Kratie Governor Var Thorn, left, said that each family will receive two hectares of Social Land Concessions
Kratie resolves Memot Rubber Plantation land dispute in Snuol
Pech Sotheary / Khmer Times
Kratie provincial authorities have resolved a land dispute between more than 1,800 families and the Memot Rubber Plantation Company in Snuol district’s Pi Thnou commune.
Khan Chamnan, provincial deputy governor, yesterday said that each family will receive two hectares of Social Land Concessions.
He noted that the resolution process began in October last year and was successfully resolved this month with the government deciding to carve out about 4,000 hectares from an Economic Land Concession for the company to be given to the families.
Mr Chamnan said more than 4,000 hectares has been carved out in two locations, one involving more than 600 hectares and the other more than 3,000 hectares.
“The land allocation in the area will benefit 1,884 families, or nearly 7,000 family members,” he noted.
Kao Madilen, provincial Department of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction director, yesterday said that the government allocated the two hectares per family for them to build houses and farm.
He noted that land titles will be given out after they reside and cultivate the land for five years.
“Authorities have already allocated and handed over the land to the people, so they can go to live and cultivate crops,” Mr Madilen said. “After they live there for five years, we will grant them the legal land title. So, all the people please enjoy living and cultivating on the land without worry.”
The land dispute in Pi Thnou commune began in March 2018 and turned ugly when there was a clash between the armed forces and a group of protesters who blocked National Road 76A to prevent the company’s bulldozers from clearing their crops in the area.
Since then, residents have come to Phnom Penh about ten times to petition the government and Land Management Ministry to intervene in the land dispute.
Siv Vy, a resident among those who sought intervention, yesterday thanked the government for successfully resolving the land dispute and giving out two hectares of land to each family.
However, he urged provincial authorities to speed up repairing a road and other infrastructure in the area to facilitate people’s living.
“The biggest problem is that the road leading to the area is narrow and full of potholes and we spend a lot of time getting to the area,” Mr Vy said, adding that there is not enough water sources there for them to cultivate crops.
