Thirty-eight embattled squatter families will be allowed to stay in their homes on Sokha Beach in Sihanoukville’s Mittapheap district, but will have to move whenever money for a new park becomes available, Sihanoukville’s deputy governor said.
“When we have the money for development, we will ask people to leave,” said Chhun Sirun. “But now we have no money.”
The families live across from the site of a hotel being constructed by Sokimex Co scheduled to open later this year. Sokimex plans to build a park on the land on which the families live, company officials confirmed last week.
The families had owned 24 beachfront shops that authorities demanded removed. Angered by the order, the families burned down the shops last week. They were ordered to vacate their land last week, but Chhun Sirun said that order has been suspended.
Families complained they were never notified of the forced move. “Where will we stay?” said Thang Chey Sarak. “It is the rainy season now.”
“I will not remove my house or my property because I have no place to settle,” said Nov Huot, a resident since 1994. “If they find any place for us to settle, we will go. If I have to move, I will live on the street.”
Mittapheap District Governor Kong Sameoun said the families were not given land to resettle because the land they were living on belongs to the state.
