Officials inspect demarcation markers in an area of flooded forest near the Tonle Sap Lake. Tonle Sap authority
Approximately 40,000 hectares of land in Zones 2 and 3 surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake in Kampong Thom province have been illegally encroached upon by 176 individuals. Authorities are currently deliberating to find solutions for those unwilling to return the land to the state.
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The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) announced that a significant area of flooded forest area is being unlawfully occupied. Of the 176 individuals involved, 152 have voluntarily returned 30,109 hectares of land, according to an announcement made by the National Anti-Corruption Council (NACC), during its 41st plenary meeting, held last week.
“Another 24 individuals illegally occupy 9,463 hectares, with some holding as much as 2,500 hectares. They refuse to return the land to the state,” the ACU stated.
ACU spokesman Soy Chanvichet said on December 3 that internal discussions are ongoing, although no public details were available at this stage.
“We are in internal action discussion, so many things are kept secret. This work is done in the provinces adjacent to the Tonle Sap Lake, but the information that we highlighted first relates to Kampong Thom,” he said, adding that some of the individuals involved have been detained and referred to court.
During last week’s closing annual meeting of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, Prime Minister Hun Manet reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Tonle Sap Lake for the benefit of current and future generations.
He noted a halt on further reclassifications or reductions of the Tonle Sap land boundaries, following the recent reallocation of approximately 80,000 hectares and the demarcation of zone 3.
“We will not hesitate to enforce the law in this matter. In the past, the ACU has taken legal action, arresting and imprisoning several individuals, including deputy district governors. This includes officials from provincial administrations and relevant departments,” he said.
The land management ministry rejected proposals to reclassify Zone 3 of Tonle Sap Lake as Zone 2 and vowed strict enforcement of the law against any encroachment on state land in the area.
The NACC reported that the ACU is investigating 36 complaints which were filed in November, with four cases involving nine suspects referred to the courts in Takeo province and Phnom Penh.
In Takeo province, legal proceedings have been initiated against Heng Vuthy, director of the provincial planning and investment office, and two accomplices for abuse of power and embezzling over 1 billion riel (approximately $250,000) from a rural development project.
Last month, the ACU also addressed allegations of undue influence on Kampong Chhnang’s provincial administration over a land exchange involving an old prison site and the construction of a new facility.
