Duo Gets Bail After Obstructing Land Volunteers

A Council of Ministers official and her husband who were arrested in July for obstructing a land-titling initiative spearheaded by Prime Minister Hun Sen have received bail, Stung Treng Provincial Court prosecutor Chroeng Khmao said Friday. Meas Sokhon, who works at the Council of the Ministers’ legal affairs office, was arrested July 10 with her husband, Kuch Pre Sovann, for allegedly confronting student volunteers dispatched to measure land in the province. The couple was arrested after trying to claim ownership over state land, which they have previously been accused of clearing of forest a decade ago. … Mr. Hun Sen’s program involves thousands of student volunteers dispatched t rural areas to help demarcate land, the first step in securing tenure for villagers living on state land and private economic land concessions.