P Sihanouk families seek titles

ABOUT a hundred families in Preah Sihanouk province gathered outside their local commune office on Tuesday to demand authorities follow through on what they said were promises to give them titles to land in what is now a Chinese land concession.

The 106 families from Andong Tek, Thmor Thom, Prek Trabek and Veal Chanty villages gathered at the Ream commune office in Prey Nop district to demand the titles, according to a representative who said the land had already been measured. Sen Chantha from Prek Trabek said the families had grown concerned about the pledge because the Chineseowned Yeejia Tourism Development had been using police to stop them accessing plots in a 3,300-hectare concession it was granted.

“It’s now the rainy season. People are ready to cultivate, but the company does not allow them to plough the land,” Chantha said. “We came to meet the commune chief directly to ask for intervention.”

A member of the Ream Commune Council said he believed Commune Chief Kem Chan had, before the June 4 commune elections, promised to give the families titles. Chan declined to comment yesterday.