Land Conflict between Association and Villagers in Preah Sihanouk Not Yet Solved

Up to now a land conflict, which has taken place for more than one year, in O’ Bak Rotes commune, Kampong Seila district, Preah Sihanouk province between more than 20 families and the Cambodian Disabled Survivor’s Association has not been resolved yet.

On July 4, 2010 the above families came to the rice paddy in order to grow rice, but they were banned by a group of the association’s men. Related to the above event, Mr. Nget Ly, a villager representative said that those people have not been able to farm on the land for more than a year already. They are facing food shortage; and this will become more serious if those association members still do not allow them to farm. Anyway it is now rainy season.

Those affected residents have lodged complaints for many times with local and provincial authorities to intervene the case, but the problem has not been dealt with. According to Mr. Ouch Leng, the local rights group Adhoc, he could hardly believe that those authorities were willing to do it. He added the authorities were likely to support the association.