Lawyer representing soon-to-be displaced lakeside villagers says he has been ordered to appear in court Friday over case
Dredging firm HSC began pumping sand into the lake August 26 as the first stage in the construction of a 133-hectare commercial and housing development, which is expected to lead to the eviction of over 4,000 lakeside families.
Lawyer Choung Choungy, who represents 120 villagers, said he received a summons Tuesday morning requesting he answer questions about the injunction he filed September 9 on behalf of 14 villagers.
"I will be summoned to the court on Friday to answer questions about the people's injunction," he said. "On the same day, the court will also summon a representative of the developer to be questioned at the court."
Meanwhile, villagers said they will stage a protest at Prime Minister Hun Sen's Takhmao house this morning, claiming earlier complaints to City Hall and to the office of Shukaku Inc had been ignored.
"We have no hope that City Hall will solve the problem, so we have decided to go to the prime minister's house," said villager representative Be Pharom, adding that floods were already encroaching on houses. "I believe only Samdech Hun Sen can help us."
She added that residents will appeal directly to Hun Sen against the reclamation of the lake and to demand fair compensation for their properties from the municipality. "We want to let him know that development must take into account people's livelihood," she said.
Bunn Rachana of the Housing Rights Task Force said that she would monitor the protest, and was expecting around 500 Boeung Kak villagers to be present.
"Going to Prime Minister Hun Sen's house is their last hope," she said.
Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Pa Socheatvong said that protesters were free to express their opinion, but that City Hall was still working on their complaints.
Minister denies PM called for Thailand to give up Asean chair
Hun Sen only expressed concerns that Bangkok political standoff could threaten forthcoming summit, Khieu Kanharith says
CAMBODIA'S Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith denied reports made by the Bangkok Post Monday that Prime Minister Hun Sen had called on Thailand to give up its temporary chairmanship of Asean.
"Prime Minister Hun Sen never ... made any comment that would impact Thailand's position as chair of Asean," Khieu Kanharith said in a statement released Tuesday.
The statement added that Hun Sen's comments only related to Thailand's ability to host a forthcoming Asean summit in light of current political troubles.
Hun Sen had no intention of disrespecting Thailand but was addressing a broader issue of concern for all Asean members, the statement said.
Khieu Kanharith was responding to a Bangkok Post report claiming that Hun Sen had called for Thailand to abandon its chairmanship of Asean in favour of Singapore or Vietnam.
The article added that it was "unusual" for Asean countries to comment on the internal disputes of their fellow members.
The Cambodian government only wants to see the political situation in Thailand return to normal in order to guarantee peace and harmony among Asean members, the statement said.
An official at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh who requested anonymity told the Post on Tuesday he had no comment on the statement.
He added that Monday's article was credited to Deutsche Presse Agentur.
Thailand said earlier this month that it would go ahead with the scheduled Asean summit, to be held in December in Bangkok.
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