New Governor Promises to Solve Land Disputes

Phnom Penh’s new governor used his swearing in ceremony to Friday to boldly vow to solve some of the municipality’s longest-running and most high-emotive land disputes. Pa Socheatvong officially took over on Friday from outgoing governor Kep Chuktema, who served as the city’s chief for 10 years and whose administration will likely be best remembered for the widely unpopular filling in of Boeng Kak lake and the violent land evictions there and at the Borei Keila community, whose landless residents continue to protest regularly in Phnom Penh. “We all vow to continue to solve the remaining problems such as public order and traffic problems, environment and green city problems, infrastructure – especially roads, drainage and clean water problems and some remaining land disputes such as the Boeng Kak lake area, the Borei Keila area and the Thmar Kaul communities and reservoirs,” said Mr. Socheatvong, who was previously the city’s deputy governor. … Sia Phearum, director of the land rights NGO Housing Rights Task Force, said he feared the new governors promise was mere electioneering ahead of the July 28 national election. …

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