Thirty-five fishermen from Kompong Cham province came to Phnom Penh Friday to complain about irregularities in the fish lot bidding process.
Among other things, the group complained that as many as eight lots had not been bid out but were occupied and that two lots had been abandoned and changed hands without being re-bid.
Lim Sok Kong, one of the group’s representatives, said that after a protest there the Council of Ministers promised to look into the situation.
The fisherment then headed to Hun Sen’s residence in Takhmau. At Hun Sen’s residence, two fishermen were allowed in and told that lower officials would settle the issue.
Noa Thuok, deputy director of the Fisheries Department, said four lots weren’t auctioned off because they have been kept for research and development.
It was unclear Friday why the other lots in dispute had not been bid out.
