Dozens of Cambodians charged in land dispute: activist

This photo taken on Dec 6, 2023 shows a general view of the site of an economic land concession (ELCs) in Preah Vihear province. - AFP

PHNOM PENH: A Cambodian court has charged 29 people with illegally occupying state land following an incident in which authorities fired live rounds in a crackdown on a longstanding land dispute, a rights activist said Wednesday (March 13).

The villagers were arrested last week when police, gendarmes and forestry officials moved to evict people from the land in northwestern Preah Vihear province, Am Sam Ath, operations director of rights group Licadho, told AFP.