Representatives of 168 families from Kampong Cham’s Memot district staged a protest at the provincial governor’s home yesterday, seeking an intervention on their behalf in an ongoing land dispute with Memot Rubber Plantation. 

Governor Hun Neng had not made an appearance, but vill-agers had met with his Cabinet, whose members promised to resolve the problem in three days,  Oun Sou Cheng, a resident of Knorng Kropeu Leu village, in Memot’s Tramoung commune, said.

“If the authorities don’t find a solution for us in three days, we will bring our rice and our cooking pots here and continue the protest,” she added.  

Khout Srey Oun said 622 families had been living on the disputed land when the company began issuing eviction notices in December, 2009.

After multiple attempts by the company to threaten villagers, only 168 families had refused to leave their homes, she said.

“We have been living here for 30 years, so we are not in the wrong,” Khout Srey Oun said.

“According to the Land Law, we have ownership of this land, not the company.”