Hundreds of residents in six villages of Banteay Srei district’s Preah Dak commune come to meet Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara this morning. CHEA SOPHARA VIA FACEBOOK
An official from a civil society organisation voiced support for the authorities’ measures to prevent further settlement in the area of Preah Dak commune in Siem Reap province’s Banteay Srei district, saying that it’s a necessary measure to prevent the expansion of the residential area by newcomers.
Sous Narin, rights group Adhoc's coordinator for Siem Reap province, said that the authorities' request to prevent newcomers from entering and building new buildings there was the correct approach.
“I agree with the authorities' request not to increase the number of new houses. For example, if there are 100 houses, we let those 100 houses remain there, but we don't want to see that expand because it is an archaeological site and we must keep it intact,” he said.
Narin added that if people living there have children and must separate from their families when they grow up, the authorities should have a policy to set up a new area, such as the Run Ta Ek ecovillage, for people who want to leave.
Thousands of families living close to the Angkor Wat Temple have already drawn lots to relocate as the government is taking measures to preserve the Angkor Archaeological Park.
Residents of Preah Dak commune, who live far from Angkor Wat temple but close to the East Baray, which is also in a conservation plan, had staged protests in recent days after they had heard that their villages would be relocated to Run Ta Ek ecovillage in Run Ta Ek commune in the same district.
Meeting with people in Preah Dak commune on October 7, Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara said that "the residents of Preah Dak must maintain stability. We won't relocate the people in the six villages of this commune.”
He said he hoped that they would become calm and no longer worry about this issue. He also said that the people of the six villages have to promise to prevent new people from coming to live and prevent construction of new buildings in order to preserve the location.
Prime Minister Hun Sen also said that the government had no intention of resetting the residents of Preah Dak commune.
