Protesters blocked on the way to Phnom Penh
About 80 families travelling to Phnom Penh from Kampong Chhnang province for a land dispute-related protest yesterday were blocked on their way to the capital and told to resolve the matter locally. … The villagers are locked in an unusual land feud with an agricultural firm, Ou Kolly Development, which has cleared hundreds of hectares to prepare the groundwork for cassava plantations. Ou Kolly, who could not be reached, has claimed that in 2011, local representatives of the community sold about 600 hectares to the firm. But not all residents agreed to the deal – or respected it. Last year, the holdouts took action, and went out farming on a portion of land. The company complained and the court summonsed seven villagers for questioning. The protesters yesterday are demanding that the company return 100 hectares for the purposes of subsistence farming. …
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013011760831/National/protesters-blocked-on-the-way-to-phnom-penh.html
