14 February 2008
By Phan Sophat
Excerpt from Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Recently, a number of political party leaders in Cambodia have criticized the government by saying that the plan to draft a law allowing foreigners to own lands in Cambodia could affect the livelihood of Cambodian people.
Kem Sokha, HRP president who used to criticize the government on this issue, said that he learned about this issue through the news media. He said that Hun Sen rejection of this rumor is a victory.
Kem Sokha said: “Now we see that he (Hun Sen) is pulling out, we heard it coming, we didn’t see this law being adopted yet, but we prevented it from happening. If we were to allow it to be adopted, it would be very difficult and it would be too late.”
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who used to criticize the government on this issue also, said that even if Hun Sen made this declaration, he still believes that the negative impact of this issue is still taking place in Cambodia.
Sam Rainsy said: “This issue is very serious, the Constitution stipulates that foreigners, those who do hold the Cambodian citizenship cannot buy lands, as for companies, foreigners can have a maximum of 49% of ownership only, this is the law written on paper, but in reality, these foreigners are disguising themselves as Cambodians.”
Regarding the accusation on the idea to draft a law to allow foreigners to own lands in Cambodia, Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, told RFA that the government had no plan to introduce such law, but there could be a plan to allow foreigners to own some real estates in Cambodia. “There is nothing (like that, but), foreigners can buy real estates above ground, was there any talk of selling [lands to them??]”
Nevertheless, political party officials, various civil society organizations said that attention must be paid about the introduction of law that would allow foreigners to own real estates in Cambodia, because, currently, the majority of Cambodian people are still living in poverty and land disputes are still too serious issues as well.
Kem Sokha, HRP president who used to criticize the government on this issue, said that he learned about this issue through the news media. He said that Hun Sen rejection of this rumor is a victory.
Kem Sokha said: “Now we see that he (Hun Sen) is pulling out, we heard it coming, we didn’t see this law being adopted yet, but we prevented it from happening. If we were to allow it to be adopted, it would be very difficult and it would be too late.”
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who used to criticize the government on this issue also, said that even if Hun Sen made this declaration, he still believes that the negative impact of this issue is still taking place in Cambodia.
Sam Rainsy said: “This issue is very serious, the Constitution stipulates that foreigners, those who do hold the Cambodian citizenship cannot buy lands, as for companies, foreigners can have a maximum of 49% of ownership only, this is the law written on paper, but in reality, these foreigners are disguising themselves as Cambodians.”
Regarding the accusation on the idea to draft a law to allow foreigners to own lands in Cambodia, Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, told RFA that the government had no plan to introduce such law, but there could be a plan to allow foreigners to own some real estates in Cambodia. “There is nothing (like that, but), foreigners can buy real estates above ground, was there any talk of selling [lands to them??]”
Nevertheless, political party officials, various civil society organizations said that attention must be paid about the introduction of law that would allow foreigners to own real estates in Cambodia, because, currently, the majority of Cambodian people are still living in poverty and land disputes are still too serious issues as well.
2 comments:
i agree with mr. kannarith that foreigners can not own cambodian land outright, however, they should be allow to own real estate. this is a good idea to debate in parliament. thank you
cambodia is priceless. no one can sell cambodia to foreigner, period.
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