Thursday, April 29, 2010

Preah Sihanouk farmers plan protest

Hour Chrib, 35, looks out over disputed farmland in Kampong Speu province on Monday. (Photo by: Heng Chivorn)

Wednesday, 28 April 2010
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post


FARMERS in Preah Sihanouk province said Tuesday that they are preparing to file a complaint with Kampong Seila district Governor Kheng Teng over a land dispute involving an NGO that provides assistance to the disabled.

On Monday, the farmers squared off on two separate occasions with workers from the Kampong Speu-based Cambodia Disabled Survivors’ Association, though officials intervened both times to prevent violence.

The NGO says it has been awarded land in Kampong Speu, Kampot and Preah Sihanouk provinces that is also claimed by the farmers, who were preparing to plant rice on Monday.

Mou Savoeung, a representative of the farmers, said they plan to stage a protest at the district governor’s home if they are denied access to the land.

“We want to get the results from him, and we need to start planting rice,” she said.

Kheng Teng said that he had received a report on the dispute and planned to respond to it on Thursday.

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