Chong villagers block Chinese engineers from reaching dam

19 May 2014
The Cambodia Daily
Civil society / Economic policy and administration / Economy and commerce / Energy / Energy policy and administration / Environment and natural resources / Environment and natural resources policy and administration / Environmental and biodiversity protection / Ethnic minorities and indigenous people / Generation and distribution facilities / Government / Hydropower dams / Infrastructure / Investment / Land / Ministries and other national bodies / Ministry of Mines and Energy / National parks and wildlife sanctuaries / Renewable energy production / Rivers and lakes / Social development / Water resources
LICADHO / Ministry of Mines and Energy / Russei Chrum commune / Sinohydro / Stung Areng dam

A group of 20 ethnic minority Chong villagers in Koh Kong province’s Areng Valley blocked the road Friday to prevent a group of Chinese engineers from reaching the site of a controversial proposed dam. A number of Chong villagers have been intermittently camping near the road leading to the planned Stung Chhay Areng dam site for the past two months, hoping to stop a team of Chinese engineers trying to survey the area. They have already successfully stopped the workers twice before. … In Kongchet, provincial coordinator for rights group Licadho, called on the government Friday to cancel the project, saying that it had become clear that the dam would not serve the needs of the local community. … However, Pich Siyun, director of the Koh Kong provincial mines and energy department, said that the assessment of the project will move forward and if the Chong continue their roadblock, authorities will take action against them. …

 Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/chong-villagers-block-chinese-engineers-from-reaching-dam-58944/