Cambodge Soir29-08-2008
Process pumps started dredging sand in Boeung Kak Lake on Tuesday morning.
A large-scale investment project went ahead on Tuesday morning in the presence of police forces instructed to bar access to the lake. Some members of local NGOs actively involved in the defence of the lake dwellers’ interests could not access the lake.
The still disputed real-property project covers 133 hectares and was authorised by the government following an agreement dated August 22, 2008. Thousands of families are directly concerned by the future disappearance of the lake. Environmental consequences are also a major concern. The disappearance of the lake may cause flooding, a possibility the Ministry of environment denies.
Hoc Sarorn, who lives in a village along the lake, pointed out that the dwellers’ waste water runs into the lake. Therefore, drainage would trigger sanitation issues. But the locals have not yet filed any complaints against the project. Mann Choeun, Phnom Penh’s deputy-governor, stated that the terms of the agreement have already been discussed between the Ministries and the municipal authority, to prevent any local complaints. He recalled that in addition to dredging the sand, the company planned to install a machine to drain the lake water.
Around one hundred locals gathered on the premises of the Forum NGO, for a press conference challenging the modest compensations from the investment company. Touch Sophany is one of the representatives of the local community: “the company should have established a direct dialogue with the locals before dredging the sand. Their interests must be taken into account. In the case of these interests not being respected, the municipality shall declare void the 99- year lease that was granted to the Shukaku Company”, she said.
She added that most of the locals are not satisfied with the compensation: US$ 8,500 in compensation or a dwelling of the same value in the periphery of the town. This solution did not meet the expectations of the 450 families, who requested a minimum of US$ 13,000.
Bun Rachana, a lawyer for the Housing Rights Task Force, declared that his team will look into providing legal assistance to those desiring it.
The authorities have already started to destroy the lake dwellers’ plantations. Chun Hun, 42 years-old, grows morning glory on an area of four hectares. He reported that on Tuesday morning the police went on the lake to cut cables bordering the plantations of the locals without any warning. Chan Savet, a human rights investigator for Adhoc, criticised this operation which according to him is a destruction of people’s property and a violation of human rights. “It is paramount to start negotiating before acting” he explained.
The local people are now on their guard and are ready to fight any future police intervention on the lake.
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