MPs Son Chhay and Sok Soty waiting outside Phnom Penh city hall to talk to governor Kep Chuktema (L). Son Chhay talk to reporters and Boeng Kak lake residents after his meeting with Pa Socheatvong (R). (Phtoto: Sralanh Khmer newspaper)Monday, March 12, 2007
Three SRP MPs ask the Phnom Penh municipality for explanations on the Boeng Kak land concession
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French Tola Ek
Son Chhay, Sok Soty and Ho Van visited the Phnom Penh city hall to ask for clarifications on the situation of the Boeng Kak area where a land concession was granted to a private company, and this will lead to the eviction of 4,000 families.
Three Phnom Penh SRP MPs visited the Phnom Penh city hall where they were received by Pa Scoheatvong, the deputy-governor, in the absence of governor Kep Chuktema who is traveling abroad. Son Chhay, Sok Soty and Ho Van planned to ask for clarifications on the Boeng Kak Lake case, where 133-hectare of land concession was granted to a private company, and will cause the eviction of 4,000 families. A dozen of Boeng Kak residents accompanied the three MPs but they were not refused entry to the city hall.
After one hour of discussion, Son Chhay talked to the news media, indicating that he took this initiative because “of the failure to receive any response from the municipality following the two letters, dated 27 Feb and 05 March, he sent to the municipality.” Son Chhay reported that the vice-governor promised to provide a written response today,. According to Son Chhay, the municipality claimed that “the delay in providing the response was because it had to consult with the Ministry of interior, which oversees the municipality.”
Son Chhay and his SRP colleagues demand that the municipality make available to the public its conclusions on the advantages the city will benefit from this concession granted to the Shukaku Inc company. They also demanded that a study be performed to evaluate the impact of this decision on the residents and on the environment, in particular regarding the filling of the lake. The MPs also want a debate on the amount of compensation to be paid the residents. Son Chhay said that this affair is one among the string of recent land conflicts, similar to the Sambok Chap case where “the residents had to give up their lands to an investor, before being carted out of the city like animals.”
Finally, the SRP MPs are wondering about the legality of this transaction, and they want to know whether a bidding process was performed according to the rules. For now, according to the three MPs, vice-governor Pa Socheatvong told them that the lands involved belong to the state which is free to dispose of it as it sees fit. Pa Socheatvong said that the residents have no right to prevail in this case.
Three Phnom Penh SRP MPs visited the Phnom Penh city hall where they were received by Pa Scoheatvong, the deputy-governor, in the absence of governor Kep Chuktema who is traveling abroad. Son Chhay, Sok Soty and Ho Van planned to ask for clarifications on the Boeng Kak Lake case, where 133-hectare of land concession was granted to a private company, and will cause the eviction of 4,000 families. A dozen of Boeng Kak residents accompanied the three MPs but they were not refused entry to the city hall.
After one hour of discussion, Son Chhay talked to the news media, indicating that he took this initiative because “of the failure to receive any response from the municipality following the two letters, dated 27 Feb and 05 March, he sent to the municipality.” Son Chhay reported that the vice-governor promised to provide a written response today,. According to Son Chhay, the municipality claimed that “the delay in providing the response was because it had to consult with the Ministry of interior, which oversees the municipality.”
Son Chhay and his SRP colleagues demand that the municipality make available to the public its conclusions on the advantages the city will benefit from this concession granted to the Shukaku Inc company. They also demanded that a study be performed to evaluate the impact of this decision on the residents and on the environment, in particular regarding the filling of the lake. The MPs also want a debate on the amount of compensation to be paid the residents. Son Chhay said that this affair is one among the string of recent land conflicts, similar to the Sambok Chap case where “the residents had to give up their lands to an investor, before being carted out of the city like animals.”
Finally, the SRP MPs are wondering about the legality of this transaction, and they want to know whether a bidding process was performed according to the rules. For now, according to the three MPs, vice-governor Pa Socheatvong told them that the lands involved belong to the state which is free to dispose of it as it sees fit. Pa Socheatvong said that the residents have no right to prevail in this case.
2 comments:
The Victims have no rights to live in their rightfully place. It is an insult that failed to follow its own rule. It is ignorance over ignorance over blood money hungry animals. The beauty and the livelihood of the will forever change by this group of studid people.
Political leadership without conscience like Hun Sen and his gangs must be punished and stopped such ugly action....
The Cambodian people and her young generation will condenm you as the traitor...stop your cheating style Hun Sen...
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