Provincial joint forces over the weekend pulled down stores at Ochheuteal beach in Sihanoukville as authorities finally began the long-planned eviction of beachside businesses, The Phnom Penh Post reported.
On April 9, 100 personnel led by the deputy governor of Sihanoukville used excavators to destroy the 14 beachfront stores, each belonging to a local family.
The operation followed a government’s warning last month that it will demolish more than 100 businesses located on Ochheuteal, Otres and Royal beaches if they don’t clear out by March 13.
The 14 owners and their families plan to deliver petitions to the prime minister and the Ministry of Land Management after Khmer New Year, saying the authorities ploughed ahead without allowing the business owners a chance to reach an agreement with the local government.
A trader representative said authorities offered compensation of $3,500 per store, which he said would not be enough to set up business elsewhere.
Provincial Governor Yun Min said removing the stores will improve the public beach before the holiday and the operation was approved by a national committee. Businesses on Royal and Otres will be pulled down later, he said, but did not say when.
Eviction of beach businesses begins in Sihanoukville - Thai PBS English News