Wednesday, 10 November 2010

Lake Residents Make Prayers to River Spirit

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Tuesday, 09 November 2010

via CAAI

Photo: by Heng Reaksmey
Boeung Kak lake protesters pray to the spirit of Preah Ang Dang Kor in front of the Royal Palace on Tuesday, in a bid to stop a development company from pushing them out of their homes.

A group of lakeside residents gathered at a shrine on the bank of the Tonle Sap river on Tuesday to pray to a spirit to save their homes, as they appeared to be running out of options.

The residents burned incense and prayed to a saint called Dang Kor that their homes be spared by an $80 million development deal between a private company and the city of Phnom Penh. Residents refuse to take a buyout from the company that they say is too low.

Meanwhile, the company, Shukaku, Inc., continues to pump fill into Beoung Kak lake, inundating occupied homes as it moves towards building a residential and business district.

Residents say they have lodged complaints with the city and have already protested multiple times in front of City Hall. They will continue to protest, they said.

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