Dozens of villagers from the border town of O’Smach appealed to King Norodom Sihanouk on Tuesday to intervene in a land dispute involving the provincial authorities.
Nearly 200 families gathered in the park near the National Assembly and Royal Palace to protest their eviction in O’Smach by local authorities and soldiers earlier this month.
Villagers said the land was sold to businessmen who will build a casino and market. Village Chief Prum Ban said the government had moved the residents to mined land 2 km from O’Smach.
Military Region 4 officials have denied any involvement in the eviction, but confirmed that provincial officials had ordered the land cleared.
Um Em, secretary of state for the King’s cabinet, said the King had given 20 kg of rice to each person as well as 40,000 riel for each adult and 10,000 riel for each child.
