Housing Rights Task Force strongly condemns the disruption of a peaceful meeting by some 500
residents from Boeung Kok Lake in Phnom Penh, which led to a public demonstration at
Independence Monument and the closure of Sihanouk Boulevard as efforts to find an alternative
meeting venue were thwarted by authorities.
As the threat of eviction increases, community members from all villages surrounding Boeung Kok
lake met at the National Institute for Education on Monday Aug. 23.
Their aim was to discuss their demand not to be forcibly evicted, as well as demands for adequate
housing according to internationally accepted standards and onsite development. In addition,
community members hoped to discuss the ongoing flooding in their area, as well as future plans.
The peaceful meeting, the first of its kind in terms of size in several months, however never took
place.
At 8.45am it was disrupted, as police arrived at the venue, pressuring the proprietor of the institute
to ask everybody to leave the meeting hall.
As relayed by Chamkarmon hospital officials, consequent arrangements to move the meeting to the
Red Cross premises at the hospital were thwarted by a phone call from Phnom Penh Governor Kep
Chuktema, ordering the closure of the grounds to the residents. Read More