via Khmer Times, 20 November 2023: Amnesty International has accused Cambodia of violating international law by forcibly evicting around 10,000 families from the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage site. Cambodian authorities have staunchly defended their actions, insisting that the relocations were voluntary and in accordance with UNESCO rules, targeting only unauthorized settlements and aiming to protect the ruins from environmental damage. While Amnesty alleges human rights violations and inadequate resettlement conditions, the Cambodian government maintains its stance on the necessity and legality of these relocations for conservation purposes.
Ly Vannak, the Head of Administration of Siem Reap Provincial Administration, dismissed Amnesty International’s report as “contrary to the truth” and “political in nature”.
“We all know that the settlers at Angkor are squatters because they do not own the land, and the land and the rest of the park belong to the public,” he said. “Still, they voluntarily agreed to the Run Ta Ek area because they knew that they would be given land, of which they have the rightful ownership.”
Vannak added that while the area is quite far from the city, the authorities have been working on the development of the local infrastructure while the families who have already arrived have enjoyed various social benefits.
Source: Amnesty International report on relocations rejected as distortion – Khmer Times
