The families who have resided in a graveyard in Chbar Ampov district, Phnom Penh, since 1990 have witnessed significant changes. Initially, the area lacked roads and electricity, but today, they benefit from concrete roads and solar power.

At present, more than 100 families reside here without fear, along with over 100 tombs in the area.

Srey Oun, a 34-year-old, is one of the residents of the community.

She and her husband earn a living by selling garlic chive cakes, and they reside in an old building in Deum Sleng I village within Chbar Ampov II, Chbar Ampov district, just next to the yard.

She explained that the community is surrounded by numerous graveyards, and they coexist with them. She used to be afraid of ghosts, believing that she was often visited by them while sleeping.

However, she no longer experiences such an issue. The change may be attributable to fact that in the past, only a few people lived here, and the surrounding forest was dense.

“In the past, I experienced encounters with ghosts multiple times, not just once. I assure you this is the truth. Nowadays, no one in our community is afraid of ghosts, and I haven’t witnessed anything unusual either. We live here without any fear of ghosts,” she said.

Another woman, who preferred not to be identified, also informed The Post that she no longer fears ghosts.

Khieu Chuong, the chief of Deum Sleng 1 village, told The Post that a monk established a temple, named Tham Bos Tha Kea, there in 1962. It was abandoned during the time of the Khmer Rouge rule. In 1979, the hill remained an untouched forest.

Between 1985 and 1995, Cambodians of Vietnamese and Chinese descent used the land for burying their deceased, as is their custom.

He added that by 1998, there were so many families living there that the use of the land as a cemetery was discontinued.

Due to rising river levels – and land falling into the river – people who no longer had land along the river sought shelter at site of the graveyard site, where they remain to this day.

Chuong said that some families have constructed brick or timber fences around their homes. Every year, relatives of the deceased visit the area to pay homage to their ancestors.

“They come to make offerings to their ancestors every year, and when the month of the Chinese New Year arrives, everyone joins in. Some people who reside near the tombs seek understanding from the spirits, as some tombs are within their properties, due to the walls they’ve erected. During the ceremonies, everyone is welcome,” he added.

He stated that as more people began to move in, Man Chhoeun, the then-deputy governor of Phnom Penh, designated the area as a graveyard community.

The intention behind its establishment was to formally organise the community.

Authorities have constructed concrete roads and installed solar lights to enhance the area. Since then, the area is lively, and its residents are untroubled by ghosts.

“Their quality of life surpasses that of a decade or two ago when residents had only one mattress and roofs made of tin or rubber. Now, they live in houses with brick walls, equipped with clean toilets and bathrooms. They also have access to electricity and clean water,” he explained.

Chuong highlighted the fact that the authorities in Chbar Ampov district pay significant attention to public health by providing residents with IDPoor cards which enable them to access free health check-ups at health centres and referral hospitals.

Furthermore, on a monthly basis, both the state health department and doctors from various organisations visit the community to offer medical treatment, especially for small children.

So Chea, chief of Chbar Ampov II commune, also informed The Post that residents receive healthcare and social services from the government. The community now boasts roads, as well as access to clean water and electricity.

It’s worth noting that residents do not own land plots, as the land remains in private ownership.