Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Preah Vihear villagers seek solution to ‘encroachment’

Preah Vihear villagers seek solution to ‘encroachment’

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Land affected by gold mining operations in Romtom commune in Preah Vihear province​‘s Rovieng district. Photo supplied

Preah Vihear villagers seek solution to ‘encroachment’

Around 230 families from three villages in Romtom commune of Preah Vihear province’s Rovieng district said they are worried about the continued encroachment on their farmland by three companies which have licences for gold mining and agricultural in the area.

The villageres said they had been seeking intervention but had yet to receive a solution.

The three companies have been identified as Delcom Cambodia; Tin San, a gold mining company; and Kim Gia Thuan Group Co, Ltd, a company licensed to cultivate rubber.

Tuy Chheng, a 64-year-old resident of Romdeng village, told The Post on March 17 that his 4ha of farmland, among many other villagers’, had been affected.

Chheng said that recently, one of the three companies has also continued its land encroachment activities, affecting the land of another 10 households despite their efforts to seek intervention.

“The gold mining company keeps surrounding villagers’ farmland. On March 15 and 16, they encroached 500m from their boundary,” he said.

Eth Thon, a resident of Otrolok village who has disputed with rubber firm Kim Gia Thuan Group, told The Post that residents in his village had also submitted a petition to the Ministry of Interior for intervention in 2020.

As a result, he said district authorities in mid-March asked villagers who had thumbprints on the petition to come one by one for questioning, though nothing has come of it.

“My 4ha of bananas and other cash crops were cleared, so we complained. Then they questioned us about the thumbprints, asking who our representatives were or if anyone had forced us to do so.

“Our villagers did it voluntarily. But we were afraid and concerned when the district administration called us for questioning,” he added.

The Post could not contact the companies’ representatives for comment.

Rovieng district governor Hor Bunhuor could not be reached for comment.

Provincial governor Prak Sovann told The Post on March 17 he would assign officials to investigate further.

“I have not received new information yet, so I will contact the district authority. There has been an impact, so it’s hard for me to tell,” he said.

Lor Chan, provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, said: “Authorities should find a solution for those who are really affected and should also follow the government’s principles through the previous Regulation 001, which uses the so-called “tiger skin formula” to allocate land for people.”

The tiger skin formula is where the government allocates land to an entity but the land has villages on it. The villages own some of the land and certain areas to farm. The entity can use the land in areas not owned by villagers.

“Also, when the company or any conflict occurs, authorities should temporarily suspend [clearing] activities and wait for a solution before the company can continue its operations. Otherwise, as the company keep clearing land, people would lose their benefits,” he said.

The land disputes date back to 2015 and continues without a solution, with the companies accused of clearing people’s farmland.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication