SIEM REAP: A large-scale campaign was launched in 2022 to dismantle illegal structures within the Angkor Park and required residents living there to voluntarily move to the Run Ta Ek Development Area. Since being relocated, many families have sold the land allocated to them, saying that there are not enough opportunities to make a living in the satellite commune, located 30km outside of Siem Reap. Prime Minister Hun Manet visited the area today to encourage people to stay and build up the new area, saying that his administration is committed to developing the Run Ta Ek Commune further and faster.
The Prime Minister said that the relocations were needed based on “some conditions” from UNESCO to keep Angkor a World Heritage Site. In a statement last month, however, UNESCO said it was “deeply concerned” about the alleged relocation program and said, “at no point did it request, support, or participate in the program.”
Speaking to a crowd of nearly 5,000 families who received land titles in the remote commune today, the PM said that in less than 500 days, the area has developed infrastructure with roads, water access, electricity, schools, and medical care that support those that have settled in the area.
The PM ordered the Ministry of Interior to work with relevant institutions to turn the area into a proper city. He said that the government is committed to developing the commune at a faster rate than others in the province.
"It is the latest city in Siem Reap, but the development [is faster]," he said. "In one to two years to three years, the infrastructure in this area will be developed into a major city.”
He thanked the people for relocating from the area surrounding Angkor and noted the importance of their move to the country’s cultural preservation. He said that vacating the site was to protect “the soul of our nation.”
The PM announced that he will upgrade the health center to a district referral hospital to treat people living in the new development, as he expects the population to increase by 6,000. He said the decision was made during a meeting with people vacated from Area 1 and Area 2 of Angkor Park who volunteered to live in the commune’s Tani Village
"We will be able to upgrade the doctors to level one. We will be able to prepare and request more doctors to treat the people here," he said.
According to the PM, the hospital currently has 12 doctors, but it will soon have more than 40. He also announced plans to welcome eight volunteer doctors to the hospital.
The PM made an appeal to the residents. "We have a plan. Please do not move. We will help [the people] in Run Ta Ek for a long time," he said.
Run Ta Ek is about 30km outside of the city of Siem Reap, leaving its new residents far from the place they once called home and where many continue to do business. The drive along gravel roads makes getting to the city a challenge for many. The PM said the government will provide ten shuttles to transport people between the commune and the city for free.
He also announced his support for a new two-story building for Hun Sen Run Ta Ek Primary School and Hun Sen Run Ta Ek High School.
Currently, the primary school consists of a 12-room building for 1,600 students. As this is nowhere near sufficient, the primary school borrows six classrooms from the high school building. With most primary students attending half days of school, this still leaves an average of 88 students per classroom if all are attending. The high school has two buildings with 24 classrooms which accommodates 635 students.
The PM says the government will build another building with 12 more rooms to support both the primary and secondary school. The PM also pledged five computers, five printers and five photocopiers to the schools and health centers in Run Ta Ek. He also said a framework will be released for education officials in the commune.
He said that the government will continue its relocation program and that he believes Run Ta Ek will one day develop into a luxury city.
