In response to Monday’s request for intervention by 285 families facing relocation, Ratanakkiri provincial authorities visited Bakeo district’s Bakeo Chas village yesterday and played down the problem’s scope.

Bakeo District Governor Heng Bun Than said when he met with the villagers yesterday most agreed to make way for the district hall, school, health centre, supermarket and park slated to take their place – for the sake of order and beautification.

“The authorities will not relocate villagers to another village,” said CPP member of parliament for Ratanakkiri Bou Lam.

“District authorities are preparing a new location for them just 100 metres away from the old one.”

Each family would be asked to pay $200 for one of the new lots, because they are nicer and larger than the families’ old homes, Than said, adding that 100 lots already have been built.

“A small number of them have not agreed to leave,” Than said.

“We are considering measures to take for them.”

But Neth Sinuon, 37, who has lived on the site since 2005, said most villagers had not agreed to leave and could not afford the cost of the new location. 

To contact the reporter on this story: Phak Seangly at [email protected]