Land Grabs Victims File Complaint

Land Grabs Victims File Complaint Written by DAP NEWS -- Thursday, 13 August 2009 02:47

Cambodians from across the kingdom gathered to submit just over 119,000 thumbprints to the Cambodian Government as a complaint over illegal land confiscations and encroachment Representatives from 19 various provinces had banded together to peak for all Cambodian victims of land grabs by local authorities and private companies, representatives told DAP News Cambodia on Wednesday. They together made a formal complaint on August 11 during a press conference prepared by the World Vision organization. There were victims of 29 cases of land trespassing, and forestry and fisheries case present, representatives explained. “According to this case, we come to Phnom Penh to protest and file a law suit to the Cambodian Government to ask them for give a good solution for us,” one said. Seng Sokheng, a community representative from Oddor Meanchey province, said that “Upon our first consideration we filed a suit because all of us believed in local authorities´ resolution first, but it was the opposite of what we needed. There was no way to get a good resolution for us.” Seng Thvel, a member of a Ratanakkiria ethnic minority, told DAP News Cambodia that “we are depend on farming … [but] some rich men and high-ranking officers trespassed upon our ancient lands.” “We have no land to plant or grow rice, so our money dwindles because of we have no land to produce.” A representative of CHRAC Ny Chakriya said with feeling “I am very sorrowed by all of their needs because they have no choice to count on their rice fields. If the cunning trespass upon their lands, it causes to lose all hope for life.” One civil society organization’s statement urged “balance,” asking that “all relevant Cambodian institutions should take action and give a good resolution in a balanced manner.