PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that he has assigned the Minister of Land Management, Chea Sophara, and the Minister of Culture, Phoeurng Sackona, to facilitate the people living in Preah Dak commune after residents protested the demolition of their houses on Wednesday, 5 October. He made this remark at the opening ceremony of the ‘Vision of Cambodia 2022’ conference on Thursday morning, 6 October.

The Prime Minister claimed that the Royal Government is not affecting the lives of the people in Preah Dak commune, and that there is no order to demolish houses there. The Royal Government, he said, is just considering the infrastructure of Angkor, especially the eastern baray, which lacks water for people to use.

Prime Minister Hun Sen told people not to worry and to keep quiet for now.

“I will send Mr. Chea Sophara and Mrs. Phoeung Sakona to meet with you tomorrow to explain,” he said. “Please, people in Preah Dak commune, please calm down, we cannot do anything to move the people who are living there.”

According to the Prime Minister, experts are currently studying how much water the eastern baray can hold to support Angkor Wat. He stated that the Royal Government has carefully considered this issue to protect the lives of the people and to also protect the ancient temples of Angkor.

It should be noted that many residents of Preah Dak commune gathered to protest in front of the Preah Dak commune hall on Wednesday. Some came to chant protests while others raised banners saying that they refused to see their homes demolished. Some people have also called on the Royal Government to intervene in their favor.