. I have reported this case to the national level,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Brawl marrs football final as Indonesian take gold in seven goal thriller

    The Indonesian men's U22 men national football team were crowned champions of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, defeating Thailand 5-2 in extra time on May 16 at Olympic National Stadium in Phnom Penh. The match was marred by an ugly incident that occured in the 91

  • 1.4 billion dollar Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway due in four years

    The Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has officially signed a public-private partnership agreement with a private company for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project that will connect the capital to Svay Rieng province. The budget for the project is

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom