Villagers block road, demand compensation
About 140 villagers in Koh Kong province set up a roadblock for the second consecutive day Thursday, demanding compensation from a Chinese company they say burned down their homes to make way for part of a multibillion-dollar tourist resort, according to a rights worker and the villagers.
The villagers blocked a 55-km section of road leading from the provincial town to the company headquarters of Union Development Group—which has been locked in a land dispute with villagers since 2008 over UDG’s plans to turn part of Koh Kong’s once-pristine coastline into a $3.8-billion tourism zone, complete with hotels, golf courses and an airport. The project is located inside Botum Sakor National Park, where UDG has been allowed to clear 45,000 hectares, or about a quarter of the park. …
Mr. Kongcheth, provincial monitor for rights group Licadho, said the roadblock began Wednesday, when about 105 villagers briefly clashed with 40 company security guards and six soldiers armed with AK-47 assault rifles that allegedly work for UDG. There were no injuries. …
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villagers-block-road-demand-compensation-51643/
