Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Koh Kong police break up protest, arrest four

Koh Kong police break up protest, arrest four

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Families involved in a dispute with the Union Development Group in Prek Khsach commune, Kiri Sakor district, over 2,209ha protested in front of Koh Kong provincial hall on Monday. Supplied

Koh Kong police break up protest, arrest four

Koh Kong police dispersed a protest in front of the provincial hall around 2am on Tuesday, removing tents and arresting four protestors.

Protestor Ngeth Nhanh, 52, told The Post on Wednesday that 193 families are involved in a dispute with the Union Development Group in Prek Khsach commune, Kiri Sakor district, over 2,209ha. The dispute dates back 12 years.

The protesters set up tents in front of the provincial hall on Monday in an effort to accelerate a solution.

About 30 families were sleeping in the tents when police moved in and ordered them to vacate, detaining the four who ranged in age from 38 to 76.

“When the people protested in Phnom Penh, the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction told them to take up the issue at the provincial level, but the problem was not solved,” he said.

More than 100 families have protested to recover land from the company and have requested ownership cards.

A representative of six families was permitted to meet with Koh Kong provincial governor Mithona Phuthong on Tuesday and they discussed the issue for about two hours.

Mai Pov, the representative, said the governor promised to take the request to higher-ups and provide news of a solution within two months.

The governor was asked to sign a letter clarifying the province will solve the problem within two months, but she refused.

“If they promise to allocate land for us, they must promise in a written letter. She refused to do so. They just promised us after doing nothing for 12 years,” Pov said.

The residents said they will continue to protest.

Koh Kong provincial police chief Kong Mono said they can do so as long as they don’t install tents in front of the provincial hall.

“They can continue to protest, but they can’t set up tents that affect the aesthetics of the town and disrupt tourism,” he said.

Koh Kong provincial deputy governor Sok Sothy denied that the authorities have refused to tackle the issue as claimed.

“This case is no longer in the authority of the province. National authorities are in charge of this. A national committee in charge of tackling land disputes is studying the situation,” he said.

Koh Kong provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc Thong Chandara, said arresting people is a threat so that they no longer protest in front of the provincial hall.

“They came there because there was no response to their petition. They were promised again and again. When the day they were promised came, they went to the provincial hall,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Manet touches down in Beijing for high-level meetings

    Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Beijing on September 14 for his first official visit to China, where he is slated to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and meet other leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Upon his arrival, Manet laid a wreath at the Monument