Background
The National Assembly’s Human Rights, Complaints and Investigations Committee (Committee No.1) conducted an inspection mission in Prey Veng province on 21 May 2026 to monitor implementation of land dispute resolution procedures under the government’s first-phase land clearance strategy for the seventh mandate. The committee’s visit focused on administrative mechanisms used to resolve land conflicts outside the formal court system.
Provincial authorities reported 21,497 land parcels in 20 villages (equivalent to 7 communes across 3 districts) classified as full disputes covering 10,839 hectares, and 16,391 parcels in 62 villages (equivalent to 17 communes across 5 districts) classified as partial disputes covering 11,002 hectares. The provincial administration described state-land encroachment cases affecting rights over road reserves, drainage reserves, river and pond margins and public-use sites, and said it is promoting systematic land registration and public outreach to prevent further encroachment.
Key Developments
Committee No.1 held a provincial-level meeting in Prey Veng with the provincial governor, district council members, representatives of central deputies for the province, and heads of relevant departments and technical agencies. Provincial officials reported that, while there were no widespread issues with private land titles, multiple cases of encroachment on state land remain under administrative review.
Institutional Role
Committee No.1 performs parliamentary oversight of complaints, investigations and the application of law in land and human-rights related cases, with particular attention to border matters and protection of national sovereignty as stated by committee leadership. The provincial administration is using a layered dispute-resolution architecture that routes cases through commune- and district-level mediation and to provincial dispute-resolution committees before considering judicial channels.
Operational Implications
Provincial authorities signalled an intention to resolve land disputes promptly and in accordance with the law to avoid adverse effects on residents’ livelihoods and local productivity. Reported operational measures include accelerating systematic land registration, intensifying public information campaigns at all local authority levels, and applying out-of-court mediation via commune/district mediation bodies, provincial dispute-resolution committees and the named committee mechanism referenced by provincial officials.
