Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Koh Kong residents protest encroachment on state land

Koh Kong residents protest encroachment on state land

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
People living in Chroy Svay commune in Koh Kong province’s Sre Ambel district protested in front of the district hall to demand that authorities keep 63ha of lowland forest as state property and take legal action against forest encroachers. Photo supplied

Koh Kong residents protest encroachment on state land

More than 100 families living in Chroy Svay commune in Koh Kong province’s Sre Ambel district protested in front of the district hall to demand that authorities keep 63ha of lowland forest as state property and take legal action against forest encroachers.

A community representative told The Post on condition of anonymity that over 13ha of the forest in the commune’s Chroy Svay Khang Keurt village had been illegally cleared by unidentified individuals early this year.

People in the commune had already protested many times at the village and commune halls about the encroachment but local officials have yet to take any action.

"People continue to demand that the land be kept as state property forever for the benefits of the fishing community. People also demand a response from experts and authorities to make the problem known and find the intruders so they can be punished according to the law," he said.

District governor Chea Chankanha said he had met residents and explained the problem to them, and that the district administration would investigate the issue.

"In the past, we had not received information from local officials, so to resolve this issue we need to study it in detail. We are working with the local authorities," he said.

Provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc Thong Chandara said that early this year, there were many cases of encroachment on state land, and the case in Chroy Svay commune may involve a conspiracy to grab state land for private ownership.

"If this is state land and authorities have conspired to create legal documents to privatise it, then this is illegal because the land belongs to the state. Before it is handed over to the private sector or an individual, there must be a sub-decree from the government to this effect," he said.

According to community representatives, the land is a mangrove forest and a habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna that has improved people's livelihoods for many generations.

According to the community representative, the government revoked the Chan Rath Group’s development rights for the 63ha in 2014 and placed the land under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment. The government has since then granted use of the land to the people in Chroy Svay commune.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Newest horror film showcases unique Khmer culture, identity

    At first glance, the trailer to new horror sensation The Ritual: Black Nun looks like a western-produced feature film. As the story reveals itself to the viewers, it becomes clearer that this is a Khmer film, with a strong Cambodian identity and close links to

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the