Resident Protest Causes Halt in Lake Filling
Hundreds of Boeung Kak lake residents on Friday demanded a company shut down its pump and resume talks over compensation in a developme
A Phnom Penh development company ceased filling Boeung Kak lake onFriday, following a protest of hundreds of lakeside residents in front of itsoffice. Protesters requested that Shukaku, Inc., stop filling thelake and resume direct discussion with residents over compensation costsfor leaving the area. More than 300 protesters staid in front of the Shukakuoffice, on the east side of the lake, for two hours Friday morning, before thecompany shut off a fill pump that had been throwing mud and water from thebottom of the Tonle Sap into the lake since last week. The pump was still shut down Friday afternoon. The protesters had two demands Friday: that the pump be shutoff and that they have direct talks with authorities and Shukaku. Sok Sambath, governor of Phnom Penh's Daun Penh district, and Chan Na,a Shukaku representative, told representatives of the protesters in a meetingFriday they would agree to temporarily stop filling the lake, until aresolution can be found with residents. "We will forward your proposal to the government fordiscussion," Sok Sambath said. Boeung Kak lake has been slated for development under a99-year, $79 million lease between the city and Shukaku, but residents haveproven reluctant to take a city buyout of $8,000 per home. The development would include residential and commercialproperties, as well as a hospital and university and other businesses. "We agreed to accept the results of the first step, butwe have not reached our request yet," said Be Pharum, a representative ofthe protesters said following the meeting. "We must wait for the finalresolution." Other residents warned they would continue to protest iftheir demands for a larger compensation package fail.