09-01-2008Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
On Thursday 10 January, the cops will force newspapers sellers from Veal Vong district, located near the Olympic stadium, to definitively leave their spot. On Wednesday, the sellers demonstrated against this decision, and a short clash took place on that day. Work on the road where the kiosk are located, and the sale of the lands next to which they are located explain the local authority desire to kick out these kiosks. The sellers have to move further down to Street No. 211, and they will not receive any compensation.
Kiosk owners in Borei Keila will have to move out on Thursday 10 January. Starting at 6:30 AM, the cops will be in place to kick them out, if necessary.
On Wednesday, a short clash took place between the newspapers sellers and the local authorities. While the ultimatum forcing them to move out of the Veal Vong area, located near the Olympic stadium, already passed, the sellers chose to demonstrate. By the end of the day, some of the sellers regrouped in front of the kiosks, holding banners, while others were on the lookout at the entrance to the area for the arrival of the municipal authorities, whom the sellers blamed of not wanting to resolve the problem.
In December, 24 of the sellers, who set up shops here since the 90s, were asked to move further away, on Street No. 211. Keo Kosal, the commune chief, set an ultimatum on 09 January to move out. After this date, their kiosks will be torn down by the cops, and the sellers were also threatened to lose the compensation given in exchange for their departure.
The cause of the conflict stems from the widening of Street No. 169, and the fact that these kiosks occupy the access to former municipal lands which were not occupied in the past, however, today, they have become private properties and apartment buildings have been built there. Hok Bun Nat, President of the Association of newspapers sellers, defended the sellers, and asked for a compensation of about $5,000 each. One of the sellers, Tain Narin, indicated that: “We know that the authority is developing Borei keila, but this only benefit the businessmen. … We recognize that our shops are set on the sidewalk belonging to the State, but now, it’s the apartment owners who are forcing us to leave,” Hok Bun Nat added.
Kiosk owners in Borei Keila will have to move out on Thursday 10 January. Starting at 6:30 AM, the cops will be in place to kick them out, if necessary.
On Wednesday, a short clash took place between the newspapers sellers and the local authorities. While the ultimatum forcing them to move out of the Veal Vong area, located near the Olympic stadium, already passed, the sellers chose to demonstrate. By the end of the day, some of the sellers regrouped in front of the kiosks, holding banners, while others were on the lookout at the entrance to the area for the arrival of the municipal authorities, whom the sellers blamed of not wanting to resolve the problem.
In December, 24 of the sellers, who set up shops here since the 90s, were asked to move further away, on Street No. 211. Keo Kosal, the commune chief, set an ultimatum on 09 January to move out. After this date, their kiosks will be torn down by the cops, and the sellers were also threatened to lose the compensation given in exchange for their departure.
The cause of the conflict stems from the widening of Street No. 169, and the fact that these kiosks occupy the access to former municipal lands which were not occupied in the past, however, today, they have become private properties and apartment buildings have been built there. Hok Bun Nat, President of the Association of newspapers sellers, defended the sellers, and asked for a compensation of about $5,000 each. One of the sellers, Tain Narin, indicated that: “We know that the authority is developing Borei keila, but this only benefit the businessmen. … We recognize that our shops are set on the sidewalk belonging to the State, but now, it’s the apartment owners who are forcing us to leave,” Hok Bun Nat added.
