Today 74 representatives of communities in Chi Kha Leu commune, Sre Ambel district, Koh Kong submitted five petitions at government, parliamentary and diplomatic offices in Phnom Penh calling for a resolution to their decade-old land conflict.

The protest is the latest in a series of actions by the communities protesting against land grabbing by sugar producers in Sre Ambel district. The dispute began in 2006 following the establishment of sugar Economic Land Concessions (ELCs) in Koh Kong.

The peaceful protest saw representatives carrying banners and flags deliver petitions to the Ministry of Land Management, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Commerce. Other petitions were delivered to the embassy of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia and the National Assembly.

After submitting their petition to the National Assembly, Chi Kha Leu community representative Phav Nheung gave a brief press conference during which she called for both the government and opposition to help resolve their long-running land conflict. She also expressed her disappointment that the National Assembly was unable to intervene due to its workload and scheduled parliamentary holidays.