Kampong Chhnang villagers get in land dispute over clay digs
Chrey Bakk commune authorities in Kampong Chhnang province’s Rolea Ba’ier district are working to solve a land dispute between residents and a landowner who allegedly prevented the locals from digging for clay to make pot stoves.
Commune chief Taing Buntot said on October 17 that more than 40 villagers protested, seeking an intervention. The landowner had granted villagers access to the land until recently.
Buntot said the owner, Ith Dang, bought the land to excavate gravel and other stones, but the villagers asked authorities to intervene and request that the land be put aside for them to continue digging for clay, a practice that has existed for a long time.
Buntot said that after a mediation, Dany agreed to set aside 4ha of land at Anlong Phlang for villagers. At the time, Dany’s company had not dug for stone at the site. However, in 2017, it started digging next to the site put aside for the people.
Orm Bunthoeurn
