Boeung Kak activists fail to land meeting with rapporteur

About 50 Boeung Kak lake activists attempted to meet UN envoy Rhona Smith on Friday seeking her intervention in the release of a fellow activist, as well as a quick resolution to their long-standing land dispute.

The activists, who wanted to meet the special rapporteur at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, were only able to meet another staffer at the UN office, according to Boeung Kak resident Bov Sophea.

The group also submitted a petition asking for the release of prominent land activist Tep Vanny, who was convicted last month for her role in a 2011 scuffle with security personnel outside City Hall.

“We could only meet her colleagues. The UN officials said Rhona Smith had followed all the information about Boeung Kak activists and raised the issue in Geneva,” she said.