Land Conflict between Oknha and 164 families in Malai

On August 11, 2009 villager representatives from Prasat Reangk village, Takung commune, Malai district, Banteay Meanchey province came to Phnom Penh in order to file complaints with the national government for intervention in a land conflict in the above site. The conflict took place between 164 families and some rich businessmen over a land area of 319 hectares.

In the complaints sent to Mr. Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister and also Interior Minister, they revealed that on May 6, 2009 So Rat and his wife Thet Thary, came to claim that the land size belonged to Okngn Sorng Thorn, Paen Ke and Tun Bunthoeun. The couple was actually from Krapeu 40 village, Lvea commune, Bavel district, Battambang province. That day, they came along with other people and 3 tractors. They started bulldozing on 12 hectares of villagers’ farmland.

In relation to the above issue, the residents reported that they came to resettle in the area in 2004. Then there was no clear boundary between Malai and Bavel district. Therefore in 2006 Malai district governor and Bavel district governor, accompanied with communal and provincial authorities, came to set the boundary of the two districts.

On July 3, 2009 36 villagers came to protest in Bavel district, but the authority could not deal with the problem at all. Up to now their land has been still grabbed.