On 13 March 2013 at Srecha Commune office, Mrs. Tim Narin, ADHOC Kratie Coordinator cooperated with Mr. Ouk Sara, Commune Chief, and Mrs. Lim Savorn, a Commune Councilor to mediate in a longstanding land dispute between two sisters: Ms. Ourn Dany, a 47 year old farmer and Ms. Ourn Sreypove, a 32 year old businesswoman.
ADHOC found that the conflict originated in 2009 when Ms. Ourn Sreypove requested her land back from her older sister Ms. Ourn Dany – who had tended the land previously – after she divorced her husband. She intended to create a small business. Ms. Ourn Dany rejected the request for the following reasons: firstly, Ms. Ourn Sreypove asked her sister for half of an area of land measuring o79m2,which was nearly twice the original land area that belonged to her in the first place, reflecting instead new land acquired by Ms Ourn Dany; and secondly, because Ms. Ourn Dany would not pay her sister an agreed monthly fee to use the land that she had been leased.
Ms. Ourn Sreypove filed a complaint to commune office in an attempt to solve the matter. On 25 April 2009 Mr. Phorn Chhorn, Srechar Commune Chief, mediated in the case. Both parties agreed to divide the land into two. Of the original 40m2 piece of land, Ms. Ourn Sreypove recieved 25m2 and Ms. Ourn Dany15m2. However, the conflict was not resolved as Mrs. Ourn Sreypove rejected a request by her sister to provide her with a monthly fee of 50,000 Riel and one sack of rice, which had been part of the deal to solve the conflict.
Then in December 2012 Ms. Ourn Sreypove again filed a complaint to the Commune Chief. Another mediation was scheduled on 8 March 2013 in Snoul District, but no agreement was reached. On 13 March 2013 using ADHOC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) tool, developed in collaboration with Tilberg University, both parties agreed to end the conflict by dividing the land two, and Ms. Ourn Sreypove agreed to pay 500.000 Riel to Ms. Ourn Dany as a fee for the care of the land.
After mediation process was over, the Commune Chief reported to the Snoul District Governor regarding the positive outcome of the mediation. As previously the local and district authorities were unable to satisfactorily solve this case, they were pleased and thanks ADHOC for the intervention.
For information contact to:
Mrs. Chhan Sokunthea 016 873209
Mr. Ny Sokha 012 963 860
