PM Orders Immediate Seizure of Illegally Owned Land Around Tonle Sap

• Kongleaphy Keam
• 29 November 2021
• Local News
• 2121 Views

Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen has ordered an immediate seizure of all the illegally owned mangrove forest land in the Tonle Sap region from encroachers regardless of their social status, while a special working group has also been established to investigate and tackle the issues.

Samdech Hun Sen stated in a voice message that the seizure must be done at all costs no matter how much criticism the government may face.

“The encroachers must also face legal charges by law. Only law can solve these problems. We have been educating them for decades about the consequences of this, but why are some powerful people are still doing these kinds of illegal activities,” said PM Hun Sen.

On Sunday 28 November, the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) also established a special working group to work on the task. Meanwhile, the targeted areas are Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap and Kampong Thom provinces.

The special group consists of the six sub-teams who will work closely with the Ministry of Water Resources Management, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment, the Tonle Sap Authority, and local authorities.

The ministry further stated that the task force must begin implementing from 23 November onwards.

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