Boeung Kak fight

THE embattled residents of the Boeung Kak lakeside offered yesterday to donate their blood in a sign of solidarity with suffering Cambodians nationwide.

Community representatives delivered a letter to the Health Ministry yesterday saying that more than 1,000 families facing eviction are ready to donate their blood. The letter followed an appeal from Prime

Minister Hun Sen last week calling for more people to donate blood to help those endangered due to a lack of blood for transfusions.

Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng said yesterday that residents of the lakeside were welcome to donate blood voluntarily, though he added that it should not be turned into a “political” act. He declined to comment further, except to say that it was “better that you do not write about this topic.”

Thousands of lakeside villagers are facing eviction to make way for a massive development by a joint venture between a Chinese-owned firm and a local company run by a ruling party senator.

Community representative Tep Vanny likened the perilous condition of those injured in accidents to the situation facing residents of Boeung Kak lake.

“We are victims so we are very aware of the suffering of others,” she added.