Boeng Kak residents seeking onsite housing as part of their relocation package, declined a City Hall proposal offered yesterday, claiming it was an inadequate offer, village representatives said.
But rights workers and representatives said the meeting suggested City Hall was open to negotiations.
During yesterday’s meeting at City Hall Phnom Penh Municipal deputy governor Nuon Someth met with nine Boeng Kak representatives to unveil a master plan for onsite development. The plan included an offer of flats within a six-story apartment building, based off the housing model used at Borei Keila.
The offer for onsite development came after residents in May submitted a request for small plots of land and homes for each family on land being developed by Shukaku Inc, a company owned by CPP Senator Lao Meng Khin.
“We immediately rejected this plan,” said Boeng Kak representative Sok Heng. “Multi-story buildings are difficult for living in.”
“There are no places to park our motorbikes or cars, and, more importantly, we cannot run businesses out of our homes to support our families,” she added.
Ms Heng said that at the end of the meeting Mr Someth suggested representatives draw up a list of the families who need plots of land and houses, and they would negotiate again.
“I think they showed us this model plan just to test us. In the end, they will agree to our request,” she added.
Sia Phearum, secretary general of the Housing Rights Task Force, said he was pleased City Hall appeared to be opening the door to negotiations. “We would like to have the two parties continue to negotiate to reach a good resolution.”
Mr Phearum said the government should accede to the villagers’ request because villagers gave up many hectares of their own land.
“They need good housing,” he said. “They granted a lot of their land and the government should accept their request.”
