BOREI Keila villagers, who were part of the much-vaunted "model" on-site redevelopment scheme for poor villagers, have complained to the rights group Adhoc that  business megalith Phanimex is planning to construct and rent out shops on the ground floors of the three buildings that have been promised to them.

Tes Saroeun, a representative for 1,776 Borei Keila families, lodged a complaint bearing 395 thumbprints with Adhoc headquarters Tuesday.

"The objective of the complaint is to ask Phanimex to rent the stalls on the ground floor for a price that people can afford because they are very poor and rely on business to support their families," said Tes Saroeun, adding that the company has asked people to pay US$1,800 rent over five years.

"We have already lodged two complaints against the company. One with City Hall and one with the Prampi Makara district on September 12."

But Hem Chok, another Borei Keila representative, said that 10 community representatives agreed to rent the ground floor to the company for 40 years to build shops for $1,800 over five years - a price he considered affordable.

"The people on the ground floor live in anarchy, which makes the environment and sanitation very bad," said Hem Chok, adding that the representatives have made the right decision for people's security.

Chan Saveth, a monitor for Adhoc, said that he received the complaint Tuesday. 

"Phanimex promised to build 10 buildings for 1,776 families including the ground floor," Chan Saveth said. "I will visit Borei Keila to see [what is happening]."