LAWMAKERS from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party have sent a letter to the National Assembly requesting that Prime Minister Hun Sen come to the aid of villagers in Takeo province who say that demarcation efforts along the Vietnamese border are threatening their farmland.
In May, residents of Takeo’s Borei Cholsa district complained that new border markers had been planted on their farmland, and that district officials had prevented them from inspecting the markers or protesting against them.
On June 3, 20 SRP parliamentarians and around 100 supporters attempted to visit the site, but were blocked by around 30 provincial and military police and roughly 50 local residents. The two sides exchanged heated words before the SRP delegation turned back.
The letter, sent Wednesday, accuses Borei Cholsa authorities of illegally blocking residents from land to which they have legitimate claims.
Any claims that the land does not belong to the farmers, the letter states, are “completely contrary to the reality, because at the border marker post 270 farmers have planted rice since their grandparents were farmers”.
“In addition, they have land titles issued by the authorities,” the letter states.
The lawmakers also drew a distinction between the situation in Borei Cholsa and that in Banteay Meanchey’s Thma Puok district, where residents have been encouraged to cultivate farmland along the disputed border with Thailand.
“This is the action to truly defend territorial integrity, and the national interests of the people,” the letter says of the situation in Thma Puok. “The blocking of farmers from planting rice by Borei Cholsa district authorities seriously affects their day-to-day living, and they could completely lose their farmland if the border marker becomes permanent.”
But Var Kimhong, the government’s senior minister in charge of border affairs, disputed the lawmakers’ version of events, saying the border area in question was merely a field of grass.
“If anyone attempts to farm on that land, there would be a problem.”
But villager Tet Sokun said Thursday that he stands to lose 3 hectares of farmland if the border markers are made permanent.
“The authorities are preventing me from planting rice on my land,” he said. “I have planted rice on this land since 1992. I am worried, because this land is all I have.”
In May, residents of Takeo’s Borei Cholsa district complained that new border markers had been planted on their farmland, and that district officials had prevented them from inspecting the markers or protesting against them.
On June 3, 20 SRP parliamentarians and around 100 supporters attempted to visit the site, but were blocked by around 30 provincial and military police and roughly 50 local residents. The two sides exchanged heated words before the SRP delegation turned back.
The letter, sent Wednesday, accuses Borei Cholsa authorities of illegally blocking residents from land to which they have legitimate claims.
Any claims that the land does not belong to the farmers, the letter states, are “completely contrary to the reality, because at the border marker post 270 farmers have planted rice since their grandparents were farmers”.
“In addition, they have land titles issued by the authorities,” the letter states.
The lawmakers also drew a distinction between the situation in Borei Cholsa and that in Banteay Meanchey’s Thma Puok district, where residents have been encouraged to cultivate farmland along the disputed border with Thailand.
“This is the action to truly defend territorial integrity, and the national interests of the people,” the letter says of the situation in Thma Puok. “The blocking of farmers from planting rice by Borei Cholsa district authorities seriously affects their day-to-day living, and they could completely lose their farmland if the border marker becomes permanent.”
But Var Kimhong, the government’s senior minister in charge of border affairs, disputed the lawmakers’ version of events, saying the border area in question was merely a field of grass.
“If anyone attempts to farm on that land, there would be a problem.”
But villager Tet Sokun said Thursday that he stands to lose 3 hectares of farmland if the border markers are made permanent.
“The authorities are preventing me from planting rice on my land,” he said. “I have planted rice on this land since 1992. I am worried, because this land is all I have.”
11 comments:
Theses opposition are stupid. They just made Hun sen look like god!!!! You might as well merge with cpp you moron!!!!!
This is a good game to play, when Hun Xen is the top, we have to climb to the top, right?
I applaud your effort all opposition MPs
"American knew all along that their were the danger of Cambodia falling to the hand of the Vietcong,But the current leader are turning the blind eye-to the American help!So..this leave a moment of chances for Viet,opportunity to encroach Cambodia lands".[All of this..Have to blame it to lack of knowledge and power greedy].
12:13 AM
u r paranoid for hun sen.
hun sen is a leader and calling the leader to help his people is right because it is hun sen's job.
very good game by the opposition leader.
Folks MPs from opposition just do as their duties call them to do and as has stipulated in the Cambodia constition. You and I know that they have limited power in fullfilling their duties to help khmer wherever they need help. So as Khmer we, frankly, should not complain or look at this lightly. We should complement them for taking a lot of risk from the government for doing this. I was biased and took side on CPP before but I see it in my own eyes right now since this heppens in my province.
Khmer from Takeo.
thank you for calling the attention of the prime minister to better serve our country in many ways. god bless.
To cease all kind of land grabbing, all khmer citizens simply to vote out the CPP regime. If you don't, Mr. Hun will let his cronies and Viet friends take all of your land.
I think this call is the right thing to do. Can Hun Sen face this dilemma?
I can fulfill all the hard tast, except to disappoint our master Vietnam.
(Signed) Hun Sen
Very good step that SRP is asking to have prompt attention from PM tp relevant issues.
It is a collaboration rather than accusation.
Thank you SRP!
I like this call. Let see if Hun Sen is still blind.
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