phnom penh

Friday, 29.8.2008: Those Who Live at Boeng Kak Lake Go to Give Their Thumbprints to Get Money and New Housing

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 575

“Phnom Penh: On 27 August 2008, from morning to night, many citizens, including husbands, wives, and children 18 years and older, went to the headquarters of a company [the writer of this article, focused on this company, surprisingly does not name the company or give any related information] that has received a legal permit to develop the Boeng Kak region, so some residents start to go and give their thumbprints, to leave the Boeng Kak region, getting compensation money or new housing.

“Mr. Man Chhoeun, the Phnom Penh Municipal deputy governor and the person in charge of this task with a Boeng Kak regional developer company, said that 500 families had agreed to receive the compensation money of US$8,000 and Riel 2 million [approx. US$490] or new housing with Riel 2 million [approx US$490], costly solutions for the developer company.

“As for citizens who agree to take the compensation money or new housing, the company will continue to offer this, until no more family is left outside of this scheme.

“At the company headquarters, the citizens who went to accept the compensation money or new housing in order to leave the old region, said that they took the money because they want to run their businesses and live in the new places with a good environment, and they do not want to live above the sewage at the lake which affects their heath.

“The new housing that they agree to receive can be constructed one floor above the ground, and it is in Cham Chao, Dangkao. After leading their families to see [models of] those new housing, they agreed to give their thumbprints to accept the new housing, because they are satisfied with the new housing. All the citizens said that they want to see the company develop the Boeng Kak region soon, requesting that the company has to act very quickly and make good development, so that the area is not left it unused or sold to another company.

“While this exchange process is going on – [citizens accept money or housing while the company gets the thumbprints in exchange, showing that the citizens agree the leave the region], it is seen that the company had prepared documents very carefully, including fair lucky draws, and thumbprints are taken from husbands, wives, and children who are 18 or older, and the company explained clearly the statutes of the contracts, in order to avoid any future complicated problems.

“In the meantime, the company also informed about another good news: that the company offers Riel 100 million loans [approx. US$25,000] with a very low interest rate, to help the citizens from the Boeng Kak region who agree to live in new locations, to run small businesses.

“Now, the citizens living at the Boeng Kak Lake gradually go to give their thumbprints to receive the compensation money and new housing; as for the company, it is trying to prepare everything for the citizens without delay.

“Most of the citizens agreed to take US$8,000 and Riel 2 million, because they want to choose a new location by themselves where it is easy to run their everyday living businesses.

“As for the development of the Boeng Kak region, it is seen that the company has started to pump sand into lake, gradually, since 26 August 2008.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #1680, 29.8.2008

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 29 August 2008


Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1732, 29.8.2008

  • Chief Demonstrators in Siam [Thailand] Could Get Capital Punishment


Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #232, 29.8.2008

  • [Sam Rainsy Party Parliamentarian] Son Chhay: Sam Rainsy Party Will Not Participate in First National Assembly Session to Save Face of the Cambodian People’s Party; Sam Rainsy: Our Final Legal Struggle, We Will Complain to UN and Co-Presidents of the 1991 Paris Peace Conference
  • Corruption over Donation to Army at Preah Vihear Temple Area Revealed [good quality food and modern equipment was taken by high ranking military officers]


Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6436, 29.8.2008

  • Thai Police Call on Demonstrators to Move Out of Government Office


Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3551, 29.8.2008

  • UN Criticizes Cambodian Government Report on Human Rights [of not being changed]
  • Sam Rainsy: Our Country Increasingly Gets Away from Democracy and It Is Very Dangerous [that the government is ruled by only one party]
  • [Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian] Mr. Yim Sovann Supports UN Envoy’s Proposal Urging for a Third Party to Monitor Elections in Cambodia


Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4680, 29.8.2008

  • Those Who Live at Boeng Kak Lake Go to Give Their Thumbprints to Get Money and New Housing
  • Monk Raped Ten-Year-Old Girl and Killed Her [27 August 2008, he is arrested – Baray, Kompong Thom]


Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3396, 29.8.2008

  • Cambodian People’s Party Takes All Positions of National Assembly Committee Chairs
  • Siam [Thailand] Asks to Suspend Negotiations – but Its Solders Still Invade Khmer Land

Click here to have a look at the last editorial – some fundamental challenges into the future

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