In the News: Residents denounce disinformation. Majority have not accepted compensation.

Boeung Kak resident at March 19th press conference (Image: KA Set / John Vink)

During a press conference, residents of the 4, 252 strong Boeung Kak community denounced recent statements broadcast on Cambodian television during a news conference at the Cambodian Legal Education Centre.

From the Ka Set article:  (Click here to view)

“…in front of journalists and non-governmental organisations, Duong Bophary, one of the representatives of the Boeung Kak community, formally denied figures given by a Bayon TV journalist, the director general of which is none other than Hun Mana, the daughter and assistant to the office of prime Minister Hun Sen. According to the families representative, to this day, only 20% of them accepted to leave their home, and this mainly concerns families living in small floating houses in Groups 2 and 4 in Boeung Kak, located just next to the pipes from which sand is already pouring down and progressively filling the lake. “

In the News. Report: “filling will lead to ’significant’ impacts on nearby properties.

Child in the partially submerged home of a neighbor in Boeung Kak. (Image: Phnon Penh Post)

From the Article (” New report warns of Boeung Kak flooding”):
“The Boeung Kak Area Drainage and Flooding Assessment report, prepared by a team of Australian drainage and flooding engineers in 2008, found the filling of the lake for a 133-hectare commercial and housing project would eliminate a major rain catchment area, leading to”significant impacts on property” in areas adjacent to the lake.”

“…a representative from Boeung Kak’s Village 22, agreed with the study, saying that more and more villagers were losing their homes as the lake’s reclamation continued to drive up water levels.”

New Report warns of Boeung Kak Flooding

A report by Australian based engineers working in cooperation with Cambodian nonprofit Teang Tnaut warns that the continued filling of Boeung Kak could lead to increased severity of flooding especially to the area north of the lake. ‘The report confirms what many have suspected – that the development at Boeung Kak is being undertaken without full regard to the environmental impacts.’ commented Samakhum Teang Tnaut’s advisor. Media statement BK
report (pdf)