Cambodian Citizens Want to Throw World Bank out of Phnom Penh

Once welcomed for its financial aid, the World Bank is now feeling like a persona non grata in Phnom Penh. This week, current and former residents of the Boen Kak neighborhood in Cambodia’s Phnom Penh pelted the World Bank’s local office with raw eggs, demanding the bank withdraw from the nation.

Once welcomed for its financial aid, the World Bank is now feeling like a persona non grata in Phnom Penh. This week, current and former residents of the Boen Kak neighborhood in Cambodia’s Phnom Penh pelted the World Bank’s local office with raw eggs, demanding the bank withdraw from the nation.

A land grab by a senator prompted this, after which he made significant profits by redeveloping the properties as luxury homes and reselling them at significant profits. The affected families had been asking the Bank to intercede on their behalf and prevent what they perceive as an enormous injustice, but to no avail.

Monday was the first time the protesters changed tactics, demanding that if the Bank would not help, then it should leave Cambodia all together. An evictee named Sie Nareth told reporters, “We don’t need the World Bank because it violates human rights and the land of the Khmer people. If the World Bank stays, many more families will suffer.”

He went on to explain the protesters’ actions: “We are throwing the chicken eggs to expel the World Bank because the Bank’s money causes many families to suffer from the government’s development projects. We will come back every week to protest and throw chicken eggs until they leave Cambodia.” The protesters did not turn violent, except for the egg throwing incidents, and the protest only lasted for about an hour and a half.

According to a report by Cambodia Daily, once World Bank spokesman Bou Saroeun came outside to accept a petition from the protesters, they left without further incident. The Bank spokesman made no comment at that time.

In 2011, the World Bank responded to protests pertaining to the Boen Kak evictions by freezing all new lending to Cambodia. Despite its efforts, the evictions continued and the redevelopment project went forward. Nevertheless, the Bank was still considering beginning a new round of lending to the Cambodian government, possibly within a matter of months.

It is unclear if the new protests will have an impact on that decision. For the Cambodian government’s part, it believes the protests were illegal. Daun Penh District Governor, Kouch Chamroeun, called the protests “illegal,” citing the use of the eggs to deface the Bank’s buildings, and noting that the protesters failed to obtain permits for the demonstration. Mr. Cham told reporters, “I have printed some photos showing that they threw chicken eggs at the gate of the Bank, and I have reported this to the Phnom Penh municipal authorities, asking for instructions if they do it again… If any action is illegal and causes trouble for Bank officials, we will take action.”