Tuesday, 22 May 2012
By Khouth Sophak Chakrya
Phnom Penh Post
Nearly 100 Boeung Kak lake villagers took to city hall yesterday
carrying mattresses, umbrellas and food to protest what they called
government inaction on the long-standing land dispute over their
eviction from the lake.
They were met by hundreds of police officers stationed nearby, but there were no reported clashes.
Nine representatives were allowed to meet with city officials.
They said authorities vowed to resolve grievances after the coming commune elections in early June.
Srah
Chak commune resident Sen Touch, 41, said the Phnom Penh municipal
authority was doing what it has always done: delaying things.
“We can’t stand awaiting the solution anymore,” she said.
She
added that Shukaku, the company behind a development project that has
filled the lake with sand and forced residents out, destroyed her house
without providing any compensation.
She also said that she is
one of 90 families cut off from the 12.44 hectares of land granted by
the government to displaced residents last year.
She added that villagers will attempt to reconstruct houses on their former property this morning.
To contact the reporter on this story: Khouth Sophak Chakrya at sophakchakrya.khouth@phnompenhpost.com
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