The residents of Phnom Penh are becoming increasingly frustrated by the chaotic and largely unplanned construction in this ‘jewel’of an Asian city.
While welcoming sustainable and inspired development the latest and largest ‘development’ is the filling of Boeung Kok. The loss of this iconic open space is nothing short of tragic particularly in the light that the 133 hecatres of public property will be developed for private business gain (estimated at US$2 billion +).
The Lake may be lost but there is still time to support the thousands of families living around the lake who are negotiating for fair compensation (their case for possession is FAR stronger than the the Government’s Lease to Shukaku which is illegal on a number of counts).
With enough support the Government may be persuaded to retain 30, 40, 50 hectares as a public park for public use. With enough support from all the city’s residents, whether you are Khmer or foreign it may be possible to still change the future of Boeung Kak.
Put up a sticker, buy a T-shirt and show your support.
The Campaign was established by the Housing Rights Task Force, a coalition of NGOs working for housing rights in Phnom Penh. This blog is an independent effort to chronicle their efforts, and can be contacted via saveboeungkak@gmail.com
(Note: some transliterate the lake as ‘Boeung Kak’, others ‘Boeung Kok’. The contributors to this blog don’t particularly care what rule you follow for transliteration – we care about people following rule of law and their conscience.)
We have same problem in Belgium with the river “Vesdre” in the city of Verviers.
A big shopping center on the river and in the center of the city.
You can see that on :
http://www.vesdre-avenir.be
We’re with you !
Vesdre-Avenir association
were ou today at the presentation that turned in to protest?
[...] to defend their land and housing rights as the Cambodia government prepares to develop the Boeung Kok area for commercial purposes. [...]
[...] to defend their land and housing rights as the Cambodia government prepares to develop the Boeung Kok area for commercial [...]
Why can’t we leave comments under the posts?
[...] meeting of the community of Boeung Kok to discuss possible alternative planning for the [...]
[...] Meanwhile, many of those who cannot even dream of the new forms of lifestyles being promoted are being removed from their homes, with Amnesty International recently stating that 10% of the residents of Phnom Penh have been evicted between 1990 and 2011. The example of Boeung Kak Lake at the centre of Phnom Penh, which is currently being filled in, has become symbolic of the tensions between everyday life in Phnom Penh and the sheer power of current investment in reshaping the city. In 2007, the Cambodian Shukaku Inc. (owned by Senator Leng Meng Khin of the ruling CPP Party), in partnership with the Chinese Erdos Hong Jun Investment Co. were granted a 99 year lease to redevelop the lake as a high-profile mixed-use development to be called ‘New East City’. The result has seen up to 4,000 families living in the area surrounding the lake either evicted or under threat of eviction. [...]
[...] Meanwhile, many of those who cannot even dream of the new forms of lifestyles being promoted are being removed from their homes, with Amnesty International recently stating that 10% of the residents of Phnom Penh have been evicted between 1990 and 2011. The example of Boeung Kak Lake at the centre of Phnom Penh, which is currently being filled in, has become symbolic of the tensions between everyday life in Phnom Penh and the sheer power of current investment in reshaping the city. In 2007, the Cambodian Shukaku Inc. (owned by Senator Leng Meng Khinof the ruling CPP Party), in partnership with the Chinese Erdos Hong Jun Investment Co. were granted a 99 year lease to redevelop the lake as a high-profile mixed-use development to be called ‘New East City’. The result has seen up to 4,000 families living in the area surrounding the lake either evicted or under threat of eviction. [...]
[...] Sopheap and perhaps visit him at work, although I am worried as his studio is reportedly located on Boeung Kak Lake, an important community of poor citizens being destroyed by government land grabs. Sopheap Pich, [...]
Hello, I’m producing an animation which is partly related to the lake development, is it possible if you could provide me with some facts and figures? I.e. how many families are currently awaiting to be compensated, how many families in totals are evicted etc etc. Thank you very much in advance!