Amnesty International Criticizes UNESCO for Ignoring Angkor Wat Evictions
Amnesty International has strongly condemned UNESCO and its World Heritage program for failing to address the mass evictions taking place at Cambodia’s renowned Angkor Wat temple complex. In a report released on Tuesday, the London-based human rights organization accused the Cambodian government of violating international and national laws by forcefully evicting approximately 10,000 families.
According to Amnesty International, the evicted families have received little to no compensation, and the government’s resettlement sites lack proper infrastructure, including roads, water and electricity supplies, and sanitation facilities. The organization argued that UNESCO disregarded U.N. guidelines and failed in its obligation to intervene and promote the right to housing. UNESCO’s designation of Angkor Wat as a World Heritage site, aimed at protecting it from damage, was allegedly used as an excuse by the Cambodian government to displace people from their homes.
In response to the findings, UNESCO’s World Heritage Center stated that its role primarily focused on policy advice, capacity building, and advocacy, rather than enforcing implementation of rights-based standards and policy recommendations.
Angkor Wat, one of over 1,200 World Heritage sites globally, received its recognition in 1992 partly due to concerns over the growth of human settlements endangering its preservation. However, the designation did not clarify the status of existing settlements, which remained largely undisturbed until last year. Cambodia now seeks to develop the area for tourism following a decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amnesty International’s report highlighted testimonies from over 100 individuals, refuting Cambodian authorities’ claim that the villagers were voluntarily leaving the site. Instead, the research indicated that the majority had experienced intimidation, harassment, threats, and acts of violence from the authorities. Many families expressed their unwillingness to leave homes where they had resided for generations.
Moreover, the resettlement camps’ poor facilities and remote location, nearly an hour away from Angkor, posed significant challenges to the affected population. Many had previously garnered income by providing goods and services to tourists visiting Angkor Wat. Those engaged in farming reported that their new location was ill-suited for agricultural activities.
According to the report, Cambodia has an obligation under seven major human rights treaties to uphold the right to adequate housing. However, Cambodian officials rejected Amnesty’s research and falsely accused the organization of drawing conclusions far removed from the actual situation. Amnesty reiterated that at least 15 families stated the government had justified their displacement by claiming it was necessary to maintain Angkor’s World Heritage status.
It quoted a speech by former Prime Minister Hun Sen, suggesting that the site might lose its designation if people didn’t relocate voluntarily, and they would receive no compensation if they refused. The report noted that such statements were effectively official policies reflecting the authoritarian rule prevalent under Hun Sen’s leadership.
The eviction issue at Angkor Wat raises concerns about the protection of human rights and highlights the challenges faced by the Cambodian government in balancing the preservation of cultural heritage with development and economic interests. As Amnesty International emphasizes the human rights violations and calls for an immediate end to forced evictions, the need for a resolution that respects both heritage conservation and the well-being of the affected communities becomes ever more pressing.
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