Centered on rapidly growing fruit plantations , it was a conflict between a ‘ rich ad enterprising Chinese bourgeoisie which has taken possession of the land , and the alienated , indebted , and already semi-independent village communities. ” According to Kiernan , it was clear that “ corruption , the misuse of military and other authority , and increasing impoverishment , in the Samlaut , Pailin and Andoeuk Hep districts , for example , created a vast reservoir of peasant unrest that lacked only a reasonably sophisticated leadership .