MORE than 100 families living near Phnom Penh International Airport who are involved in an ongoing land dispute will take their protest to the steps of City Hall, representatives said Wednesday.
Families living along Russian Boulevard in Choam Chao commune received their first eviction notice from authorities in April. The final eviction notice was given out last Thursday, when Dangkor district Governor Kroch Phan informed residents that they had until December 11 to voluntarily dismantle their homes.
Kroch Phan said their removal is necessary for airport expansion and the construction of a public park. The families submitted a letter to City Hall on Monday but say they have yet to receive a reply.
“Now we are preparing to protest in front of City Hall because we want to have a meeting,” said resident representative Uth Teng Sakhorn, noting that no date for the protest had been set.
Fellow representative Chea Vuth said the families have always acted according to the law and will continue to do so by consulting with their lawyer first before staging a demonstration.
“We only want to find justice because they did an injustice to us,” he said.
Hem Darith, Dangkor district’s deputy governor, said officials had acted appropriately, and that they will carry out the evictions as ordered.