Fears loom for Cambodians in the path of a controversial canal | AFP

For thousands of Cambodians, the economic uplift promised by the $1.7 billion Funan Techo canal counts for little in the face of potential displacement. Many who live in the project's path stand to lose their homes with little notice and, as yet, little government assurance that compensation will be paid. Lim Tong Eng is one of those worrying that he'll be left without a home and lacking in money to buy land and build a replacement.

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[WalkWithNiwat]

We Cambodian totally 1000% support the project for economic breath and prosperity of Cambodian people. Water route used to be very importance role for our economic since ancient time. Now we lost the port, so need to rebuilt. We built in our own territory no country should against the project. Other country built many many dam damage serve nature, why we can not build a canal in our land for economic growth.

[Qiushishuo]

Your title makes me laugh. Western media is a joke.

[BoHan]

Every infrastructure project in Asia brings a predictable Western media story - interviewing the handful of people eminently domained to make way for the greater good.

If they came at other instances of government intervention from a libertarian perspective, it'd at least be consistent. But these same media folks cry when subsidies are reduced, taxes are cut, or national healthcare isn't implemented. They're all the same thing - government control over resources.

[ericswanson]

There are always NAY sayers in everything a person or a country do. Cambodia do whatever is best for a greater good of your country. Gaining 70% back from your export lost while going through vietname port is a lot. The canal will help eliminate the poverty and create more jobs .

[picandvideo]

They are more fearful from interference on their independence of self determination. Go Cambodia go.

[groupraitodigital]

Dear Cambodian friends, get your compensation for the land they take from you. You're not gonna benefit from the cannel, your leaders do.

[katbunheng]

AP or your boss treats Asia as third world still? we can develop anything on our land

[ahvidaneidavirgilluminous]

Vietnam occupied an island very critical for this project to do gud