Phsar Depot Commune House Removal Continues for 2nd Day
By Pin Sisovann and Jason McBride
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The removal of up to 90 houses in Tuol Kok district's Phsar Depot 1 commune continued for a second day on Thursday ahead of what district authorities said are plans to extend a road along the northern side of the Mondial Center banquet halls.
"Even if I cry, my house will still be gone," said resident Sin Sivom, 28, as she sat next to the remnants of her house.
Even though the residents have been offered 5-by-12 meter plots of land at a relocation site 20 km from the city, several said Thursday that they had little choice but to move but would rather stay in the city.
"I don’t want to live there with no electricity, no water and far from a school for my children," Sin Sivorn said. Residents, some claiming to have lived in the commune since the late 1980s, said they agreed to a lottery to allocate the plots of land at the relocation site.
Resident Van Saveun on Wednesday accused local authorities of using dirty tricks to get families to move to the relocation site—in particular, exaggerating the number of people who agreed to move as a means to pressure those who did not want to leave.
Tuol Kok district Deputy Governor Khuon Sreng denied the claims of impropriety in the handing of the eviction.
"They groundlessly accused us. We have a committee working transparently," he said.
The families are being moved, according to authorities, because they are actually on the site of Street 202—a Lon Nol-era thoroughfare that was included on maps during the 1970s but never actually used as a road. The area from where the houses are being moved is one of four "streets" surrounding Mondial Center, a sprawling banquet and wedding facility owned by business tycoon Kong Triv.
Residents claimed their houses are being cleared to allow the Mondial Center to open a new entrance to relieve traffic congestion at the facilities' two other gates.
Kong Triv denied the allegation Wednesday. "It is not my land. It is a city street," he said.
"Even if I cry, my house will still be gone," said resident Sin Sivom, 28, as she sat next to the remnants of her house.
Even though the residents have been offered 5-by-12 meter plots of land at a relocation site 20 km from the city, several said Thursday that they had little choice but to move but would rather stay in the city.
"I don’t want to live there with no electricity, no water and far from a school for my children," Sin Sivorn said. Residents, some claiming to have lived in the commune since the late 1980s, said they agreed to a lottery to allocate the plots of land at the relocation site.
Resident Van Saveun on Wednesday accused local authorities of using dirty tricks to get families to move to the relocation site—in particular, exaggerating the number of people who agreed to move as a means to pressure those who did not want to leave.
Tuol Kok district Deputy Governor Khuon Sreng denied the claims of impropriety in the handing of the eviction.
"They groundlessly accused us. We have a committee working transparently," he said.
The families are being moved, according to authorities, because they are actually on the site of Street 202—a Lon Nol-era thoroughfare that was included on maps during the 1970s but never actually used as a road. The area from where the houses are being moved is one of four "streets" surrounding Mondial Center, a sprawling banquet and wedding facility owned by business tycoon Kong Triv.
Residents claimed their houses are being cleared to allow the Mondial Center to open a new entrance to relieve traffic congestion at the facilities' two other gates.
Kong Triv denied the allegation Wednesday. "It is not my land. It is a city street," he said.
1 comment:
What happens to the multi-party committee for the land dispute resolutions?
Does that means all parties are now responsible for the continuing mess?
Why did SRP propose such Committee at the first place?
Was it naive enough to think it could fix the problem, or was it just an initial step to claim for some positions for their members?
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