Koh Rong Islanders Threatened with Eviction.

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Koh Rong Islanders Threatened with Eviction.

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Koh Rong Land Dispute Flares Up With Reports of Arrests
by Aun Pheap | February 3, 2017

Tensions are rising in one of the country’s hottest tourist destinations as a lingering land dispute stretching back almost a decade has again flared up.

The Royal Group, the business conglomerate owned by tycoon Kith Meng, received a land concession in 2008 to develop 5,000 hectares of the 7,830-hec­tare Koh Rong island and 2,450-hectare Koh Rong Samloem island, putting forward a $3.38 billion plan with casinos, hotels, golf courses and polo fields.
Little of the proposed development has progressed, however, with a $30 million five-star villa complex under construction but reportedly tied up in red tape.

The islands off the coast of Sihanoukville have been surging in popularity in recent years. Last month, National Geographic added Lazy Beach on Koh Rong Samloem to its list of the world’s best beaches, and news.com.au labeled Cambodia’s island getaways as 2017’s “it destination.”

On Tuesday, Royal Group representative Chhun Buntha and deputy Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Nop Panha visited the island. According to villagers living within the Royal Group’s concession, the pair threatened them with eviction.

Mr. Buntha said the villagers were warned to stop clearing protected forests.

Chy Viley, whose family has been living on Koh Rong since 1991, cultivating coconut trees, cashews and jackfruit, said Mr. Buntha threatened her family’s home and livelihood.
Mr. Buntha and the deputy police chief “came to the area and told villagers that the company would remove us soon because we were living on state land,” she said on Thursday.

Mr. Buntha, however, denied Ms. Viley’s account of the meeting.

“The company has no plan to evict those families. We just wanted provincial authorities to stop people from clearing the forest,” Mr. Buntha said.

He said police arrested 11 people for clearing state forests, but they were released after being warned not to do it again.

Noun Bunthol, head of the provincial intersectoral division, said national authorities would settle the land dispute.
“We are now waiting for a decision from the government, and if the government decides to divvy up the land for the families, we will issue land titles for [sic]
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/koh- ... ts-124515/
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Re: Koh Rong Islanders Threatened with Eviction.

Post by Bitte_Kein_Lexus »

What I don't get is why they want them to stop clearing the forest (good), but their billion dollar project includes golf courses and a polo course... What will happen to the forest then? No Khmer development project ever includes protecting and working around the forest. Besides, we all know the Royal Group is broke, so why are they even allowed to continue with the concession? Cambodia ended a deal with Cambodia Airports last week that was set to end in 2040. Weird how they don't end deals with buddy buddy Royal Group.
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Re: Koh Rong Islanders Threatened with Eviction.

Post by phuketrichard »

what dont ya get??? clearing land, than they build a small house, plant and later claim ownership....
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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Re: Koh Rong Islanders Threatened with Eviction.

Post by cptrelentless »

Hard titles are up for grabs now if you were there before 2008 and there's a dwelling. There's people popping out of the woodwork all over now. I thought this was the reason work stopped. So they are out of money? They ran off with everyone's deposit in Shv Walking Street, should have loads of cash
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Re: Koh Rong Islanders Threatened with Eviction.

Post by Bitte_Kein_Lexus »

The rumours of Royal Group being insolvent aren't exactly new. I do they the little homesteaders clearing forest is bad, and yeah, tons of people showing up. However, the claim that they're cutting down trees so it's bad is a bit funny when you're about to build a golf course...
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Re: Koh Rong Islanders Threatened with Eviction.

Post by jaynewcastle »

I didn't get over to Soksan beach this year, but I'm pretty sure the developers have bulldozed a lot more of the island already in just 24months, than the local population have done in the last 10 years
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Re: Koh Rong Islanders Threatened with Eviction.

Post by willyhilly »

Wikileaks told us the Kith Meng was the bagman for HE. If people realised how much ex government real estate is owned by the Royal Group then it is obviously true.
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