More than 100 families from Sihanoukville came to Phnom Penh on Monday to appeal for Prime Minister Hun Sen’s help to stop their eviction from land they claim to have occupied for decades.
In a thumb-printed letter delivered to Land Dispute Resolution Authority officials, 103 families from Mittapheap district’s commune number 3 asked Hun Sen to prevent their homes from being demolished. “We want Samdech Hun Sen to help us receive land titles,” said Thong Sokhom, one of the families’ six representatives.
According to a 2006 Commerce Ministry report, 18 hectares were leased by the Agricultural Ministry to YLP Group Ltd, whose principal owner is Mao Malay, wife of RCAF Commander-in-Chief General Ke Kim Yan.
The company intends to develop a casino resort on the site, the report says.
In a July 31 letter sent to the families, Sihanoukville Governor Say Hak wrote that all houses must be removed from the site by August 15.
Say Hak said by phone Monday that the families would have to move because they were living on state land. “We do not know what kind of compensation people will be given, but they will get a fair deal,” he said.
Land Dispute Resolution Authority deputy secretary-general Chum Bun Rong said his people were working on the case. However, he said he suspected that people wanting to create “chaos” had encouraged the demonstration.
Agriculture Minister Chan Sarun and Forestry Administration Deputy Director Chea Sam Ang could not be reached for comment Monday. Ke Kim Yan did not answer repeated phone calls.
