The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Police are continuing their investigation into a clash between local residents and employees of two private companies. The scuffle resulted in six injuries.

Officers are gathering additional evidence, and attempting to identify each of the individuals involved.

In a December 24 press release, the provincial police reported that the violent incident occurred at 7pm on December 15, in the Ou Chhleung Leu area of Bit Trang commune’s Koki village, which is now part of Kampong Som town.

It added that from December 16 to 23, a specialised task force interviewed 11 individuals involved in the incident, including six representatives of the local community and five company employees. The police also inspected the scene and collected evidence.

The report explained that the two companies are Ratanak Sambath, and another unnamed firm, reportedly owned by Oknha Meam Vannak.

The authorities did not disclose the cause of the conflict, explaining that the investigation is ongoing. According to local residents, employees of the Ratanak Sambath company blocked access to their homes, which reportedly triggered the confrontation.

Cheab Sotheary, a provincial coordinator for the rights group ADHOC, explained that the land in question has been the subject of multiple disputes, as it was originally forest land cover under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment. 

Ratanak Sambath claims to have secured the rights and land titles for investment, while local residents have been living on the land for some time, even constructing buildings.

Sotheary noted that if Ratanak Sambath truly owns the land, the company should have prevented residents from settling there from the start by notifying them immediately and working with the relevant authorities to resolve the issue peacefully.

“If the rightful landowner believes there has been an infringement, they cannot use private forces to evict residents on their own. They must file a complaint through legal channels so authorities can investigate and verify their ownership documents,” she explained.

“Entering the site at night without following legal due process is against the law. Such entry is only permissible in emergencies, such as if people at the scene call for help,” she said.

She emphasised that if Ratanak Sambath indeed holds titles for the disputed land, it should not have sent private security forces in at night. Instead, it should have adhered to legal procedures by notifying the authorities, who would act accordingly.

Sotheary added that Cambodia has sufficient legal mechanisms in place to address land disputes, eliminating the need for conflict.