Villagers in limbo as dam starts
Construction at the controversial Lower Sesan II dam site in Stung Treng province has already begun, according to villagers, who will today petition several ministries, the Chinese embassy and the headquarters of the Royal Group to open negotiations with them. According to the villagers, who travelled to Phnom Penh yesterday, several families have already been relocated and offers of compensation have been pitiful. The Royal Group is contracted to build the dam with Chinese firm Hydrolancang International Energy Co Ltd. Fut Khoeurn, 35, a representative of three villages that will be flooded by the dam’s reservoir – Kara Bey Chrum, Kbal Romean and Srey Sronok – said yesterday that the government and Hydrolancang did not discuss compensation with villagers. … Meach Mean, coordinator of 3S Rivers Network, which represents some 75,000 people who may be affected by the dam, said that construction at the site had already begun. … Ang & Associates, a Royal Group subsidiary, reportedly signed a joint-venture agreement with local businessman Sok Vanna, the brother of Sokimex founder Sok Kong, to clear the 36,000-hectare site in preparation for the $816 million project. Construction of the dam is due to be completed by 2017. …
Phak Seangly and Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-limbo-dam-starts
