The government has declared August 5, 2024, a holiday to allow Cambodians to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal.
According to an August 1 government circular, the holiday will be a paid day for civil servants and private sector employees. “This allows Cambodians to join in the celebration of this historic event with pride and enthusiasm, reflecting the spirit of the Funan Techo Canal as a project belonging to all Cambodians, by Cambodians, and for Cambodians.”
Throughout the year, Prime Minister Hun Manet encouraged people to celebrate the project by launching fireworks and beating drums on the groundbreaking day.
This development of the project is a collaboration between a private company, holding a 51-percent, Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh autonomous ports, and foreign investors, through a build-operate-transfer agreement.
On April 26, former Prime Minister Hun Sen, now Senate President, urged Cambodians to support the project and make it a national movement. Since then, several ministries have created photo frame campaigns to call on people to support and celebrate the Funan Techo Canal.
Many high schools also posted videos on Facebook to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony, including Chea Sim Tbeng Meanchey General and Technical High School in Preah Vihear, Pong Toek High School in Phnom Penh’s Dangkor district, Bunrany Hun Sen Roleapiear High School and Torb Srov High School in Kampong Chhnang.
Cambodian Institute for Democracy president Pa Chanroeun believes that the August 5 holiday declaration was a good opportunity for people to take a break from work and celebrate the launch.
He said although the canal project was a controversial topic, “I think as Cambodians, [we should] set aside political issues and focus on the technicalities and see the common benefits to the nation,” Chanroeun added.
Chheng Sros, a staff at a private bank in Phnom Penh, opined that the holiday was possibly decided to ease traffic during the inauguration of the canal and to celebrate the project’s success.
“[I] feel normal. They [government] want to ease traffic, which is considered a successful day for the government, so they celebrate,” he said, adding that it would be a normal day for him.
The government statement mentions that the 180 kilometers canal “greatly benefits Cambodian society and the economy”. However, the construction, which will start in less than a week, has yet to address compensation issues for the residents who will be impacted by the project.
(Additional reporting by Seoung Nimol)
