28 April 2009
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French
The construction site involved – known under the name of “Bassac Gardens” – is a real estate development project on a plot of land occupied by 222 families from the Reak reay community.
Currently, 54 families are still protesting. They demand for $30,000 in compensation before leaving the location, whereas the Canadia Bank was only willing to offer $20,000.
“We suggested to the [Bank] management to remove the fence built around the plot without authorization, and to continue to negotiate directly with the residents without resorting to the local authorities,” said Bunthat, one of the residents received by Pung Kiev Se.
The Canadia Bank management promised to think about the problem caused by the fence which disturbs the daily life of the residents. Am Sam Ath, an investigator for the Licadho human rights group, believes that the Reak Reay case is not that different from other land dispute cases, and he said that the residents will have a hard time protecting their land.
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