Villagers in Sihanoukville Ordered off Disputed Land

The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court has ordered villagers living on disputed land in Sihanoukville to leave the area by Thursday, according to a statement released by th the court yesterday. "We wish to inform people living in Muoy commune's Phuom Bei village that on August 9, the provincial court will lead an inter-commission force to remove houses from the disputed land and take them for a debtor," said the statment, which is dated July 31 and signed by provincial court Judge Lik Sokha. Provincial Governor Sboang Sarath said that the court's decision came after a failed attempt to resolve the dispute in a meeting held on July 26 between villagers and provincial authorities.