By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Negotiations between the representatives of the Boeng Kak lake residents – who are assisted by SRP MP Son Chhay and Ho Vann – with the deputy governor of the municipality of Phnom Penh on Tuesday morning, ended up in failure again as the Phnom Penh municipality refused to cancel its agreement with the Shukaku Inc company, unlike what the residents demanded.
Officials of the municipality claimed that the development agreement in Boeng Kak will not lead to eviction of people to outside the city as had happened in the past.
The negotiations were conducted at the Phnom Penh municipality on Tuesday morning between Pa Socheatvong, the deputy governor, and the representatives of the Boeng Kak residents. SRP MP Son Chhay and Ho Vann also participated in the negotiations, however reporters were prevented from following the negotiations.
After the negotiations, MP Son Chhay told reporters that: “The city and the prime minister guarantee that people will not be force-evicted like what had happened in the Sambok Chap case, they will remain in Boeng Kak but they will be re-accommodated. The prime minister said that if there is no housing provided to the residents, there will be no development. They claimed that studies are currently being initiated.”
One municipality official explained that the government plans to develop the Boeng Kak area, but that SRP MPs are trying to obtain political advantage from the situation. He declined to provide further comment.
Boeng Kak residents who waited to hear news about the negotiations, expressed their disappointments on the lack of results, causing them to worry about their living safety still.
Sinat, a 56-year-old woman, reacted by saying: “Nowadays, I cannot sleep, I cannot eat because I am worried about land issues in Boeng Kak. Whether we are resettled there or a land exchange will take place, please do it fairly for me and I will accept it.”
Sok Khea, a 41-year-old woman, said: “I am asking the municipality of Phnom Penh who wants to develop the Boeng Kak area, to compensate me for my land. I demand $1,200 per square meter, but this is not a fixed price, it can be negotiated.”
The 133-hectare area of Boeng Kak lake which houses more than 4,000 families is currently under dispute following the secret deal to lease the area by the municipality of Phnom Penh to the Shukaku Inc company belonging to CPP Tycoon-Senator Lao Meng Khin. The duration of the lease is 99-year long, and no prior consultation with current residents has been made by the municipality. The residents have since protested this decision made by the municipality.
Officials of the municipality claimed that the development agreement in Boeng Kak will not lead to eviction of people to outside the city as had happened in the past.
The negotiations were conducted at the Phnom Penh municipality on Tuesday morning between Pa Socheatvong, the deputy governor, and the representatives of the Boeng Kak residents. SRP MP Son Chhay and Ho Vann also participated in the negotiations, however reporters were prevented from following the negotiations.
After the negotiations, MP Son Chhay told reporters that: “The city and the prime minister guarantee that people will not be force-evicted like what had happened in the Sambok Chap case, they will remain in Boeng Kak but they will be re-accommodated. The prime minister said that if there is no housing provided to the residents, there will be no development. They claimed that studies are currently being initiated.”
One municipality official explained that the government plans to develop the Boeng Kak area, but that SRP MPs are trying to obtain political advantage from the situation. He declined to provide further comment.
Boeng Kak residents who waited to hear news about the negotiations, expressed their disappointments on the lack of results, causing them to worry about their living safety still.
Sinat, a 56-year-old woman, reacted by saying: “Nowadays, I cannot sleep, I cannot eat because I am worried about land issues in Boeng Kak. Whether we are resettled there or a land exchange will take place, please do it fairly for me and I will accept it.”
Sok Khea, a 41-year-old woman, said: “I am asking the municipality of Phnom Penh who wants to develop the Boeng Kak area, to compensate me for my land. I demand $1,200 per square meter, but this is not a fixed price, it can be negotiated.”
The 133-hectare area of Boeng Kak lake which houses more than 4,000 families is currently under dispute following the secret deal to lease the area by the municipality of Phnom Penh to the Shukaku Inc company belonging to CPP Tycoon-Senator Lao Meng Khin. The duration of the lease is 99-year long, and no prior consultation with current residents has been made by the municipality. The residents have since protested this decision made by the municipality.
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