Representatives for about 240 families in Stung Treng province who have rejected compensation offers for land they will lose to make way for the Lower Sesan 2 hydropower dam boycotted negotiations scheduled to be held yesterday at the provincial hall, officials and representatives said.
On Tuesday, village representatives rejected compensation packages offered by China’s Hydrolancang International Energy that would include 5 hectares of farmland, 1,000 square meters of residential land and $6,000 per family.
Hydrolancang is building the 400-megawatt dam in cooperation with Cambodia’s Royal Group.
After negotiations broke down, villagers, company representatives and local officials agreed to reconvene yesterday in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
However, Puth Khoeun, a village representative, said the group decided to boycott the meeting after the provincial government said that only nine representatives could attend.
“We reconsidered and decided not to join the meeting today because our residents who are affected by the dam project are hundreds, not only nine people,” Mr. Khoeun said.
Deputy provincial governor Kong Sitha said officials would attempt to hold another meeting soon.
