Phnom Penh Governor Says Lake Families to Get Land Titles
For the first time since Phnom Penh municipality slated some 4,000 mostly poor families for forced eviction in 2007 to make way for a CPP senator’s controversial real estate project, City Hall yesterday promised them what they have always wanted most: titles to their land. “[We] give the land to you and will make the land titles,” governor Kep Chuktema said at a City Hall meeting authorities had called to elaborate on a recent sub-decree granting the families 12.44 hectares of the development site…Until yesterday, City Hall had consistently rebuffed the Boeng Kak community’s demands for land titles. Families left meeting after meeting with officials empty handed. Their peaceful protests were often broken up with police batons. So, despite some lingering doubts and questions, the families–and the rights groups that have backed them–welcomed the news as an important milestone in their fight.
