Land Conflict at Prek Treng village, Samroang Thom commune, Kien Svay district, Kandal Province between 114 families and H.E Prak Savuth’s Company.
The 46 hectars of land conflict between 114 families and H.E Prak Savuth which was started since 2005, now was mediated by ADHOC and led to an agreement. After a meeting of 29 reps. of villagers and Mr. Kim Sovann– a military commander of Kien Svay district and a rep of H.E Prak Savuth’s company, the villagers proposed the company to meet directly with villagers in the afternoon of July 4th, 2011.
Firstly, the company set compensation principal to offer 15m×50m to the villagers. Amongst 114 families who owned 150 plots of land, we found 25 plots of land having less sizes than 750 meters square. We found 64 plots of land having similar sizes or a little bigger than the first 25 plots of land. Therefore, we found other 60 plots of land having even bigger size from 40 acres to 1 hectar.
For those who have small plots of land, the company promised to add 750 meters square and for those who have big plots of land, it promised to compensate double as 30m×100m. However, the villagers did not agree at all with this.
ADHOC still kept trying to mediate this case. As a result, the company turned to seek resolution by buying the villagers’ land with the price of 1,50$ per 1 meter square by multiplying the real land area of the villagers according to the measurement and plots of land jointly measured by ADHOC and other relevant stakeholders.
The company decided to stop using the methods of distinguishing the villagers’ land and its land. 45 families agreed with this new method and others kept enrolling to solve the conflict the day after. Where as the rest with small plots of land did not come for ADHOC and the company to discuss the matters yet. We still do not know what those people really wanted. However, the company still resolved the conflict with those who accept the resolution without being forced to.
In regards to the criminal accusation, arrest warrant towards 62 people and the detainees in the prison, the company promised to talk with the court and it guaranteed to cease charges, arrests and decided to release 2 detainees after the conflict will be resolved.
This is a lesson learnt and experience for ADHOC that people used to have hot, sensitive and sometimes violent methods in solving the land conflict but having less result and decided to discuss which they have better results, avoiding illegal actions and dangers. The conflict resolution is the will and strong efforts making of the mediators to seek to compromise the two sides to get fruitful results.
As follow up, ADHOC coordinator in Kandal province will continue to monitor and seek more resolution.
For more information, pls. contact:
– Mr. Men Makara- Coordinator of Kandal province, Tel: 092 985 106
– Mr. Ouch Leng- Senior HR. Monitor, Tel: 011 256 053
