Tuol Kork families say thumbprints ill-gotten

Monday, 09 January 2012
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
The Phnom Penh Post

Nearly 20 families living in the capital’s Tuol Kork district yesterday accused local authorities of misleading some residents into thumbprinting documents agreeing to have their homes dismantled.

Ma Lin, a 56-year-old representative of 17 families living along street 347 in Boeung Kak I commune’s village 3, told the Post that officials had threatened to bulldoze their houses if they did not accept US$743 and houses on six by 12 metre plots of land in Kandal province.

She added that last month, village and district authorities had asked her to thumbprint a document that included the names of her family members, which officials claimed was a demographic census for 2012.

Pa Socheatvong to Vann Molyvann: Don't look down on the younger generation, we are not all ignorant ... we know how to fill our pocket better than you

Architect Vann Molyvann

City: Do not underestimate younger generations

Friday, January 04, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The filling of Boeng Kak Lake for development turned into a heated debate between an old hand and one of the younger deputy city governors. The filling of the Boeng Kak Lake is strongly opposed by 81-year-old architect Vann Molyvann who is concerned that the filling of the lake could cause flooding in the city, especially in Tuol Kok district. In response to this concern, Pa Socheatvong, the deputy city governor, rejected the criticism leveled by Vann Molyvann, saying that the later should catch up with the times, that the ideas by older generation people are not always right, and that the younger generations are not all ignorant. Pa Socheatvong warned the old architect not to look down on the younger generations too much. Pa Socheatvong raised the issue of the benefits brought by the development of Boeng Kak Lake by saying that it will help the Boeng Kak Lake community since the residents will be provided housing on top of the filled lake.