via Phnom Penh Post, 02 September 2020: Land encroachment and the illegal raising of structures has been a contentious issue in recent years in Siem Reap, bringing disputes between landowners and the Apsara National Authority over illegal constructions in the archaeological zone (see here and here).
The Apsara National Authority (ANA) and the Siem Reap provincial administration removed a structure belonging to Khun Sokhorn on Tuesday because they said it encroached on the Trapaing He Phka archaeological site in Siem Reap town’s Chreav commune.
Sokhorn claimed the land was passed down by his ancestors.
ANA spokesman Long Kosal said on Wednesday that Sokhorn’s construction included a fence, a toilet, a palapa structure and some fruit trees. Kosal said these structures were illegal because they were built at the historical site.
Kosal said the ANA had to remove Sokhorn’s structures once before, in November 2019, but he re-built them.
Source: Man’s land re-claimed at historic site | Phnom Penh Post
