Despair in Pursat as students begin to exit [-Another one of Hun Xen's flip-flopping policies]

Youth volunteers depart Phnom Penh last month to take part in a government-initiated land measurement program. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Friday, 03 August 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Nineteen families from Pursat province’s Prangil commune, plagued by a long-running land dispute with developer Pheapimex, are in despair now that student volunteer surveyors cannot help them reclaim land they say is rightfully theirs.

Villager Tes Chhieng Ly said that the residents would be forced to take protests to higher levels, after their plans to plead for help from student volunteers measuring their land were thwarted by Wednesday’s policy backflip by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

“Now, we don’t know what to do because volunteering youths are told that they have no obligation … we seem hopeless,” Chhieng Ly said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday revealed he had revised his land titling program – announced in June – which aimed to alleviate land disputes by employing over 2,000 university students, at $7 a day, to demarcate villagers’ land in state forests, former timber concessions and economic land concessions.

The amendment means students will no longer measure disputed land and has prolonged the original six-month timeframe of the project.

Villagers’ homes levelled in Pursat

Thursday, 26 July 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

A coalition of about 30 soldiers, police, forestry officials and military police armed with chainsaws razed some 40 houses belonging to villagers in Pursat province’s Santre commune yesterday, claiming the villagers were illegally living in a state forest, villagers and officials said.

According to resident Chin Saran, 44, about 25 families had lived in the area since 2008, and had been asked to leave before.

However, after Hun Sen’s May sub-decree allotting land to those living in state forests, a new wave of some 40 families arrived, hoping to benefit from the anticipated land grant, and raising the ire of provincial officials.

Magical log draws thousands in Cambodia [-Stupid is as stupid does!]

Photo: RFA

July 26, 20122
AAP

THOUSANDS of Cambodians have visited a log that is believed to possess magical powers, local media report.

The 13-metre-long log was unearthed from the bottom of a pond in Pursat province, The Cambodia Daily newspaper said on Thursday.

The piece of wood has since been credited with healing powers and the ability to bring financial good fortune.

More than 3000 villagers have journeyed to the site, with some rubbing talcum powder on the wood in hope of seeing winning lottery numbers, the report said.

មនុស្ស​ផ្អើល​ទៅ​បន់​ស្រន់​ដើម​ឈើ​មាន​បារមី​នៅ​ពោធិ៍សាត់ - A practical joke turned into a superstition in Pursat

2012-07-24
Radio Free Asia

មនុស្ស​ច្រើន​ពាន់​នាក់​ខ្លះ​មក​ពី​ទីក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ ខ្លះ​មក​ពី​ខេត្ត​នានា ដូចជា​បាត់ដំបង ប៉ៃលិន ព្រៃវែង ស្វាយរៀង​ជាដើម ដៃ​មាន​កាន់​ទៀន ធូប ទឹកអប់ ប្រេងម្សៅ ដើរ​សំដៅ​ទៅ​កាន់​ទី​វាល​តម្កល់​ឈើ​មួយ​ដើម ស្ថិត​ក្នុង​ឃុំ​អូរតាប៉ោង ស្រុក​បាកាន ខេត្ត​ពោធិ៍សាត់។ ពួក​គេ​ជឿ​ថា ដើម​ឈើ​នោះ​មាន​បារមី​អាច​ជួយ​គេ​ឲ្យ​សម្រេច​បាន​ក្ដី​ប្រាថ្នា​គ្រប់​យ៉ាង។

Thousands of people, some coming from Phnom Penh and other provinces, flocked to a tree in O'Ta Poang commune, Bakan district, Pursat province. These people believe that the power of the tree could save them as they wish. Listen to the audio report on how a practical joke turned into this gullible fiction.

សូម​ស្ដាប់​សេចក្ដី​រាយការណ៍​ពិស្ដារ​ពី​ព័ត៌មាន​នេះ៖

Listen to the report in Khmer below:

Click here to download the audio program in MP3

១. មនុស្សរាប់ពាន់នាក់នាំគ្នាមកមើលឈើដែលគេជឿថា មានបារមីកាន់។

Thousands of people came to look at the tree which they believe holds magic power.

 ២. បុរសឈ្មោះ ស៊ឹម ភឿន អ្នកជីកបានឈើដែលកប់ក្នុងដី ផ្ដល់បទសម្ភាសន៍ដល់អ្នកកាសែត។

Sim Phoeun, the man who dug the pond and found the tree, gave an interview to reporters

 ៣. ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋមកពីគ្រប់ទិសទីមកមើលឈើដែលគេជឿថាមានបារមីកាន់។

People flock from all over to see the tree they believe of holding magic power.

៤. អ្នកលក់ទៀនធូប និងម្សៅនៅទីតាំងដែលពលរដ្ឋជឿថាមានឈើបារមីកាន់។

Incense and candle sellers cash in on the event. They also sell flour for people to rub on the tree in hope of getting the lucky lottery number.

៥. ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋនាំគ្នាសែនព្រេន និងចាក់ទឹកពីលើគល់ឈើ ត្រងយកទឹកវិញយកទៅផឹក ដោយជឿថាជាជំងឺ។

People pray to the tree, some pour water on the tree and collect it from the bottom to use as cure for their disease.

 ៦. រណ្ដៅស្រះដែលគេជីកបានឈើ និងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋដែលមានជំនឿដួសយកទឹក ឬកើបយកភក់យកទៅព្យាបាលជំងឺ។

Pond where the tree was dug out, superstitious people scoop water and mud from the pond to use as medicine.

 ៧. ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋដែលមានជំនឿដួសយកទឹក ឬកើបយកភក់យកទៅព្យាបាលជំងឺ។

Superstitious people scoop water and mud from the pond to use as medicine.

៨. មនុស្សជាច្រើននាំគ្នាចុះមកបាតរណ្ដៅ ឬស្រះដួសទឹក និងកើបភក់យកទៅព្យាបាលជំងឺ។

A larger number of people (including the CPP stalwart) went to the bottom of the pond to scoop water and mud to cure their illnesses.

 ៩. ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋដែលមានជំនឿនាំគ្នាយកម្សៅទៅលាបលើឈើ រួចលាបាតដៃក្រែងឃើញលេខឆ្នោត។

Some would use flour to rub on the tree in hope of seeing a magic lottery number appearing on the palm of their hands.

១០. ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋដែលមានជំនឿនាំគ្នាយកម្សៅទៅលាបលើឈើ រួចលាបាតដៃក្រែងឃើញលេខឆ្នោត។

Gullible people use flour to rub on the tree and hope to see lottery numbers appearing on their hand.

​តំបន់​អបគមន៍ជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រផ្លន់ដីបែបថ្មី? Secession zone: Hun Xen's new land-grab trick?

ចោទ​ពលរដ្ឋ​បង្កើត​តំបន់​អបគមន៍​រឿង​ជម្លោះ​ដីធ្លី​មួយ​ទៀត

18 July 2012
ម៉ៃ ទិត្យថារ៉ា
The Phnom Penh Post

តើពាក្ស បង្កើត​តំបន់​អបគមន៍ ជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ ផ្លន់ដី បែបថ្មី ជំនួសពាក្សអភិវឌ្ឍ ឬ ក៏ជាប្រផ្នូលចាស់ កាល ឆ្នាំ១៩៦៣នៅ សំឡូតនិងអមលាំង?

ពោធិ៍សាត់ៈយ៉ាង​ហោច​ណាស់​មាន​ផ្ទះ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ជាង​ ៥០០ ខ្នង ដែល​ស្ថិត​នៅ​ក្នុង​ចំណុច​ស្រែ​យក្ស​ភូមិ​កំពង់ក្ដី ឃុំ​ក្រពើពីរ ស្រុក​វាលវែង ត្រូវ​បាន​រុះរើ និង​ពលរដ្ឋ​ម្នាក់ ត្រូវ​បាន​កម្លាំង​ចម្រុះ ​ធ្វើ​ការ​ឃាត់​ខ្លួន នៅ​ខណៈ​ពេល​អាជ្ញាធរ​ បាន​បើក​យុទ្ធនាការ​បណ្តេញ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ឲ្យ​ចាក​​ចេញ​ពី​លំនៅដ្ឋាន​ របស់​ពួក​គេ ដោយ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​ពី​បទ​រស់​នៅ​អនាធិបតេយ្យ ទន្ទ្រាន​យក​ដី​រដ្ឋ​ខុស​ច្បាប់ និង​បង្កើត​តំបន់​អបគមន៍​។

លោក ជិន វន ​តំណាង​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ចំនួន ៦០០ ​គ្រួសារ​ ដែល​កំពុង​តែ​គេច​ខ្លួន ​ពី​ការ​តាម​ចាប់​របស់​អាជ្ញាធរ ដែល​បាន​ចោទ​ពី​បទ​បំផុស​ឲ្យ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ ចូល​ទន្ទ្រាន​យក​ដី​រដ្ឋ និង​បង្កើត​តំបន់​អបគមន៍​នោះ បាន​ថ្លែងថា អាជ្ញាធរ​ចម្រុះ​ ដែល​មាន​ប៉ូលិស​ ប៉េអឹម​ប្រមាណ ៥០ នាក់ ​បាន​ចុះ​មក​រុះ​រើ ​បង្ខំ​ឲ្យ​ពលរដ្ឋ ចាក​ចេញ​ពី​លំនៅដ្ឋាន និង​តាម​ស្វែង​រក​តាម​ចាប់​ខ្លួន​ពួក​លោក​។ លោក និយាយ​ថា៖ «ខ្ញុំ​ធ្វើ​អ្វីៗ​ដើម្បី​ឲ្យ​ប្រជាជន​ក្រីក្រ​មាន​ដី​រស់​នៅ ហើយ​ខ្ញុំ​ធ្វើ​គឺ​អនុវត្ត​ទៅ​តាម​ច្បាប់ បែរ​ជា​គេ​ចោទ​ខ្ញុំ​ថា​ បង្កើត​តំបន់​អបគមន៍​ប្រឆាំង​ នឹង​គេ​ទៅ​វិញ​។ តើ​ខ្ញុំ​មាន​អី​ធ្វើ​អបគមន៍​នោះ​ ខ្ញុំ​មិន​បាន​ធ្វើ​ដូច​ជា​ការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​នោះ​ទេ​»។​

លោក​បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ទៀត​ថា​ មុន​នឹង​លោក​ចូល​មក​រស់​នៅ​ក្នុង​ទីតាំង​ចាស់​ដែល​ជា​ដី​របស់​ជន​ជាតិ​ភាគ​ តិច​រស់​នៅ​ពី​មុន​នោះ ​លោក​បាន​ស្នើ​សុំ​ទៅ​លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុន សែន​ រដ្ឋ​សភា អាជ្ញាធរ​ស្រុក ឃុំ ដើម្បី​ឲ្យ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ចំនួន​ ២០៣ គ្រួសារ​រស់នៅ​ លើ​ផ្ទៃ​ដី​៧០០០ ហិកតា​ នៅ​ក្នុង​ឆ្នាំ​ ២០០៨ ហើយ លោក​មេឃុំ​ និង​អភិបាល​ស្រុក​ ក៏​បាន​យល់​ព្រម​តាម​សំណើ​នោះ​ដែរ​។ ដោយ​សារ​តែ​ការ​រស់នៅ​យូរ​ទៅ​ បាន​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ពលរដ្ឋ​មួយ​ចំនួន ​បាន​ចូល​មក​រស់នៅ​បន្ថែម​ទៀត​ជា​ហូរហែ ចាប់​តាំង​ពី ​២០០៩ រហូត​ដល់​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​ ដែល​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ពលរដ្ឋ​កើន​រហូត​ដល់​ ៦០០ គ្រួសារ​។ លោក​បញ្ជាក់​ថា៖«លោក​ចៅ​ហ្វាយ​ស្រុក បាន​ប្រព្រឹត្ត​អំពើ​ពុករលួយ​ជាមួយ​បក្ខ​ពួក​គាត់ ដូច្នេះ​គេ​យក​គ្រឿង​ចក្រ មក​ឈូស​ផ្ទះ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ ដើម្បី​បង្ខំ​ឲ្យ​ចាកចេញ ហើយ​យក​ដី​លក់​ឲ្យ​ឈ្មួញ​ ហេតុ​អ្វី​ក៏​ពួក​គេ​រួច​ខ្លួន? ខ្ញុំ​មិន​យល់​ទេ​ច្បាប់​ស្រុក​ខ្មែរ»។​ លោក ជិន វន ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ទៀត​ថា​ នៅ​ក្នុង​យុទ្ធនាការ​របស់​អាជ្ញាធរ​ចម្រុះ​ ចាប់​តាំង​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ចន្ទ​ រហូត​មក​ដល់​ម្សិលមិញ គេ​បាន​ឈូស​បំផ្លាញ​ផ្ទះ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​អស់​ ៥០០ ខ្នង ដែល​ផ្ទះ​ខ្លះ​ មាន​ទំហំ​៦ម៉ែត្រ គុណ ៧ ម៉ែត្រ។ អាជ្ញាធរ ចាប់​ខ្លួន​ពលរដ្ឋ​ម្នាក់​ដែល​ជាជន​ពិការ និង​កំពុង​តែ​ស្វែង​រក​តាម​ចាប់​ខ្លួន​ពួក​លោក​បី​នាក់​ទៀត។

Second ‘seccesionist’ arrested in Pursat [-Land protesters are noe labeled SECESSIONISTS???]

Wednesday, 18 July 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Another alleged “secessionist” involved in a land dispute was arrested yesterday in Pursat province’s Veal Veng district, where villagers said authorities continued a prolonged forced eviction that has led to the destruction of some 500 homes.

Three other men accused of attempting to create an autonomous state in Krapouie commune’s Kampong Kdey village evaded a force of military and regular police officers who stormed the village and began dismantling homes.

Pursat provincial police chief Sarun Chanthy declined to name the arrested suspect who he alleged had taken money from and granted land titles to recently arrived migrants despite having no authority to do so.

Villagers Pray for Their Lands and Forests to be Safe from the Pheapimex Company

On 11 April 2012 at around 10:30 a.m, about 30-40 villagers from Kbal Trach commune,Krakor district, Pursat hold a Buddhist ceremony for a pray for their lands and forests to be safe from Pheapimex Company. (Photo by Chundy)

The offerings for the spirit (Arak/Neak Ta = The conservators of the territory and forestry) to go into the human body (Roub Snong; the woman in the middle). Starting from around 01:00 p.m of 11 April 2012 until around ) 2: 50 p.m, but it doesn't work. By the belief, it should be held on Tuesday or Saturday, or it won't work like this one. The villagers of around 50 including 30 women do it for their talk to the Arak/Neak Ta to help protect their lands and forests from Pheapimex Company. (Photo by Chundy)

Protest of Kbal Trach villagers against Pheapimex Company

Dear All:

Attached are the pictures of about 300 villagers from Kbal Trach commune, Krakor District of Pursat doing a protest in front of Pheapimex company to stop the company bulldozers from clearing their land this morning (03-04-12). The villagers demanded the company stop the clearance and demarcate the land where the company would take, and making sure their land is not affected. They also asked the authority to establish a social land concession program for most of them having no land and not enough land for farming.

No company reps came for any talk to the villagers.

The commune chief of Kbal Trach commune (Duong Sarin 012 480 609) who was also there for his support for peaceful resolution from the company intervened he had just suggested to the Krakor district governor to arrange another discussion between the company and villagers in the next two days.

The villagers were back home at around 02:00 p.m. in their hope to meet with the company again in the next two days under the facilitation of the district government.

(All Photos: Community Legal Education Center (CLEC))

CITA letter send to Ministry of Industry Mines and Energy requesting lower electricty price in Pursat city

http://www.box.com/s/ab9832cd54cb0a4c0225

«​ខ្ញុំ​ភ័យ​ខ្លាច​ថា បន្ទាប់​ពី​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ឃុំ​សង្កាត់​រួច​ហើយ ពួក​គេ​នឹង​​មក​ដន្តើមយក​ដី​យើង​ជាថ្មីម្តង​ទៀត​» - ស្គាល់ហើយក្រយ៉ៅហ៊ុនសែន!

មន្ត្រី​ CPP​ ទៅ​សន្យា​ឲ្យ​អ្នក​ក្រគរ​យក​ដី​ពី​ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន​ភាពីម៊ិច​វិញ

Tuesday, 24 January 2012 12:06
ម៉ៃ ទិត្យ​ថារ៉ា
The Phnom Penh Post

ខ្ញុំ​គិត​ថា អ្វី ​ដែល​ពួកគេ​ធ្វើ​គ្រាន់​តែ​ចង់​ឲ្យ​យើងបោះ​​ឆ្នោត​ឲ្យ​ពួក​គេ​ ​ពី​ព្រោះ​វា​​កើត​ឡើងយូរ​មក​ហើយ​ ​ហេតុ​អ្វី​​ក៏​ពួក​គេ​មិន​ដោះ​ស្រាយឲ្យយើង

ពោធិ៍​សាត់ៈ អ្នក​ភូមិ​ក្នុង​ឃុំ​ត្នោត​ជុំ ​ស្រុក​ក្រគ​រ​​ ខេត្ត​ពោធិ៍​- សាត់​ ​ដែល​មាន​​ជម្លោះ​ដី​ធ្លី​​ជា​យូរ​មក​ហើយ​ជា​មួយ​ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន ភាពី​ម៉ិចគ្រុប​ ​ដែល​​ជា​ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន​របស់​​លោកស្រី ​ជឹង សុភាព​ ដែលគេ​ស្គាល់​ យាយ ​ភូ បាន​ទទួល​ការ​ប្រគល់​ដី​ឲ្យ​វិញ​បន្ទាប់​ពី​ពួក​គេ​​បាន​នាំ​គ្នា​ធ្វើ​ការ​តវ៉ា​​ចំនួន​បី​លើក​​កាល​ពីខែ​មករា។

លោក គួ​ច វេង ​តំណាង​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បាន​ថ្លែង​ថា ​កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២១ ខែ​មករា មាន​សមាជិក​គណបក្ស​ប្រជា​ជន​កម្ពុជា​(CPP)ម្នាក់​ មក​ពី​ភ្នំ​ពេញ​ ​​អម​ដោយ​អភិបាល​ស្រុក​ក្រគរ​ ​បាន​មក​ជជែក​​នឹង​អ្នក​ភូមិដែល​​នាំ​គ្នា​ធ្វើ​ការ​តវ៉ា​​នៅ​មុខស្នាក់​ការ​ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន​ក្នុង​ស្រុក​ក្រគរ​ ដោយ​សន្យា​ថា អ្នក​ភូមិ​អាច​ទៅ​បោះ​បង្គោល​​លើ​ដី​ដែល​​ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន​បាន​ឈូស​រួច​ហើយ​។ លោក​បាន​បន្តថា​៖ «​ឥឡូវ​នេះ​ អ្នក​ភូមិ​បាន​នាំ​គ្នា​​ទៅ​បោះ​របង​នៅ​លើ​ដី​ដែល​​ត្រូវ​បាន​ឈូស​ឆាយ​ដោយ​ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន​ ហើយ​​សង្ឃឹម​ថា ជម្លោះ​នេះ​នឹង​មិន​កើត​មាន​ជាថ្មី​ទៀត​​ឡើយ​»។

លោក​បាន​បន្ត​ថា ​បុរស​ម្នាក់​ដែល​អះអាង​ថា ​ជា​សមាជិក​គណ​បក្ស​ប្រជា​ជន​កម្ពុជា​នៅ​រាជ​ធានី​ភ្នំ​ពេញ​ បាន​សន្យា​ថា ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន​នឹង​​មិន​យកដី​ពីប្រជា​ជន​ទៀត​ទេ​។ តែ​លោក​នឹក​បារម្ភ​​ថា ​៖ «​ខ្ញុំ​ភ័យ​ខ្លាច​ថា បន្ទាប់​ពី​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ឃុំ​សង្កាត់​រួច​ហើយ ពួក​គេ​នឹង​​មក​ដន្តើមយក​ដី​យើង​ជាថ្មីម្តង​ទៀត​»។

Villagers wary of Pheapimex olive branch [-Election is near, that's why the CPP is trying to soften land disputes]

Tuesday, 24 January 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

A deadly land dispute in Pursat province ended over the weekend with a victory for the villagers, but they said yesterday this might have more to do with the upcoming commune elections than a change of heart within the company owned by the wife of a senator.

The villagers from Tnort Chum commune in Krakor district said Pheapimex Group – which is owned by Choeng Sopheap, wife of Cambodian People’s Party Senator Lao Meng Khin – had agreed to return disputed land to them, following intervention by a group of CPP members from Phnom Penh on Saturday.

“I am afraid that after the commune election, they will take over our land again,” Kouch Veng, a representative of the villagers told the Post yesterday. He explained that the CPP members and the district governor had met with the villagers on Saturday while they protested in front of the company’s office, telling them they could erect a fence around land they had farmed.

COMFREL Release the Result of Workshop on Voter's Voice in Prarmoay, Veal Veng, Pursat province

Dear all,

COMFREL is please to release its press release on the result of workshop on voter's voice in remote areas; Prarmoay commune, Veal Veng district, Pursat province was held on January 13, 2011.

Please see the attached document for details.

FYI : If you need releases or articles related to workshop on voter's voices, elections reforms, democracy/political reforms, decentralization and governance, please feel free to visit our website:

www.comfrel.org

Best regards,

COMFREL


http://www.box.com/s/3czt4o1gna05fyg7ouvu

Krakor (Pursat) floating village

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVIAmJxV1eU

HRP official accused of faking SRP resignations Meas Sokchea

Monday, 12 December 2011
The Phnom Penh Post

A lawyer for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party has filed a complaint with Pursat provincial court against an official from the opposition Human Rights Party, accusing him of forging documents for the resignation of an SRP provincial council member.

HRP official Heng Chanthoun faked a document stating SRP provincial council member Nguon Porseng had resigned from his post, the party claims in a press release.

The statement also alleges Heng Chanthoun, who defected to HRP from the SRP earlier this year, forged resignation documents for a number of SRP commune and district council members in Pursat who did not defect to HRP with him.

CITA's letter to the minister of Interior requesting intervention in the case of Mr. Nou Tieng in Prusat province

Stone carving in Pursat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5_AIwI-ZGQ&feature=player_embedded

Pursat Prosecutor Top Chansereivuth arrested

A reader, Mr. Sam L., sent over the above message where he indicated that his sister was also a victim of Pursat prosecutor Top Chansereivuth. The prosecutor, his wife, and several bodyguards were arrested on Monday 29 Nov. 2010 by the Anti-Corruption commission. Dap-news reported that Pursat residents cheered the arrest of the prosecutor because he is known of issuing arrest warrants without providing any reason.

Land dispute: Villagers evade arrest in Pursat

Wednesday, 03 November 2010
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Land dispute

TWO village representatives in Pursat province’s Veal Veng district evaded arrest yesterday by running into the wilderness after protesting against the encroachment of a developer, local residents said.

Heng Pai, 53, one of the representatives, said more than 40 police officers had arrived at his home in Sangkum Thmey village yesterday to arrest him and fellow representative Bi Born, 32, for “persuading the residents” to protest against the company.

Roughly 60 people reportedly protested on Monday against the MDS development firm when company representatives arrived in the area to clear land.

Heng Pai said the representatives had done nothing to incite the villagers, who were protesting against the development because it “affected their farmland”.

Bi Born said the company, which wants to build a casino and potato factory on 950 hectares of land currently occupied by 85 families, “does not care about residents, who have a right to eat”.

Pursat Provincial Deputy Police Chief Sarun Chanty said he had not yet received information about the issue.

Road blocked in Pheapimex protest

Choeung Sopheap (right) is the owner of Pheapimex. She is also a crony of Hun Xen and Bun Rany Hun Xen (Photo: Koh Santepheap)

Villagers block National Road 5 in Pursat province’s Krakor district yesterday as part of a protest against the alleged clearing of their land by local firm Pheapimex.

Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Khouth Sophakchakrya
The Phnom Penh Post

David Pred, executive director of Bridges Across Borders Cambodia, described the Pheapimex concession as “the poster child for all that is wrong with the Royal Government’s policy of granting large-scale land concessions to private firms”.

MORE than 300 villagers gathered yesterday in front of Krakor district hall in Pursat province and blocked National Road 5 to protest the alleged clearing of their farmland by the local company Pheapimex.

“Our livelihoods rely on farming and collecting forest products, but now the company has bulldozed and confiscated about 3-4 hectares of rice fields from each family,” said Phorn Chea, a 50-year-old villager from Kbaltrach commune.

Ngeth Theavy, a coordinator for the local rights group Adhoc, said district authorities refused to meet with the villagers yesterday to discuss their complaint. Police also prevented the villagers from entering the district hall, which prompted them to block traffic on National Road 5 for about 30 minutes.

“The villagers demand that the company stop bulldozing their farmland and rice fields as well as the natural forest,” she said.

In 1997, Pheapimex was granted a 315,028-hectare land concession spanning Kampong Chhnang and Pursat provinces. The company, which is owned by Choeung Sopheap – the wife of Cambodian People’s Party Senator Lao Meng Khin – has come under fire because the concession is far in excess of the legal limit of 10,000 hectares.

Ngeth Theavy said the company planned to “develop agro-industry plantations such as acacia, cassava and other crops”.

Im Sarith, Krakor district governor, said he could not prevent the company from clearing land because of the 1997 concession agreement, and said the company had provided many jobs to local residents.

“We will visit the people’s rice fields on Friday,” he said. “We can ask the company to give back the rice fields if we find out that the company has bulldozed and confiscated rice fields belonging to the villagers.”

But Pheapimex representative Ty Kim Tok denied yesterday that the company had encroached on villagers’ land. “We can give the land back to them if they give evidence showing that the land belongs to them,” he said, and added that around 8,000 hectares had been planted so far.

David Pred, executive director of Bridges Across Borders Cambodia, described the Pheapimex concession as “the poster child for all that is wrong with the Royal Government’s policy of granting large-scale land concessions to private firms”.

“The concessionaire appears not to have complied with any of the ... safeguard provisions in the Sub-decree on Economic Land Concessions,” he said.

“If it is allowed to continue, the ramifications are going to be devastating for untold numbers of affected families in Pursat and Kampong Chhnang.”

New rail plans worry Cambodians [-More forced evictions are coming]

Saturday, October 31, 2009
Source: Al Jazeera

In some parts of rural Cambodia, public transport is virtually non-existent, so for years villagers have had their own innovative way of getting around - by what is known as a Bamboo Train, or locally, as a lorry.

Villagers rely on them to go to work, to the market, to travel to the hospital, and back home.

Now the government wants to introduce a modern rail system, but as Al Jazeera's Steve Chao reports from Pursat in Cambodia, the locals wonder whether the new trains will be as reliable as what they are used to.