"A New Group of Boeung Kak Residents Seeks Compensation for Their Damaged Homes", 28 May 2019

Residents of Phnom Penh's Sras Chak community on the northern edge of Boeung Kak lake said … that officials forcibly damaged their homes by claiming that the land they live on belongs to Shukaku Inc., a private property developer owned by ruling party senator Lao Meng Khin.

The residents, however, said that they have been living on the land for more than twenty years and that they seek proper compensation, for the damage done to their homes. Chhit Sokun, 47, owner of a twin rowhouses, whose backyard was bulldozed into , told … that her family has occupied the land since 1990s. “I bought it from a soldier in 1992, and in 2010 the Phnom Penh Municipality said they sold this land to a company to invest,” said Sokun.​

…, dozens of local officials and policemen blocked the road around the disputed area. Reporters and human rights group were barred from entering the heavily-guarded area. Two excavators were deployed to tear down the backyards of disputing residents…

The residents sought to meet with Shukaku Inc. to negotiate for compensation. So Leng, 65, whose house and backyard were also partly damaged, hopes that they will finally get a reasonable compensation from the company…

Kan Vannak, police chief of Sras Chak commune told … that he was not aware of the incident…

Seung Senkarona, a spokesman for human rights group ADHOC said that authorities should try to negotiate peacefully with the residents before destroying their houses…

Neither Phnom Penh municipal spokesman, the district chief or Shukaku Inc representative could be reached for comment ...