Destroyed houses spark debate in Kampot
A company owned by a board member of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce has been accused of illegally destroying more than 80 houses in Kampot province’s Chhouk district, a claim vigorously denied by the firm and local authorities. Chan Pheng, a villager from Chi Bak village in Techo Aphiwat commune, told the Post yesterday that employees of tycoon Chan Sothea, director of First Bio-Tech Agricultural (Cambodia) Co, Ltd, had been burning down their homes since November 2, 2012. … In 2005, First Bio-Tech Agricultural (Cambodia) was granted a 10,000 hectare economic land concession in the area to develop a corn plantation and processing factory. Documents obtained by the Post earlier this year showed that the ELC had been cancelled, although its status remains unclear as another ELC in the same district that was scrapped appears to have since been revised. Chan Sothea, vehemently denied her company had illegally destroyed homes in Chi Bak and said her ELC was valid. …
