By Kuch Naren
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Some 240 families in five Chhuk district villages have accused Kampot province officials of failing to take action against local authorities, including commune and village chiefs, who are alleged to have brokered the sale of 600 hectares of community forest land. Community forestry leader Khim Khoeurn, 54, said the families submitted a thumbprinted complaint to the provincial forestry department director, Mak Heang, on June 15, stating that the officials sold the land for $60,000 to a powerful government official known only as "Pov." Pov began clearing the land on May 27 but the forestry department took no action, he said. Mak Heang said that there were ongoing clearances on the community land but denied that he had been slow to act against transgressors. Chhuk district governor Ngan Seth declined to comment and Nov Sok, Lboek commune chief, who is accused of selling the land, could not be reached. Khim Khoeurn said that in June, families also complained to several NGOs, including Adhoc. Adhoc provincial coordinator Try Chhoun said that he and other NGOs would be discussing the case Thursday with officials at the Senate Inspection Committee.
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