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| Boeung Kak residents protest against the Chinese involvement in the controversial development of the Boeung Kak lake at Phnom Penh’s ‘Freedom Park’ yesterday. (Photo by: Pha Lina) |
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| Hun Xen shaking hand with Hu Jintao |
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| Choeung Sopheap (L), Lao Meng Khin (C) visiting Sihamoni (R) |
Khouth Sophak Chakrya and James O'Toole
The Phnom Penh Post
Prime Minister Hun Sen has approved a joint-venture partnership to develop the controversial Boeung Kak lake project involving a Chinese firm and a local company linked to ruling party senator Lao Meng Khin, according to a document signed by the premier and Phnom Penh Municipal Governor Kep Chuktema.
In 2007, local developer Shukaku Inc, owned by Lao Meng Khin, was granted a 99-year lease to develop the lake. In a letter dated November 12 of last year and obtained yesterday, Kep Chuktema wrote to Hun Sen to inform him that Shukaku had established a partnership with China’s Inner Mongolia Erdos Hung Jun Investment Co.
“Shukaku’s owner has asked to register the land in the 99-year lease agreement ... under the new name of Shukaku Erdos Hung Jun Property Development Co, Ltd, for directly implementing the project in the Boeung Kak area,” Kep Chuktema wrote.
Hun Sen initialled the letter on November 27 along with a brief, handwritten notation reading: “agree to the offer”.
Rights groups say the emergence of the document, which confirms earlier reports of Chinese involvement in the lake development, underscores the lack of transparency surrounding the project and the willingness of the government to approve large-scale foreign investment deals without assessing the consequences for local residents.
The lakeside development, which rights groups say will ultimately displace more than 4,000 families, is the largest and most prominent example of the urban evictions that have displaced thousands of the capital’s poor in recent years. Protests by Boeung Kak residents have become a weekly occurrence in Phnom Penh, as homes are flooded or even submerged by the filling of the lake and villagers charge that they are being denied market value in compensation for their homes.
Kep Chuktema’s letter follows Chinese-language news reports from September stating that Hung Jun had set up a partnership in July with Shukaku and Cambodia International Investment Development Group.
CIIDG is also linked to Lao Meng Khin. According to an undated government investment publication available online, the firm runs a special economic zone in Sihanoukville, with Lao Meng Khin listed as the “zone developer”.
In a 2009 announcement to the Malaysian stock exchange, Malaysia’s Leader Universal Holdings announced a proposed joint venture agreement with CIIDG to develop a coal-fired power plant in Sihanoukville. The listed headquarters for CIIDG in the announcement is the same Daun Penh district address that houses Pheapimex, a local conglomerate owned by Lao Meng Khin’s wife, Choeung Sopheap.
In September, Hung Jun chairman Wang Linxiang traveled to Cambodia for a meeting with Hun Sen that was also attended by Choeung Sopheap. The lake development was part of a US$3 billion package of investment deals that also included a 750-megawatt power station in Sihanoukville and a bauxite exploration project in Mondulkiri province, according to Chinese news reports.
At the time, Eang Sophalleth, assistant to Hun Sen, told The Post that the meeting was to discuss the power station project and real estate developments, but did not mention Boeung Kak lake.
The prime minister, Eang Sophalleth said, “fully supported” Hung Jun’s proposals. Eang Sophalleth did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.
Shukaku representative Lao Vann declined to comment yesterday on the Hung Jun partnership.
“I don’t know about this, and now I am sorry, I’m busy finding a solution for people who have volunteered to receive compensation,” he said.
Chinese Embassy spokesman Qian Hai denied that any Chinese firm was involved with the project, declining to comment on Kep Chuktema’s letter or the Chinese news reports on Hung Jun’s involvement.
“There’s no Chinese company involved at this stage,” he said.
Some Boeung Kak residents said this week that they would boycott all Chinese products if Hung Jun does not send a representative to negotiate with them.
“We will starve to death if they do not find a solution for us and forcibly evict us from our homes,” 32-year-old lakeside resident Naon Sok Nen said yesterday.
City Hall claims around 2,000 families from the lack have already accepted compensation packages.
Those facing eviction have received varying compensation options, including cash payments of $8500, housing at a relocation site in Dangkor district, or on-site relocation, the plans for which have yet to materialise. In the meantime, many of those still in their homes have complained of rashes and health problems as the lake-filling inundates the community with floodwaters and sewage.
“The Chinese… should conduct the impact assessment and should do a public consultation with the residents,” said Sia Phearum, secretariat director of Housing Rights Task Force.
Kep Chuktema said in his letter to the premier that the relocation process was going smoothly, held up only by “powerful people and opportunists trying to make difficulty for the company”. But Nora Lindstrom, programme development manager at local housing NGO Sahmakum Teang Tnaut, called this claim unfounded.
“Faced with forced eviction, it is the residents right to demand adequate compensation that does not push them into poverty,” she said in an email.
Sia Phearum said Kep Chuktema and his subordinates likely felt pressure to emphasise “potential for development and benefit” rather than giving a proper account of the project.
“The residents really want to meet with the government, top leaders of the municipality, or the private companies, both local and Chinese,” Sia Phearum said. “They want to support the government, but so far, there’s no public consultation - they never consult with the people.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SEBASTIAN STRANGIO
23 comments:
king need people to be king if king need money or just a pet or take care dog and cat around the house ,that is not king .king must be people side in this crisis ,people had right their home and people had right to protect their home also ,even animal can protect their home if someone step on and hurt their family.
Yes,phnom Penh needs redevelopment, however as it has been mentioned the true impact assessement is required and also a consultation with people.
Transparency is a proof of appropriate management to avoid all scams of third party like Sukhaku under Lao Meng Khin uses people power for own interests.
State power should not be contracted in the name of political party currently CPP for profiteering.It indicates mismanagement practices as well as corruption that those in power abuse.
If RGC does not take reform seriously,the collapse of CPP will be imperative.So did the downfall of corrupted Lon Nol's regime.
Proper taxation is compulsive for CPP to survive,the RANSOM collection is NO longer relevant.It has been outdated,and the only thing in the past.
Please look after citizen's interests by our laws and constitution.
It is fearsome by endorsing or approving anything without thorough details.It is unsafe practice mr PM.
Peasant
ក្រោកឡើងខ្មែរគ្រប់គ្នាដល់ពេលវេលាហើយត្រូវប្រើកាំបិត, ពូថៅ, ដាវ , ខ្វែវ, ផ្គាក់, ព្រួញ, សរ, ច្បូក, លំពែង, ធ្នូ, ដំបង, ព្រនង់, កាំភ្លើង, គ្រាប់បែក, បេសែសិប, បេសែមួយ, មីន, មីនកន្ត្រាក់, មីនបង្កប់, មីនក្លេម័រ, មីនតោន, កាំភ្លើងធំ, កាំភ្លើងត្បាល់, ក្រោកឡើងជាមួយយុទ្ធភ័ណទាំងអស់នេះ បាញ់និងកាប់ក្បាលអាឆ្កែកញ្ជះយួនសងសិកអោយខ្មែរស្នេហាជាតិនិងដើម្បីការពារមរតកជាតិរបស់យើង។
បងប្អូន ប្រុសស្រីជាទីស្រឡាញ់ ,
កូនយួន ៧មករា ៧៩ធំអស់ហើយ !
បក្ខពួក គណៈបក្សប្រជាជន ជាក្រុមភាវកម្ម ដែលមានទាហាន យួនយៀកកុង ជាងមួយរយពាន់(១០០.០០០)នាក់បង្កប់នៅពីក្រោយខ្នង រាយគ្រប់ក្រសួង, រដ្ឋបាល សំរាប់ ប្ដឹងតវ៉ា ចោទប្រកាន់ ពីបទឧក្រិដ្ឋនានា
ឬ បាញ់សម្លាប់បំបិទមាត់ខ្មែរអ្នកស្នេហាជាតិ, ខ្មែរអ្នក
ជាតិនិយមនានា ឬ ចាប់ដាក់គុក បំបាក់ស្មារតី់ ឱ្យខ្លាចបាក់ស្បាត លែងហ៊ាន ប្រយុទ្ធ ប្រឆាំងដើម្បីសេរីភាព បូរណភាពទឹកដី !
គណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា គឺជា : បក្សកុម្មុយនិស្តក្រុមហាណូយ ជាបិសាចប្រែរូប ជញ្ជក់ឈាមខ្មែរ បំផ្លិចបំផ្លាញពូជសាសន៍ខ្មែរ ឱ្យរលាយ រលត់ដូចប្រទេសចំប៉ា!
បើខ្មែរមិននាំគ្នារើបំរះទេ ខ្មែររងចាំតែថ្ងៃងាប់ប៉ុណ្ណោះ….!។
«ហ៊ានស្លាប់ដើម្បីរស់»
To Cambodian Voters;
Hun Sen owns Cambodia, and not Cambodia owns Hun Sen.
Therefore choose next leader wisely in future elections.
KHMER Angkor.
My Khmer Compatriots,
The Arm uprising is the best solution for getting rid of Hanoi's puppet Regime of Hun Sen and its cronies as our ancestors had been done in 1835-1840 during the reign of Ang Mey, Té-Ong, and Vinh-té canal. (Kraok kap Yuon ខ្មែរខាងលើ, ខ្មែរខាងក្រោម, ខ្មែរខាងកណ្ដាល ក្រោកឡើងទាំងអស់កាប់យួនយកដីជីដូនជីតាយើងមកត្រឡប់មកវិញ )
But why we, as their descendants, won't do it again???
Hanoi will eliminate all Khmers by all means, demographic with over 5 millions Viet illegal immigrants, Lands concession from Khmers owners of the country, Yuons depleted all khmer resources, fish stocks, all mineral ores, gas, forests, petroleum, and Gold etc...
I called to Khmer compatriots to rise up with Axes, Swords, Sticks, Knives, Spears, Arrows, and possible grenades, B40-B41 hand Guns, shot guns to riot and kill THEM for your Freedom and liberate your country from the vietnamese yoke.
CHINOIS SONT LES SERPENTS DU GLOBE.
CHINESES ARE SNAKES IN THE WORLD.
CHINESE-CAMBODIANS TAKE OVER CAMBODIAN ECONOMIE, LAND, AND POWER.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR HORSE RICH & FAMOUS CHINESE-CAMBODIANS AND LOOK DOWN TO THE WOMEN WHO CRY FOR PLACE TO LIVE IN !!
2:05AM! the crying may be chinese too! go to Anlong Veng, fool!
Starve to death? Do you think they care? These companies are in for the gain so they don't care if anyone dying from it!
I urge people to write a complain to Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh for their investigation into the chinese companies harming Cambodian lives rather indiscriminating swearing to all Chinese people. In this world and many thousands years ahead, we cannot separate Cambodian relationship with China. Cambodian and Chinese have relationship together since during Chenla era. During that time Cambodian have relationship Jin Kingdom which is part of China today. Jin kingdom was a kingdom of Muchuary which have established the great China today from 1661 by taking over all Tibet, Xingjiang, Han, and inner Mongolia.
Many kind of foods made in Cambodia today such as Mum, Pha-ork, Chruak Spey were from China through people living in Shanghai, Hainan, Shantov and Wunzhou.
Cambodian textile of silk was from Hanzhou etc...
We need more diplomatic in writing about these complains.
Areak Prey
3 Billion $$ signed...why this stupid business people didnt takecare of the people before starting to built anything. dead wish...killed this Senator and burn his company!
3:23AM! and what china got from us, NOUM BON:CHO:K??
Go to hell the chinese communist! Free Tibet and all Chinese!
YOU STUPID DAR SKIN KHMERS ALWAYS COMPLAIN ABOUT CHINESE TAKING OVER BUT WITHOUT THE CHINESE CAMBODIA WILL COLLAPSE! KHMERS ARE LAZY PEOPLE I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT! THEY LIKE DRINKING, PARTYING AND PIMPING GIRLS! WE NEED MORE CHINESE IN CAMBODIA! NO MORE DARK SKIN DIRTY KHMERS!
Khmer will be in trouble again because of the incompetence of the leaders.
Khmer always confuse in making relationship with neighboring countries and also with developed countries such as China or America.
Today the leaders are friendly with one country, tomorrow they will make different story.We don't want the new leaders follow the old history.
We live in trauma for all our lives.We never live in peace.
Please Khmer leaders, you need to be nationalist, seek for Khmer interests and protect the sake of Khmer people.
Stop exploiting and abusing your own population.
Stop revenge each other.
Learn from good leaders of the other countries that you make friendship and learn to change. It's the 21st century but we live in the 19th century.
And the King need to advocate for your population and your country.
Poor Khmer people
May God help Khmer population.May Devil people will go to Hell.
I agree with Areak prey. So we live in the world of discrimination and racist and the killing field would be awake.
4:29 it's not all stupid dark skin Khmer who protest in Beng Kok. I saw of lot of Chinese and Viet face from the photos. It's better to say the protest from the poor and disadvantage ones.
Please stop to promote discrimination to take advantage and destroy Cambodia as Chinese said: KOM BEAM CHHEAM PROS DAK KE"
We are not stupid as what you think.
The Chineses are pamping the girls more than any others men in the world. Look, more than one billion population in China is evidence of touching & having too much sex with girls.
The Emperor of China had more wives than any others Kings and Emperors in the globe.
AH PLER 4:43! IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CHINESE, THE WHOLE OF CAMBODIA WILL BE SWALLOW UP BY THE VIETCONG ALREADY!THANK CHINA DUMBAZZ! DON'T TALK BAD ABOUT CHINA!
My Khmer Compatriots,
The Arm uprising is the best solution for getting rid of Hanoi's puppet Regime of Hun Sen and its cronies as our ancestors had been done in 1835-1840 during the reign of Ang Mey, Té-Ong, and Vinh-té canal. (Kraok kap Yuon ខ្មែរខាងលើ, ខ្មែរខាងក្រោម, ខ្មែរខាងកណ្ដាល
ក្រោកឡើងទាំងអស់កាប់យួនយកដីជីដូនជីតា
យើងមកត្រឡប់មកវិញ )
But why we, as their descendants, won't do it again???
Hanoi will eliminate all Khmers by all means, demographic with over 5 millions Viet illegal immigrants, Lands concession from Khmers owners of the country, Yuons depleted all khmer resources, fish stocks, all mineral ores, gas, forests, petroleum, and Gold etc...
I called to Khmer compatriots to rise up with Axes, Swords, Sticks, Knives, Spears, Arrows, and possible grenades, B40-B41 hand Guns, shot guns to riot and kill THEM for your Freedom and liberate your country from the vietnamese yoke.
Mr Lao Meng Khin is a
CPP senator.He is a
Cambodian representative for the whole Khmer country,not just a district where he got the voters.
After the CPP senators won the vote,they should work for the Khmer people,not for their own interests.but in contrast these blood suckers are sucking blood from the voters.
The every five years,Khmer citizens need to select new senators and a prime minister.
Mr Hun Sen always won every time as a senator and prime minister.It is a fraud,unfair ballot.
Please,don't blame Khmer citizens;yes, you voted for CPP.
How could someone help them next election,not to vote for CPP?
puok ah chhkae ning mi chhkae os nis si dek si dek sabay chet nas loeng thoat doch chrouk leu kum no tuk robos pulroat krey kro ro hem ro ham.
bastard doggy guys are very happy to eat and sleep become pot belly as pig over the suffering of khmer poorest people.
this is democracy in cambodia, people let their grief be known!
A cheh(intellectual)7:21 am.
Did you know Pol Pol had killed over 2 millions people included chinese Cambodian. And Pol Pot was supported by Who? I think you A Cheh. Open wide your eye and your head.
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