Eviction

A group of 18 families living in an abandoned Battambang province ice factory remain facing an uncertain future after a delayed eviction deadline passed two days ago with no word from the authorities on either a new deadline or plans for the families’ relocation. “I don’t know where to go if my family is evicted,” said resident Kim Hour. “We’ve decided along with the other families here that we will not leave unless the government finds a proper place for us to relocate.” The families say they have been living on the two-hectare plot of land since 1979 and are former factory employees. In October the group was informed in a letter from the Department of Industry, Mines and Energy that the factory had been sold and they had three months to relocate. Neither the department nor Battambang Governor Prach Chan have made any overtures to the families to explain the delay, nor could they be reached for comment. Factory resident Hay Vanny said the families had sent a joint letter to the department last week, but had not yet received a response.