Stop the Illegal Filling of Boeung Kak Lake

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Author: boeungkak

Started: September 1, 2008, 12:52:26 pm

Target: Human rights ,Cambodia,Asia, Housing Rights

Category: Civil & Human Rights

Supporters:

Goal:

100,000

Goal Progress:

Status

Active

I express my deep concern over the situation in at Boeung Kak Lake. I am shocked to learn that the lake is being filled without proper consultation with all parties, environmental study, and transparency. It is my understanding that the filling of the lake violates the following Cambodian laws:

Article 15 of the Land Law (2001) restricting the leasing of public lands and article 18 of the Sub-decree 29 ANK.BK states that the leasing of state public property must not exceed 15 (fifteen) years. The lease agreement is for 99- years, therefore the lease is illegal.
Article 16 of the Sub-decree 129 ANK.BK, states that leasing of state public property must not damage the property or change its function in providing a public service. Filling the lake will obviously do irreparable harm to the lake, and thus the current pumping is illegal.
The land belongs to local families under the 2001 Land Law. While the lake is State Public Property, many surrounding families have demonstrated legal claims to their property through legal possession. The filling of the lake threatens to flood their houses and destroy their homes, which is a punishable offence under the 2001 law.
Your Excellency, please enforce Cambodian law and compel Senator Lao Meng Khin and his business associates to immediately stop the illegal filling of Boeung Kak Lake.
I also urge you to guarantee that adequate and fair consultation takes place between the Municipality of Phnom Penh, Senator Lao Meng Khin and his business associates, and the community of Boeung Kak to ensure the community’s rights are respected.