Can’t fight, forced to take flight
The residents of Por Sen Chey district’s Prey Chisak village could do nothing but stand and stare. Early yesterday, representatives of Green Goal, a private company tasked with measuring and marking sought-after property for Phnom Penh’s airport expansion, arrived in the village and started to measure the land many have lived on their whole lives. Phoung Yom held tightly to her certificate of residence as she watched the men measure out a vacant area in front of her home, where a village clinic had been planned. The company is also responsible for relocation. … At the end of last month, dozens of houses near Phnom Penh International Airport began to be marked for demolition and partial destruction to make way for a “buffer zone”, which authorities say is needed to bring the site in line with international standards. … Tem Sareivouth, general manager at Green Goal, told the Post that the project his company is undertaking will ensure adequate compensation for the residents. “It’s involuntary resettlement, it’s not eviction,” he said. “Right now, we’re just completing a census . . . which will help to make sure they have full entitlement for their loss.” … In July 2012, scores of families were told their homes would be demolished to make way for the “buffer zone”. In protest of the forced evictions, some of the affected families welcomed US President Barack Obama to Cambodia by painting “SOS” on their roofs. This time around, residents say they fear the demolition – which they have been told will happen this year – is just the beginning. While residents maintain they live on the land legally, City Hall says they have built their houses outside the law. As part of their negotiations, residents are demanding that they receive land titles that ensure this will not happen again in the future. …
Chhay Channyda and Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/can%E2%80%99t-fight-forced-take-flight
