Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 18 – Apsara National Authority would like to inform the public that on 13 December 2024, the Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council of United Nations issued a press release expressing concern over the forced resettlement of people living in the Angkor area for conservation purposes, according to the press release seen by Fresh News on Wednesday (Dec. 18).

“Concerning the above rapporteur's remarks, Apsara National Authority would like to clarify as follows:

1- Apsara National Authority has always been committed to promoting and respecting human rights in accordance with the Constitution, which is the supreme law of Cambodia. Over the past 30 years, Apsara National Authority has always given close attention to the sustainable development of the community and the lives of the people of 112 villages who have long lived in the Angkor site. They were recognized, since the 1992 inscription of Angkor on the World Heritage site by UNESCO, as legally living within the 400 square kilometers of the protected site. Currently, 74% of the staff working for APSARA National Authority are people living in the Angkor area.

2- As the institution in charge of the conservation and management of the Angkor World Heritage site, Apsara National Authority is always obliged to respect and implement the contents of various legal documents related to the protection of cultural heritage, especially the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention for the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

3- Apsara National Authority is deeply saddened by the fact that the Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council received a number of reports that did not reflect or understand the factual information and actual reality in the Angkor site and related areas.

4- Apsara National Authority, in accordance with the principles set by the Royal Government of Cambodia, has paid special attention to the people who have settled inappropriately in the protected areas and who have voluntarily resettled by providing social security policy such as land title, social supporting programs for 10 years, and many other supports to promote the socio- economic development, which is the policy of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

5- The issue raised by the rapporteurs is unfortunately outdated, since this had been discussed in the recent ICC-Angkor/Sambor Prei Kuk Session, especially in the 39th Technical Session and 31st Plenary Session, held from December 11th-13th, 2024, with the objective to clarify the royal government integrated approach aiming at providing additional input on maintaining a balance between conservation and community development and wellbeing.”
=FRESH NEWS