Preah Sihanouk governor Kuoch Chamroeun leads a meeting on land issues in the province on June 13. PREAH SIHANOUK PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun stressed the importance of prompt and effective land registration to ensure efficient land management and prevent state land grabs.
He expressed this during a June 13 meeting at the provincial hall, where the focus was on preventing and cracking down on natural resource crimes and state land grabs in the coastal province.
Chamroeun highlighted the risk of illegal occupation and encroachment on state land if registration is delayed. He told working groups to responsibly execute their tasks, relying on management skills instead of resorting to violence.
“If we fail to register land quickly, it can create a goal of occupying and encroaching on state land. In the meantime, working groups must perform responsible tasks stringently and use management skills, not violence,” he said.
The governor further emphasised the campaign to combat natural resource crimes and state land grabs in the province. He told town and district administrations, relevant departments and units to intensify surveillance within their jurisdictions.
This initiative aligns with the recommendations of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who advocates prioritising education through administrative measures due to the province’s focus on land clearing and state land grabs rather than forest logging.
During the meeting, the governor urged that authorities increase surveillance to prevent natural resource crimes and state land grabs in their respective areas.
Separately in Svay Rieng province, deputy governor Men Eng led a joint task force on June 11 to combat forest land offences at the Krasang Forest Restoration Station in Romeas Hek district.
In its June 12 social media post, the provincial administration said residents in Andoung Trabaek commune’s Trapeang Smach village had cleared the forests – which fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Fisheries – to cultivate cash crops including rubber and engaged in other farming activities in Tras and Andoung Trabaek communes.
The post said the intruders were influenced by brokers, who told them that they could occupy the land on 476ha.
“Consequently, the working group decided to remove boundary posts on the state land, which had been placed in an attempt to seize it. The intruders also removed 250 rubber plants after receiving advice and information about relevant land laws from the provincial administration,” said Men Eng.
