Residents Near Angkor Angered by the Project
A long-delayed project to develop an extensive hotel zone between Siem Reap and the Angkor temple complex has begun to move ahead, angering residents who say the government is forcing them off their land.
The 1,007-hectare hotel zone lies north of Siem Reap and to the east of the main road to Angkor Wat. Plans to develop the land date back to 1995, but the Apsara Authority had no budget to speak of until 1999.
Bun Narith, deputy secretary general for the Apsara Authority, said that since January, the authority has spent $1 million to buy land and relocate 262 families from the hotel zone to 73 hectares of land in Sla Khram commune.
But four families have refused to sell their land, saying the payment offered is not enough.
“They want a higher price for their land,’’ Bun Narith said.
One of the four families is that of Son Chhay, the Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian from Siem Reap. His parcel is 31,000 square meters; the other three parcels range from 800 square meters to 17,257 square meters.
The government has offered to pay from $2 to $20 per square meter, depending on how close the land is to the road.
A member of one of the four families, who asked not to be named, said it simply is not enough, given the high price of land in the area.
In essence, he said, the government is asking people to sell choice parcels within city limits.but paying only enough to allow them to buy lots out in the countryside.
The man said he understands that the government wants to develop the area in a planned fashion, and does not oppose the concept—only the price.
“Town land is expensive,’’ he said, and the government’s price “is unfair to me.’’
He also questioned what will happen next.
“I am now worried that my house will be moved by police, as I have been called into the Siem Reap provincial headquarters and Apsara Authority many times,’’ he said.
Suy San, second deputy Siem Reap governor, said if the families continue to balk, “We will have a new measure approved by the committee on land from the inter-ministry’’ forcing them to leave.
Meanwhile, he said, “The money is being kept in the bank for them. If they want to take it, they can go to the bank in Siem Reap province.’’
Bun Narith said the matter must be resolved because the government is moving ahead with its project, and plans to extend the hotel zone by another 500 hectares.
“It will affect villagers living in districts in Siem Reap and Prasat Bakong,’’ he said.
He could not estimate how many families would be affected, but said land acquisition will be cheaper, since the land in question is farther out of town.
