Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Serial ‘land grabber’ put on new blacklist

Serial ‘land grabber’ put on new blacklist

Minister of Land Management Chea Sophara speaks during a meeting last month. Sophara last week announced the implementation of a ‘blacklist’ aimed at combatting land disputes in the Kingdom.
Minister of Land Management Chea Sophara speaks during a meeting last month. Sophara last week announced the implementation of a ‘blacklist’ aimed at combatting land disputes in the Kingdom. Pha Lina

Serial ‘land grabber’ put on new blacklist

Businesses and individuals with a history of improper land dealings are to be added to a “blacklist” barring them from registering or transferring land, according to a Facebook post published by Minister of Land Management Chea Sophara on Friday.

The post promised that action will be taken against all who violate land ownership laws “regardless of how powerful they are”. Names added to the list would be passed on to the prime minister for approval, it said.

So far, just one name has been added to the list, that of Kandal businessman Lok Hour, according to Land Management Ministry spokesman Seng Loth.

Hour, previously an adviser to late senate chief Chea Sim, is currently embroiled in five separate land disputes, according to Loth.

“His Excellency blacklisted him because he had a lot of land conflicts with other citizens. We collected data about his cases and found that he has five conflicts in different places,” Loth said.

The spokesman added that Sophara had established a special committee to resolve Hour’s land disputes, as well as working groups to gather evidence on the ground.

Hour’s blacklisting comes on the heels of a letter issued by Kandal governor Mao Pirun last Thursday calling on the governors of the province’s Sa’ang and Kien Svay districts to freeze land currently the subject of disputes between Hour and local residents.

Sophara declined to comment on the decision to create the blacklist, the first of its kind.

Local NGO Adhoc’s head of land rights Latt Ky welcomed the announcement.

“I think that it’s a great action to show their high commitment for taking legal action,” Ky said. “He’s committed to list down all of the land grabbers for the government to take action. To me, working for an NGO, it’s a good opportunity to know about all those guys.”

However, Ky questioned whether the list itself would have any meaningful effects unless it was made publicly accessible.

“That’s a very good tool; it should be [shared with] the public that these people are involved in land disputes in Cambodia. Just to share that information with the public . . . would be more effective than a blacklist.”

Additional reporting by Jack Davies

MOST VIEWED

  • 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

  • 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,

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • Hun Sen warns of regional tensions

    ASIA is becoming a dangerous geopolitical hotspot, with several countries announcing that they intend to send naval vessels towards Southeast Asia and on to the South China Sea, warned Prime Minister Hun Sen. “Heated geopolitical issues can easily escalate, namely to war. I am not

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans