Unresolved Land Disputes Rising: Rights Coalition

Kampong Speu land protesters (Photo: VOA)

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
Tuesday, 01 June 2010

“Please stop using the military or police forces to protect the company.”

Rights groups say they are concerned with a spike in reported land disputes that have gone unresolved under the current law.

The increasing number is because the government is providing economic land concessions while powerful government officials are also seizing land from the people, Chhith Sam Ath, executive director of the NGO Forum, told reporters Tuesday.

Land disputes reported to NGOs under the umbrella organization climbed 27 percent in 2009, from 173 cases in 2008, and another 32 percent in in first five months of 2010, according to the NGO Forum.

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