HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

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Re: HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

Post by SternAAlbifrons »

Wow, it seems the fish have finally got the big boss in their corner.

Funny..
it's traditionally Cambodia V. the Fish - cage fighting rules.
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Re: HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Another alleged land grab is being investigated in Kampong Chhnang:

Kampong Chhnang Couple Arrested for Land Encroachment

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By: Tep Kongrey / Kampong Chhnang: A couple involved in encroaching on state forest land were arrested by the authorities of Kampong Chhnang Provincial Department of Environment and brought to the prosecutor's office, at Kampong Chhnang Provincial Hall this morning, December 6, 2021.

According to a source, the two individuals were brought to the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Prosecutor's Office, according to the arrest warrants No. 2741 A.K.21 and No. 2742.OK / 21, dated 29 November 2021, issued by the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Kampong Chhnang.

The couple is identified as: Chum Piseth, alias Mr. Sith, 49 years old, husband, and his wife, Kreung Mealea, alias Ming, 52 years old. They live in Peam Tonle village, Po commune, Kampong Leng district, Kampong Chhnang province.
Chum Piseth is alleged to have allowed the villagers to cut down trees and encroach on the community forest land, in an environmentally controlled area located in Po Village, Po Commune, Kampong Leng District, Kampong Chhnang Province. He then paid them for the land that was cleared, and he continued his illegal business after he was contracted to stop by the authorities.
- Rasmei
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Re: HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

December 7, 2021
Government cancels all land transfers in Pursat flooded forests

Land Management Minister Chea Sophara yesterday issued a letter on seven measures to be implemented immediately with transparently to stop Tonle Sap flooded forest crimes in Pursat province.

Provincial authorities are required to issue a letter of instruction to the district and commune authorities to complete a thorough examination of all land tenure certificates and letters of transfer of land in the flooded forest area, as well as to issue a letter of denial of all documents previously issued.
Authorities must take immediate action to stop encroachment of flooded forests and identify the perpetrators in order to confiscate the land and take legal action against them.
Along with legal measures, the perpetrators must replant trees on the encroached land.
The Military Police must deploy patrols according to the target areas to prevent encroachment of flooded forests and implement legal measures.
The Water Resources Ministry is responsible for planting the missing and demolished flooded forest border posts and applying for state land registration of flooded forest land in the Tonle Sap areas.
For people who have planted crops, especially rice, they are given time to harvest but must sign a letter of acceptance and return the flooded forest land to the state.
Replanting trees gives priority to planting bamboo trees.


Meanwhile, the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Administration allowed more than 1,000 families to grow rice for another season in flooded forest areas along the Tonle Sap Lake before being confiscated as state property.

Provincial governor Sun Sovannarith said on Sunday that farmers in Kampong Leng district’s Chranouk commune now will be allowed to farm for another season in Area III at the commune’s Kork Preah area which was recently confiscated, but authorities will wait until after the harvest for the land to be returned to state property.

Sovannarith added that according to the Prime Minister’s order, more than 2,000 hectares of farmland in Area III, which were illegally occupied by officials and villagers, were recently inspected by an inter-ministerial working group and confiscated from the perpetrators.

The former governor of Kampong Chhnang province and current Rural Development Ministry undersecretary of state Chhour Chandoeun is currently facing an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Unit for his alleged crimes.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50983743/g ... d-forests/
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Re: HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Further details from the PPP on the current Tonle Sap lake crackdown:

30,000ha of wetlands encroached
Long Kimmarita | Publication date 07 December 2021 | 21:46 ICT

Nearly 30,000ha of flooded forest land stretching across the six provinces surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake have been illegally occupied or cleared by both ordinary citizens and in some cases public officials acting in a personal capacity.

Thus far, only 7,000ha have been confiscated from the encroachers and returned to state control but the government says it will seize and reforest all of it eventually.

The finding was the result of a week-long investigation led by Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara following orders from Prime Minister HE to get the situation under control.

HE said on November 28 that tens of thousands of hectares of flooded forest – which is a vital natural habitat used by Tonle Sap Lake fish for spawning – have been cleared of their tree cover. He ordered an investigation and the prosecution without exception of those involved in these crimes.

Sakhon on December 6 said the preliminary results of the investigation show that nearly 30,000ha of wetlands have been illegally cleared, but all of them will be reclaimed and rehabilitated.
He said that in Battambang alone, the cleared surface is about 12,000ha and in Banteay Meanchey the number stands at 5,350ha. Siem Reap has at least 1,970ha illegally cleared and Pursat has as much as 4,000ha. In Kampong Thom, they found 3,500ha and Kampong Chhnang another 2,000ha.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... encroached
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Re: HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

Post by SternAAlbifrons »

poor bastards

but but.. i was your friend
i was your great defender

...now you are my firing squad


bang bang bang


I'm not lookin' for friends
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Re: HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

December 8, 2021
Six people sent to provincial court for involvement in encroachment of more than 890 hectares of swamp forest land

The crackdowns and arrest of those involved in deforestation and land grabbing crimes continues in the country, with more people being sent to court for their involvement with the crimes.

Six more people were sent to the Battambang Provincial Court over their involvement. They were arrested by the Battambang Provincial Fisheries and Military Officers, in cooperation with the provincial gendarmerie, on December 8.

The six were suspects in the encroachment of 895 hectares of flooded forest land in three areas in Ek Phnom District, Battambang. The six men were caught while they were entering and exiting the area. When asked to leave, they refused.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50985072/s ... rest-land/
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Re: HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Investigation into Clearing of Kampong Chhnang Protected Lake Area
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Cambodia News, (Kampong Chhnang): According to a report of the local people to the media, along the shores of the Chhnok Andeng Conservation Lake, located in the former Lot 14 in Peam Popec village, Koh Thkov commune, Choul Kiri district, more than 20 years ago, there was a thick flooded forest around the lake, but now it has been cleared and the lake and the fence have been privately owned for many years.

So Heng, 61, a resident of Phlang village, Peam Chkork commune, Chulkiri district, a farmer around the lake, on December 10, 2021, told our reporters that for the past two years, he leased 12 hectares of land along the lake from Ms. Channa, a landowner living in Phnom Penh, who pays 600,000 riel per hectare per year. As for the rice he received, in this 12-hectare land, he received 40 tons of rice per year.
Image
Regarding the above case, Mr. Chen Phanna, Chief of Koh Thkov Commune, on December 10, said by phone that in the past, the authorities only allowed Ms. Channa to farm on the hillside next to the lake. Therefore, in case of illegal logging and clearing the forest along the lake, above the rice field, tomorrow he will call all those involved to rectify the problem. It is a protected lake area that the community must protect, not allow anyone to clear and occupy.

In particular, Mr. Ngin Hun, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Kampong Chhnang Province, after seeing the photos of the clearing of rice fields along the lake by telegram, which our media sent on December 10, he said that in case of violation of the above conservation lake, he will cooperate with the Department of Water Resources to check and take legal action. It is a protected lake that is protected by the fishing community and does not allow any person to bulldoze it.
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Re: HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

Post by John Bingham »

These moves by the highest authorities seem promising. However it also looks like the environment which previously had mangroves or seasonal flooded forests is irretrievably ruined. Hopefully it can recover.
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Re: HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

Post by Anchor Moy »

John Bingham wrote: Fri Dec 10, 2021 11:37 pm These moves by the highest authorities seem promising. However it also looks like the environment which previously had mangroves or seasonal flooded forests is irretrievably ruined. Hopefully it can recover.
Agree. I really hope that there will be some follow-up on this, with real attempts to rewild the cleared wetland forest areas. Also needs some consequences for the land-grabbers to send a clear message that the party is over.
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Re: HE Orders Crackdown on Land Grabs in Flooded Forests Around Lake Tonle Sap (UPDATES)

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

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Cambodia News, (Kampong Chhnang Province): A reliable source has reported that General Sum Socheat, Deputy Commissioner of Police of Kampong Chnang Province and General Keo Narun, Head of Intervention Office of Kampong Chhanang Province, were arrested at around 10 in the morning on 12 December 2018, concerning cases of landgrabs in the flooded forests around Lake Tonlesap in Kampong Chhnang province.
The source also clarified that the residence of the former governor of Kampong Chhnang, Mr. Chour Channdoeun, was also surrounded by the police. However, provincial officials have not commented on the issue yet.

Please be informed that the 1 star General Sum Socheat, General Keo Narun, and Mr. Chour Chandoeun have been found to have taken and destroyed flooded forests owned by the state. According to the primary report, Mr. Chour Chandoeun, has more than 3,000 hectares, Mr. Sum Socheat has nearly 500 hectares, while Mr. Keo Narun has about 200 hectares.

These are high government officials, but they have violated the law, and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia has said that there is no exception for this kind of person.
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