A deputy district governor and a land tycoon are allegedly
attempting to seize land deemed sacred by about 700 monks and residents
who gathered yesterday in protest outside the unfinished Wat
Kohbodhivong in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district.Banner-wielding participants said that tycoon Chheang Paksour and
Deputy District Governor Chea Khema are conspiring to parcel out pagoda
grounds, despite the area being demarcated as sacred by the Ministry of
Cults and Religion in 2006.Locals allege that Phnom Penh-based Borey Peng Huoth’s The Star
Platinum housing development is in cahoots with Paksour and Khema to
build a housing project that would extend onto the sacred grounds.
“[The area] has been sacred grounds for a very long time but has yet
to receive traditional rites so the pagoda committee is asking to build
one,” said Peuy Meta, a chief monk, referring to a pagoda.
The construction of the apartments and villas began in 2013 and a
heavy police presence had initially stopped locals from protesting, said
Chhoun Sovin, deputy chief monk of Wat Kohbodhivong.
“Tycoon Chheang Paksour and Chea Khema claimed Hun Sen allowed them
to develop the area so monks and villagers kept quiet,” Sovin said.
In 2009, locals triumphed over a botched relocation plan following clashes with police.
The area holds special spiritual import. According to lore, a python
lived on the grounds in harmony with residents for several years, and
the recent arrival of a 40-kilogram turtle was seen as propitious.
Nearly 30 monks intend to reside on the grounds until the dispute is
resolved. The community has filed complaints with District Governor Ly
Saveth and intends to file a complaint with Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Saveth and Khema could not be reached for comment.
An employee of Borey Peng Huoth unauthorised to talk to the press
said the company owned the land and construction was nearly complete.
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