Siem Reap province

ABOUT 50 Siem Reap city officials and hired workers yesterday demolished one home in Salakamroek commune and promised to return in a week’s time to clear two more as part of a beautification effort that officials say will ultimately displace some 300 families.

Oeun Pov, the deputy governor of Siem Reap city, said officials had initially planned to tear down all three structures on Monday, but had postponed the destruction of two houses after the owners begged for a grace period.

A total of 32 families in Salamkroek’s Wat Damnak village are set to be displaced by a road and park project, which is being funded by a US$300,000 grant from France and is part of the broader beautification effort.

Oeun Pov said half of the affected families in Wat Damnak village had already accepted a compensation package of US$300 each and a 1-hectare plot of land in Banteay Srei district’s Run Ta Ek commune, as well as lumber and corrugated sheeting to help with the construction of new homes.

He said that the families were not eligible for land titles “because they live along the river”.

Moeun Naisim, the widow whose house was torn down by officials yesterday, said the relocation site is unacceptable because it is more than 30 kilometres from Siem Reap city.

“I do not have a motorbike, I do not have a bicycle. How can I live there?” she said.