Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday pledged to continue the relocation of thousands of families from the Angkor Wat temple complex, defying growing international condemnation.
The government has long maintained that around 10,000 families have willingly agreed to leave the UNESCO World Heritage site for a new community called Run Ta Ek, located 25 kilometers away. This relocation program, however, has been heavily criticized by human rights groups like Amnesty International, who allege it constitutes “forced evictions” and violates international law.
Hun Manet defended the relocations, claiming they are necessary to protect Angkor Wat, which he called the “soul of our nation.” He urged remaining families to participate in the program, emphasizing the need to preserve the site for future generations.
“This is the first step. We will continue,” he declared, ordering authorities to prevent future settlements within the heritage site.
While acknowledging the difficulties of relocation, the prime minister presented land titles to nearly 5,000 families and promised further infrastructure development and transportation services between Run Ta Ek and the old site.
Hun Manet cited unspecified “conditions” imposed by UNESCO as the justification for the relocations, claiming they are essential for Angkor Wat to retain its World Heritage status. However, Amnesty International disputes this claim, accusing the Apsara National Authority and the land ministry of using UNESCO as a scapegoat.
UNESCO themselves expressed “deep concern” over the relocations in November, clarifying that they had never requested or supported the program.
Angkor Wat, a popular temple complex dating back to the ninth century, drew over two million foreign visitors annually before the pandemic. This influx of tourists created a thriving micro-economy of vendors, restaurants, and souvenir sellers, leading to a local population explosion from an estimated 20,000 in the early 1990s to around 120,000 by 2013.
Cambodian authorities argue that these informal settlements have a detrimental impact on the local environment, contributing to waste pollution and water resource depletion. However, the relocation program remains controversial, raising concerns about the displacement and potential violation of human rights.
