Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Ratanakkiri minorities say land stolen

Ratanakkiri minorities say land stolen

Ratanakkiri minorities say land stolen

Ethnic minorities in Ratanakkiri province have accused local authorities of selling community forest land to a provincial court official and threatening to put them in jail, according to a complaint filed yesterday.

The complaint was filed to the provincial office of rights group Adhoc by five community representatives on behalf of 190 ethnic Tampuon families from Lumphat district’s Batang commune.

Svin Vev, one of the representatives, said that village chief Theng Main sold 2 hectares of community forest to an outsider, who then cleared out another surrounding 10 hectares and sold them to Ratanakkiri provincial judge Eng Samnab.

In total, the lost land has grown to about 20 hectares, which Samnab is using for a cashew plantation, Vev said.

The community complained to the provincial Forestry Administration, but to no avail, causing village representatives to collect thumbprints for a petition.

However, village chief Theng Maing seized copies of the petition and threatened to send the protesters to jail, the complaint states.

Maing yesterday denied the accusation that he sold forest land but acknowledged seizing the petition, saying it was “illegal”.

Commune chief Ket Chem confirmed that he approved the sale to judge Chamnab “three or four” years ago, but said the community had already cleared it by that time.

Judge Eng Samnab, who said he invested tens of thousands of dollars into the plantation, echoed Chem’s rebuttal.

“If it was community land, the authorities would not have signed for me,” he said.

Adhoc coordinator Chhay Thy said the group will send the complaints to provincial court.

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

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • 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