By U. Ch.
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
SRP MP Son Chhay is pursuing the legal battle between himself and the Apsara authority for a piece of property in Siem Reap, located in the zone which is currently being used for the Angkor-Gyeongju cultural exposition. The opposition MP will request for an appeal to the verdict given by the Siem Reap municipal court authorizing the Apsara authority to expropriate the 3-hectare of land after paying Son Chhay about $19,000 in compensation. An amount which is far from the current asking price of close to $100 per square meter for a location near the door to Angkor, Son Chhay claimed.
This property is located in a zone which the government wanted to acquire in view of transferring it to the Apsara authority for developing tourist activities. Several months before the signing of a 1995 sub-decree which delineated the zone and designated it as “hotel zoning,” Son Chhay bought from villagers 3-hectare of land in this zone. Since 2000, the majority of the land occupiers gave up their land to the State and received some compensation in return. That was not Son Chhay’s case.
“It is not about money that I am requesting for an appeal, but, this is to show to the world these injustices,” Son Chhay explained. “I do not hope to win in the appeal court because I know that the court decision will depend on the government orders. […] Villagers were victims of this government policy which collect lands on which these villagers lived on from long time ago, and turn back to sell them to private companies.”
The opposition MP said that he is ready to provide the land to the Sate, “maybe even free of charge,” if this serves the “public interest.” “But here, it is only so that private companies can make a profit from,” he claimed while accusing the government of already selling the zone to Villa Sokha, a company belonging to Sok Kong. Son Chhay is also wondering about the zone designation as “hotel zoning” which hints that the government intends to give the land to real estate developers.
For Bun Narith, the Apsara general manager, these accusations are false: “This land is the property of the government and it cannot be sold to a private company. I do not know if the government plans to rent it, but one thing for sure is that it was not sold.” “This land was taken by the government with the goal of developing tourist activities,” Bun Narith added. Sok Kong could not be reached on Thursday.
This property is located in a zone which the government wanted to acquire in view of transferring it to the Apsara authority for developing tourist activities. Several months before the signing of a 1995 sub-decree which delineated the zone and designated it as “hotel zoning,” Son Chhay bought from villagers 3-hectare of land in this zone. Since 2000, the majority of the land occupiers gave up their land to the State and received some compensation in return. That was not Son Chhay’s case.
“It is not about money that I am requesting for an appeal, but, this is to show to the world these injustices,” Son Chhay explained. “I do not hope to win in the appeal court because I know that the court decision will depend on the government orders. […] Villagers were victims of this government policy which collect lands on which these villagers lived on from long time ago, and turn back to sell them to private companies.”
The opposition MP said that he is ready to provide the land to the Sate, “maybe even free of charge,” if this serves the “public interest.” “But here, it is only so that private companies can make a profit from,” he claimed while accusing the government of already selling the zone to Villa Sokha, a company belonging to Sok Kong. Son Chhay is also wondering about the zone designation as “hotel zoning” which hints that the government intends to give the land to real estate developers.
For Bun Narith, the Apsara general manager, these accusations are false: “This land is the property of the government and it cannot be sold to a private company. I do not know if the government plans to rent it, but one thing for sure is that it was not sold.” “This land was taken by the government with the goal of developing tourist activities,” Bun Narith added. Sok Kong could not be reached on Thursday.
3 comments:
Who would believe this gov't? I wouldn't . They build their reputation and it is not the one to be trusted. They are the government of injustice, corruption and ignorance.
Do not go quietly MP Son Chhay! We know that you may not win this court of appeal for all the courts of justice in Cambodia only serve the Government, but to let it go quietly means to help these thieves to shut up the poor campbodians from crying out for justice.
FIGHT ON! WE ALL BEHIND YOU FOR THE POOR PEOPLE OF CAMBODIA!!!
Son Kok Chhay,
You know that you will not win in
the rotten Xmer-Court...but You had fought for your Principle !!
Congratulation ! Well Done !!!
You're the only one from Son Sann party,Kanak-Pak Kmorch,who dare
to fight what you're do believe it,Democracy & Freedom.
Jeyo FREE CAMBODIA !
Jeyo Khmer-Nak Snes-Ha Jeat !
Parajey Archor Yuon-Hanoi Chlean Pean nung Chkes Borivar Vear !!
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