Lakeside plea to UN

Photo by: Uy Nousereimony
A young resident of the Boeung Kak lakeside stands among banners pleading for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss their evictions and the development of the lake with Prime Minister Hun Sen ahead of Ban’s visit to the Kingdom beginning this evening

via CAAI

Monday, 25 October 2010 21:40 Khouth Sophakchakrya

Representatives of five Phnom Penh communities set to be displaced by real estate developments have gathered in front of the office of the United Nations Development Programme in an effort to convince its secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, to intervene on their behalf.

“About 100 people from Boeung Kak lake and other communities at risk of eviction joined together to demand to meet Ban Ki-moon on his visit to Cambodia,” said Sia Phearum, secretariat director of the Housing Rights Task Force.

Ban arrives in Phnom Penh tonight for a two-day visit.

Sia Phearum said the protesters had passed a petition outlining their concerns to a UNDP spokesperson.

“We hope that when [Ban Ki-moon] gets the message from the communities he will pass on their concerns to Prime Minister Hun Sen during their dialogue,” he said.

Rights groups estimate that more than 4,000 families will be evicted to make way for a 133-hectare real estate project, which is being developed by Shukaku Inc, a local firm headed by Cambodian People’s Party Senator Lao Meng Khin.

Oeung Navy, a representative of several communities facing eviction from the lakeside area, described Ban as their “last chance”.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY WILL BAXTER...read the full story in tomorrow’s Phnom Penh Post or see the updated story online from 3PM UTC/GMT +7 hours.