Hun Sen Rejects Call to Halt Stadium Work

The much-protested development of land around Olympic Stadium is necessary and beneficial and will not be halted, Prime Minister Hun Sen wrote to National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh earlier this month.

“The Royal Government has not discovered any reason to in­validate the [stadium developer] Yuanta Group’s contract, as the Yuanta Group has complied very well with its duties, despite some difficulties,” the premier wrote in a letter dated March 3.

Hun Sen was replying to a letter signed by 33 Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarians asking him to cancel the contract, which they believe is causing destruction of cultural heritage. He asked Prince Ranariddh to pass the message along.

The landmark stadium was commissioned by then-prince Norodom Sihanouk and de­signed by famed architect Vann Molyvann in the 1960s. Yuanta’s plans include filling in its surrounding moats and green space with commercial and residential buildings, some of which have already been erected.

But the stadium had previously lain abandoned for years, Hun Sen wrote, listing reasons in favor of the contract. “First, to renovate the national Olympic Stadium, which was abandoned, to make it beautiful, to serve [people to play] sport and to preserve historic Khmer architecture,” the premier wrote. “Second, to develop this zone as a commercial area, meeting standards of public hygiene, to [attract] both local and foreign visitors.”

The government is following the stadium’s development and will make sure its interests are met, Hun Sen added.

One petitioner, Funcinpec lawmaker Sam Ramsek, said Hun Sen’s reply was unsatisfactory. “We can’t accept just a piece of paper,” he said. “Prime Minister Hun Sen should come to the National Assembly and answer our questions [in person]. If he can answer our questions, we will accept that and stop. Otherwise, this problem will never be solved.”

The government had no right to sell off the stadium, which should have been considered public property, Sam Ramsek said.

, adding that he and his allies will continue to insist that the development be halted and the new buildings destroyed.

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