Khmer-Thai border crossing.By Khmerization
Cambodian villagers living on top of the Dangrek Mountains along the Khmer-Thai borders are appealing to their neighbours to return back to live in their village, reports Radio Free Asia.
The villagers from Choup Koki village, Ampil commune of Banteay Ampil district in Oddar Meanchey Province also appealed to the Cambodian government to provide incentives for their returns after they have left the areas since the Khmer-Thai border conflicts erupted in the middle of 2008.
Mr. Soy Thlai, chief of the village of Choup Koki West, said before the border conflicts there were 300 families living in two border villages, that is Choup Koki West and Choup Koki East. After the conflicts erupted, many had left because of fears and the lack of food. Currently, there are only 60 families had stayed behind in the two villages. "I appeal to the government of Samdech Decho Hun Sen to earmark the surplus lands (for the returnees). In the Choup Koki areas, there are a lot of unused lands. There are plenty of lands, but no people living in them. I want to see many people coming back to live in the areas like before. Furthermore, I appeal to Samdech Decho (Hun Sen) to build the market for us", Mr. Soy Thlai said.
One villager, who spoke on condition of anonymity, echoes Mr. Soy Thlai's concerns. "Our livelihood is a bit difficult because they (Thai) did not open their markets (to us) like before. We really face the shortage of food. We want the Khmer-Thai market to remain open like before", he said.
Mr. Chhim Sivuthy, assistant to the Governor of Oddar Meanchey province, said that all the villagers had been given lands to live, but most of them sold their lands to businessmen and left the areas. Now they want to return and had asked for another plot of lands. However, he said former villagers who want to return have to register through their village authority, and if they are the families of soldiers, they must register through their army units, in order to receive a plot of lands from the authority.
Cambodian villagers living on top of the Dangrek Mountains along the Khmer-Thai borders are appealing to their neighbours to return back to live in their village, reports Radio Free Asia.
The villagers from Choup Koki village, Ampil commune of Banteay Ampil district in Oddar Meanchey Province also appealed to the Cambodian government to provide incentives for their returns after they have left the areas since the Khmer-Thai border conflicts erupted in the middle of 2008.
Mr. Soy Thlai, chief of the village of Choup Koki West, said before the border conflicts there were 300 families living in two border villages, that is Choup Koki West and Choup Koki East. After the conflicts erupted, many had left because of fears and the lack of food. Currently, there are only 60 families had stayed behind in the two villages. "I appeal to the government of Samdech Decho Hun Sen to earmark the surplus lands (for the returnees). In the Choup Koki areas, there are a lot of unused lands. There are plenty of lands, but no people living in them. I want to see many people coming back to live in the areas like before. Furthermore, I appeal to Samdech Decho (Hun Sen) to build the market for us", Mr. Soy Thlai said.
One villager, who spoke on condition of anonymity, echoes Mr. Soy Thlai's concerns. "Our livelihood is a bit difficult because they (Thai) did not open their markets (to us) like before. We really face the shortage of food. We want the Khmer-Thai market to remain open like before", he said.
Mr. Chhim Sivuthy, assistant to the Governor of Oddar Meanchey province, said that all the villagers had been given lands to live, but most of them sold their lands to businessmen and left the areas. Now they want to return and had asked for another plot of lands. However, he said former villagers who want to return have to register through their village authority, and if they are the families of soldiers, they must register through their army units, in order to receive a plot of lands from the authority.
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