Kep Chuktema, Phnom Penh governor, is seen signing the deal for the shady 99-year lease of Boeung Kak Lake, home to 4,000 families. Current residents of Boeung Kak Lake only recently learn about the deal made by the municipality on their properties. Some residents claim to have live in the neighborhood for as long as 30-year. (Photo: Narith, Koh Santepheap newspaper)Thursday, February 8, 2007
Firm Lands 99-Year Lease on Boeng Kak Lake
By Prak Chan Thul and James Welsh
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Phnom Penh Municipality awarded a 99-year lease to a little-known private firm Tuesday to develop 133 hectares around and including the Boeng Kak backpacker area, officials said Wednesday.
Pa Socheatvong, Phnom Penh deputy governor, said the agreement with Shukaku Inc will benefit the city, though he declined to reveal how much the firm is paying or what it plans to do with the land and the Boeng Kak lake.
Money from the deal will be used to provide alternative housing for people currently living in the area in Daun Penh district's Srah Chak commune, he said.
"Our state will benefit from the rent, which will be used to build infrastructure and especially to provide housing for the residents who live there," he said.
Pa Socheatvong would not say what kind of alternative housing would be provided for those affected by the land deal, but added: "We will organize the housing in an orderly and right way."
Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema, who Pa Socheatvong said signed the agreement, said he was too busy to speak to a reporter.
Lao Meng Khin, director of Shukaku Inc, did not answer repeated phone calls, and an address for the firm's office could not be located.
Khmer-language newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea reported Wednesday that Shukaku Inc paid $79 million for the lease, and plans to build a luxury resort as well as commerce and cultural centers on Boeng Kak.
Ek Khun Doeun, Daun Penh district deputy governor, said there are approximately 4,000 families living and working in the affected area who do not own their land.
"Boeng Kak land belongs to the state," he said. They came to grab land there between 1993 and 1994," he claimed.
Srah Chak commune chief Chhay Thirith said he did not know what would become of the people currently living and working at the lake.
Residents and business owners around the lake said they were shocked by the news of the lease, and had only heard about it in local papers.
Den Phou, a 24-year-old staffer at a money exchange shop at the lakeside, said he was concerned residents will be violently evicted if they refuse to relocate.
"We don’t have any plans yet. We just wait," he said.
One 46-year-old man living along the lakeside said on condition of anonymity that the municipality should inform those living at the lake of its plans.
"We are afraid of being evicted and we want sufficient money to be able to buy other land in the capital," he said.
"I have been living here for almost 30 years already. According to the Land Law, I’ve owned the land for five years now," he added.
Pa Socheatvong, Phnom Penh deputy governor, said the agreement with Shukaku Inc will benefit the city, though he declined to reveal how much the firm is paying or what it plans to do with the land and the Boeng Kak lake.
Money from the deal will be used to provide alternative housing for people currently living in the area in Daun Penh district's Srah Chak commune, he said.
"Our state will benefit from the rent, which will be used to build infrastructure and especially to provide housing for the residents who live there," he said.
Pa Socheatvong would not say what kind of alternative housing would be provided for those affected by the land deal, but added: "We will organize the housing in an orderly and right way."
Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema, who Pa Socheatvong said signed the agreement, said he was too busy to speak to a reporter.
Lao Meng Khin, director of Shukaku Inc, did not answer repeated phone calls, and an address for the firm's office could not be located.
Khmer-language newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea reported Wednesday that Shukaku Inc paid $79 million for the lease, and plans to build a luxury resort as well as commerce and cultural centers on Boeng Kak.
Ek Khun Doeun, Daun Penh district deputy governor, said there are approximately 4,000 families living and working in the affected area who do not own their land.
"Boeng Kak land belongs to the state," he said. They came to grab land there between 1993 and 1994," he claimed.
Srah Chak commune chief Chhay Thirith said he did not know what would become of the people currently living and working at the lake.
Residents and business owners around the lake said they were shocked by the news of the lease, and had only heard about it in local papers.
Den Phou, a 24-year-old staffer at a money exchange shop at the lakeside, said he was concerned residents will be violently evicted if they refuse to relocate.
"We don’t have any plans yet. We just wait," he said.
One 46-year-old man living along the lakeside said on condition of anonymity that the municipality should inform those living at the lake of its plans.
"We are afraid of being evicted and we want sufficient money to be able to buy other land in the capital," he said.
"I have been living here for almost 30 years already. According to the Land Law, I’ve owned the land for five years now," he added.
11 comments:
Save the Species. We're all have the right to live!
This is the kind of indirect invitation for violence while the people were not informed about the plan.
This is rude and stupid on the part of authorities and Kep Chuktema. This is a perfect example of Communist and gangster mindset. How long will they do to their own people?
I hope Kep Juok Mar, will not kick our people from that area by helping in building the house and expand their business. Fucking corruption from district chief, commune chief till Kep Juok Mar.
They never provide the plan since I live in Beoung Kak, they were quietly discussing the plan on how to benefit their team from investment. Poor our peopl... let see what will happen.
"Boeng Kak land belongs to the state," he said. They came to grab land there between 1993 and 1994," he claimed.
This is a fucking shit talk...
the people ddin't go to live their for free man, why you are so bindly. they spent money to buy from the district official, commune official to get that land, y so said u seem ignorant about how your lower forks sold the land to the people, why didn't you inform people before they bought the land and put the sign, it was belong to state. You guy got money from people and now want to kick them out because of big money?, I think you are all blind not even one eye... You always use the word development to kick poor people out, this is your good term for ur current government to use for win win strategy, cut down the poverty by killing the poor, is this your governemtn strategy man?, Buddha has eyes, somedays, you will be rewared if you are still doing so to the people.
Arh Hun Sen robbed people's land in day time. Now Arh Tharmt do the same thing. He couldn't make any more money to deposit in his bank so there's the only way he can make money. Next time CPP will least Cambodia for 1000 years. They think they own the land and do whatever they want.
It's time for Khmer people to revolt and rise up against this CPP gangsters. Remember Khmer rouge time we're afraid of them. Now we should not be afraid. There're a lot of embassies and non-profit organizations inside Cambodia. We need to do people revolution. Don't let them abuse our people.
The next thing our children know is half of Cambodian land is owned by foreigner...
...We would need to hire snipers from abroad to clean up the CPP gangster. Even with two eyes, we still cannot see everything. How about one fucking eye?
Dear 12:56 AM,
It's not that kind of thought hasn't crossed our mind, but we have to live and abide by the laws of the FREE WORD..you see? We can try with a couple of SLING SHOTs though...are you a sharp SLING SHOT shooter 12:56AM? lolz
And for ah "KHMENG WAT KNONG SROK"'s sake, Sling shot means JOMPEARM KAO SOU in Khmer, okay Ah lombal kach "Khmeng Wat Knong Srok"? Proyat baik kbarl nah...leu teh? ...lolz
Did anyone see anyone smiling on thta picture? It's more like the state funeral get together than signing a happy deal. That is for sure. Strange indeed.
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