One More Week Delay for Boeng Kak Lake Residents – otherwise Their Houses Will Be Removed – Tuesday, 18.8.2009

Posted on 19 August 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 626
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

“Phnom Penh: Citizens living temporarily in Village II and Village IV at the Boeng Kak Lake region in Srah Chok, Daun Penh, were informed by officials of the Phnom Penh municipality of a delay of one more week for them to remove their houses, after there had been a request for a suspension of the announced evictions, after new negotiations on 17 August 2009 between their representatives and officials of the Phnom Penh municipality.

“The negotiations were held after the Phnom Penh municipality had issued the notification #180, dated 10 August 2009, requiring more than 50 families that have not agreed with any compensation offered, when they move out to make space for the development of the Boeng Kak region, and they have not yet removed their houses.

“The notification informed Boeng Kak residents in Village 2 and Village 4 in Srah Chok, Daun Penh, that the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Phnom Penh Municipality will develop the Boeng Kak region into a modern commercial center, with housing, as a beautiful and hygienic place, providing services and offering entertainment.

“Therefore, so that the development of the Boeng Kak region can be carried out smoothly, the residents should accept one of the following compensation options of the Royal Government:


- Accept US$8,000 compensation, and Riel 2 million [approx. US$500] for the expenses of removal of the house.

- Accept a flat at Damnak Trayueng village, Dangkao, and Riel 2 million for the expenses of removal of the house.

- Accept development in place, but agree to remove the house and leave, to live in a new place temporarily, which is set up by the Phnom Penh Municipality

“The notification of the Phnom Penh Municipality leaves them seven days, starting from the date it was signed.

“After receiving the notification, residents of more than 50 remaining families, who have not accepted any compensation package, came to negotiate at the Phnom Penh Municipality to delay the eviction, where five representatives of the residents and officials of the Phnom Penh Municipality met to negotiate on 17 August 2009.

“During the negotiations, officials of the Phnom Penh Municipality informed the residents that in response to the suggestions of more than 50 remaining families who had not accepted any compensaton package of the Royal Government of Cambodia, but who then might agree to accept the third choice – development in place – the Phnom Penh Municipality decided to delay the eviction for one more week for them, to move to a new place temporarily, set up by the Phnom Penh Municipality with an area of 77 plots of land in Trapeang Krasaing village, Dangkao.

“The Phnom Penh Municipality will take the residents to see the place where they would live temporarily, and will help to transport their belongings free of charge.

“If somebody does not move within this one week of delaye, the Phnom Penh Municipality will order the Daun Penh district office to take action to remove the houses, and it will not take responsibility for any damages on materials and property of the citizens.

“An official of Daun Penh district office said that there were up to 1,300 families in Village II and Village IV.

“More than 1,200 families had already accepted compensation packages offered, where most had agreed to take US$8,000 as compensation and Riel 2 million as removal expenses.

“There were more than 120 families remaining, but recently, 70 families had accepted compensation, and there are now only more than 50 families remaining.

“That official added that the remaining 50 families had not accepted any compensation deals, because there were people who had incited them, making them to hesitate. ‘Thus, these residents should now stop believing any incitements.’

“The residents should hurry to accept compensation package offered, and remove their houses to facilitate the Royal Government and the Phnom Penh Municipality to develop the Boeng Kak region, in order to avoid flooding and to prtect all the families, especially the children, from chronic diseases coming from the bad odor of that terrible environment.”

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4975, 18.8.2009
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Tuesday, 18 August 2009