Hun Sen defends heritage site evictions

via Khmer Times, 05 December 2018: Cambodian Prime Minister speaking about recent evictions and demolishing of buildings in the Angkor Archaeological Park.

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday defended the government’s stance on the eviction of people illegally living in heritage sites.

The statement was made during the 25th anniversary of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Heritage Site of Angkor in Siem Reap province.

Mr Hun Sen said the government’s stance on heritage site encroachment is often taken advantage of by political parties who accuse it of violating human rights.

“Political parties always use land protestors when there’s an upcoming election,” Mr Hun Sen said. “If we allow people to encroach on land located in heritage sites, our temples will lose quality and will no longer be world heritage sites.”

Source: Hun Sen defends heritage site evictions – Khmer Times