Aug 11, 2009
DPA

Phnom Penh - About 300 Cambodians handed in petitions to government ministries and organizations in Phnom Penh Tuesday to protest the growing national problem of land grabs and forced evictions.

Organizers of the group action warned that landlessness is deepening poverty, and demanded an immediate end to intimidation and court action against people trying to protect their land.

Seng Sokheng, a spokesman for the community groups involved, said the petitions represent the concerns of 15,000 villagers in 19 of the kingdom's 24 provinces and municipalities.

He said the petitions were submitted to the National Assembly, the cabinet of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Council of Ministers, the National Authority on Land Disputes and three government ministries.