Boeung Kak residents demonstrate in front of the S.Korean embassy

27 Oct 2008
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Sess Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

Villagers threatened by the disappearance of Boeung Kak Lake due to real-estate project supported by a South Korean company, went to ask for assistance from the South Korean embassy in Cambodia.

About 200 people gathered in the morning of Monday 27 October, in front of the South Korean embassy. Their goal was to ask for an intervention from the S. Korean ambassador regarding an investment project by the Shukaku, Inc. The project has already proceeded to the filling of the shores of Boeung Kak Lake. The demonstrators, holding banners in Khmer, also asked that the company representatives hold a direct dialogue with the residents.

Kong Chhoeun, one of residents affected by the project, indicated that his presence, as well as those of his neighbors, was motivated by their readings of an article published by The Phnom Penh Post on 03 October. In that article, the newspaper quoted Pa Socheatvong, Phnom Penh deputy governor, as saying: “the South Korean company Shukaku, Inc. had decided to invest in this zone.”

Three representatives of the demonstrators were received inside the embassy compound for a half-hour discussion. However, the discussion did not lead to any result. “An embassy representative told us that the English-language newspaper did not quote the name of this company. However, if the fact is confirmed, the ambassador could intervene in favor of the residents,” a representative of the residents explained at his exit from the embassy. In its 03 October edition, The Phnom Penh Post did quote the name of the company. It even stipulated that the company is South Korean. On the other hand, the Korean embassy indicated that the name of this company is not on its list of S. Korean investors in Cambodia.

The investment project was signed by Kep Chuktema, the governor of Phnom Penh, in February 2007, and Lao Meng Khin, a CPP senator who represents the Shukaku, Inc. company. For the residents, information about this project remains murky. They are also thinking of turning to the Japanese embassy for help in their next demand because the nationality of this foreign company still remains murky, and Shukaku, Inc. sounds like a Japanese company name.

The Cambodian Appeal Court still did not hand out its official position regarding the complaints brought against the filling of the lake by the residents’ lawyer three weeks ago.

S Korean Embassy in Cambodia denies accusation of human trafficking

PHNOM PENH, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean Embassy has denied the accusation by the Cambodian government that its country's marriage brokerage companies in Cambodia engaged in human trafficking, a national media said on Monday.

Ambassador Shin Hyun-suk expressed regret that Cambodian officials had used the term "human trafficking" to identify the way that was legally permitted to arrange "married life in the era of globalization," English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodian Daily quoted his statement as saying.

"I have so far never heard those words of threats, kidnapping, deception and abuse, as well as using force or taking a chance when the victims are weak, for the purpose of making business in marriages between Cambodians and Koreans. They all get married out of their own free will, according to the procedures of both countries," he said.

However, he also admitted that "some aspects of the system of international marriages need to be improved and corrected."

The Cambodian government indefinitely banned marriages between Cambodians and foreigners from all countries on March 29, following the release of an International Organization of Migration report warning of the vulnerability of Cambodian brides, who have been flocking to South Korea in increasing numbers over the past few years.