Lake Developers Want 'Safety'
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
15 April 2008
The fear of terrorism and the ineffective control of foreign tourists,
as well as internal migrants, are all driving the development of the
Boeung Kak lake area, officials said recently.
The Cambodian government hopes to bring modern development to the
area, to prevent chaotic settlement in the capital, officials said.
"We need to strengthen the security issue and develop modernization
construction in Boeung Kak for easily monitoring security," Phnom Penh
Deputy Governor Pa Socheathvong told VOA Khmer. "There are many
complicated security problems for those coming in and those going out,
without good security control."
Phnom Penh has leased the land to developer Shukaku, Inc., in a $79
million deal, but residents say they are not being paid a fair price
to leave the lake homes.
"We knew terrorists have easily hidden in there, like CFF and JI
terrorist leader Hambali," he said, referring the Cambodian Freedom
fighters and the leader of the Southeast Asian group Jemaah Islamiyah.
"If we cannot properly control this area, it will create a security
problem for Phnom Penh in the future."
Members of the CFF came from the area to attack government forces in
Phnom Penh in November 2000, and Riduan Isamuddin, better known as
Hambali, re****tedly stayed in the area prior to his arrest in Bangkok
in 2003, following the 2002 Bali bombings carried out by JI.
Critics say city government and developers are neglecting the
interests of Boeung Kak villagers as they move to clear the area of
the make****ft homes jutting over the lake.
"Safety and people's living are very im****tant issues, but Boeung Kak
development must provide for the very im****tant interests of Boeung
Kak villagers, or the people's interest will be lost," said Keo Remy,
vice president of the Human Rights Party, which is competing in July's
general elections.
Be Pharum, Boeung Kak villager, said residents sup****ted development.
"But we request that the government find a proper resolution for
Boeung Kak villagers, to avoid the suffering with the development like
people in Sambok Chap, Koh Pich...in Phnom Penh."
Phan Sithan, coordinator of NGO Forum on Cambodia, acknowledged that
the area was im****tant for security.
"But the people's living is also an im****tant part of development," he
said.
The government must "seriously consider" the relation****p between
security and people's livelihoods, he said.
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