Authorities pressured and prevented dozens of members of communities embroiled in land conflicts from travelling to Phnom Penh this morning to join with more than 800 other land community members delivering petitions to government ministries.

Around 500 people from Koh Kong province and some 360 more from Kampong Speu province rallied in the capital to demand the government resolve longstanding land disputes and deliver land titles and/or fair compensation to communities left waiting for years. Representatives of six Koh Kong communities and three Kampong Speu communities delivered petitions to the ministries of justice, interior and land management as well as Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet on Tuesday amid a heavy police presence.

En route to Phnom Penh, police stopped dozens of members of Kampong Speu’s Amleang Land Community and compelled community representatives to sign agreements not to cause “social insecurity” in Phnom Penh before allowing seven of their eight vehicles to continue, claiming some vans were overloaded with passengers.

Later, police in Kampong Chhnang province pressured and appeared to target dozens of Amleang community members by threatening to fine drivers under the traffic law unless community members turned around and went home. Only five of the seven remaining vehicles continued to Phnom Penh, after paying fines of 1.2 million riel (about US$300) per vehicle.

Police also arbitrarily stopped three vehicles carrying members of Raksmey Samaki Land Community, and asked for drivers’ identification and other documents. Only one of the vehicles were allowed to continue to the capital. Authorities stopped another 12 vehicles with members of Trapeang Chour Land Community, but allowed all of them to travel on to Phnom Penh.

The three Kampong Speu communities have land conflicts dating as far back as 2010 with Phnom Penh Sugar Company, owned by okhna Ly Yong Phat. The Koh Kong communities also have land disputes with companies owned by Ly Long Phat and okhna Heng Huy.