PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered to divide the land of the Tonle Sap Lake, in zones 2 and 3, for the people who have lived in the villages on that land for a long time, with consideration to historical factors and people’s living conditions. He confirmed this division of land in a special statement made on Friday morning, 27 May.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that the conservation of the Tonle Sap Lake is necessary, but consideration must also be given to historical factors and the living standards of the people. He ordered for the situation on the ground to be checked, and ordered for the land to be divided according to where villagers have lived for a long time, many since they were born, including the communes, districts and pagodas they have always known.

He said, "This issue must be considered, and we have not been stuck in one place. Whether [the land to be divided to the people] is in zone 3 or zone 2, we must recognize that this zone existed before we set the framework of zone 1, 2 and 3. […] It is not a new place that people inhabit, they have lived there for generations, that [the land] needs to be divided out like cutting tiger skin."

The Prime Minister ordered the Minister of Land, Deputy Prime Minister Chea Sophara, and the provincial governors of districts and communes in those zones, to take responsibility and make a request on behalf of the people for the land to be kept as the zone which they have known, and submit it to the Royal Government for decision.

The LICADHO Deputy Director for the Monitoring Program Am Sam Ath, has said that he supports the Prime Minister's decision.

He said, "I support and I understand that the decision of the head of the Royal Government, Samdech Techo, is the right thing for the people who have settled and lived on this land for generations. They should be able to continue living there and get a land title deed. But more importantly, along with the decision of the head of the Royal Government, the authorities must take measures to prevent further invasion that is in contrast from the Royal Government’s decision.”

The Tonle Sap Lake is divided into three zones. The first zone is the zone where people can live and can be registered, the second zone is the zone, between zone 1 and 3, allows people to get benefits from the land through farming, and zone 3 is the flooded forest area with strictly protected land.

According to Prime Minister Hun Sen, in the past, he asked the Minister of Land and the Provincial Governor along the Tonle Sap Lake to adjust the boundaries of zone 3 and zone 2 in three provinces, including Pursat, Banteay Meanchey and Kampong Thom, with about 144 hectares between zone 2 to zone 1, to be for more than 9,000 families, and about 9,800 hectares between zone 3 and zone 2, to be provided for 3,400 families.