UNESCO urges Cambodia to halt forced evictions at Angkor Wat

UNESCO has urged Cambodian authorities to halt forced evictions at the renowned Angkor Wat temple complex, after Amnesty International detailed the impact on evicted residents and accused the UN cultural agency of failing to challenge the Cambodian government over the issue.

UNESCO has urged Cambodian authorities to halt forced evictions at the renowned Angkor Wat temple complex, following a report by Amnesty International detailing the impact on evicted residents and accusing the UN cultural agency of failing to challenge the Cambodian government over the issue.

UNESCO's response

UNESCO has now ordered Cambodia to submit a new report on the state of conservation of Angkor Wat by February 1, and says that it should include a response to Amnesty's findings. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said on Wednesday that living conditions for residents at the World Heritage site are a priority.

Amnesty International's report

Amnesty said in a report Tuesday that the evictions of an estimated 10,000 families by Cambodian authorities since last year violated international and national law. It said that the evicted people have received little or no compensation and that the government's two main resettlement sites have inadequate facilities in terms of roads, water, and electricity supplies, and sanitation.

UNESCO's statement

UNESCO said the report provides new light on the situation on the ground and invited Amnesty representatives to the agency's Paris headquarters to discuss it. UNESCO said in a statement to The Associated Press that it calls on the Cambodian authorities to make an explicit commitment not to carry out forced evictions in Angkor and to ensure that all necessary corrective measures are put in place urgently to ensure full respect of all human rights for those communities concerned.

Background

There are more than 1,200 World Heritage sites worldwide. Angkor Wat was given that status in 1992, in part because of fears that the growth of human settlements on the site posed a possible threat to its preservation. However, the designation was not clear regarding existing settlements, which until last year were left basically undisturbed, the Amnesty report said. Cambodia is now keen to develop the area for tourism, which lapsed during the coronavirus pandemic.

UNESCO's call to halt forced evictions at Angkor Wat is a positive step towards protecting the rights of local communities and preserving the World Heritage site. The agency's recognition of the need to consider the aspirations and living conditions of local residents is crucial for ensuring the sustainable development of the area. It is now important for the Cambodian authorities to take immediate action to address the concerns raised by Amnesty International and UNESCO, and to ensure that the rights of all affected communities are respected.