Saturday, December 09, 2006

If MP Son Chhay is forced to sell his property at well below market value, imagine what would happen to an ordinary citizen

Saturday and Sunday, December 9-10, 2006
SRP Lawmaker To Go To Court Over Land

By Prak Chan Thul and James Welsh
The Cambodia Daily

Siem Reap Provincial Court will rehear a case filed by the Apsara Authority against SRP lawmaker Son Chhay demanding that he abide by a compulsory order to sell his property. The court in August ordered Son Chhay, who was absent from the hearing to vacate his 3.14 hectares of land and accept $19,740 as compensation—around 62 cents per-square-meter, presiding Judge Ieng Kimthol said on Friday. Ieng Kimthol, who will preside over the Dec 18 hearing, said the trial was being reheard because of Son Chhay's absence from the first hearing. Son Chhay said that he is the victim of an illegal land grab and that he will only sell to the Apsara Authority if they pay the market value—which he said was around $100 per-square-meter in Siem Reap town—and if they prove the land will serve the public good. Apsara Authority Director General Bun Narith said that the long-planned "culture and tourism city" is earmarked for the land.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nothing to woory about Son Chhay; he is not stupid. He would ask Hun Sen for help.

And Hun Sen, who regards Son Chhay as his brother, will do Son Chhay a favour.

SiS

Anonymous said...

That's probably a dream that Ah! Sen will help SRP member of Parliment. Son Chhay will find ways to sell his land at markrt value.

Anonymous said...

The market price is what they have to pay that is the law of everyland. No one can devalue your land in the name of development and no citizen should be a victim of the nation they sacrifice asset for the name of development.

Anonymous said...

How about the nice and large Siem Reap stadium that the government sold off to whoever? Where the hell was Apsara Authority? And the provincial police headquarters? There many plots of state-owned land in Siem Reap town that CPP senior officials and their families shared among themselves. Those lands should be returned to the state for proper and responsible development for the benefits of the public.

In Cambodia, the concept of being powerful or strongmen means being above the law of the land. They can break every written law in the book and say they are right.