Land feuds get top-level airing
Fifteen national and international organizations representing 38 civil society groups met with the National Assembly’s first commission on February 22 to discuss eight major land dispute cases in an effort to find a solution for those affected. Seoung Sen Karona, a human rights monitor and investigator for rights group Adhoc, said the groups are seeking help from the government in addressing land disputes that have disproportionally affected local residents, who are at the mercy of corporations willing to take their land and deal with the legal consequences later. “The eight major cases include Lor Peang, Beoung Pram, UDG, Sugar Cane, Se San 2 Dam, land in Pro May commune owned by indigenous citizens in Preah Vihear province, railway residents and the OCIC in Chroy Changvar district,” he said.
