Sithi.org shows maps of the "EVIL" land concessions signed off by Hun Xen's regime

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Source: Sithi.org

Development Trends in Cambodia

Maps presented here highlight the extent to which the government is signing off concessions for development which is monopolizing land, forest and other natural resources to private companies both Cambodian and international. Land conflict is a major issue which raises questions not only about poverty reduction and human rights but sustainable development in general.

The development trends presented on these maps signifies a new approach to viewing the information on land allocation for concessions and other development initiatives. It is hoped that by taking a holistic approach to viewing development trends across sectors national and international organizations, the RGC and their relevant departments along with development Donor groups can begin to analyse and potentially rethink development from a new paradigm perspective. Hopefully influencing more environmentally sustainable development models which are socially equitable and just.

Information presented here is an understatement of the many other land deals which are currently active on the ground and difficult to monitor. Thus when reviewing the information it is important to note that data gathered for these maps is from open public sources of information from Government bodies, company websites, press releases and organizations working on specific sectorial issues. The actual status of many of these projects is scattered and mostly yet to be confirmed by the RGC.

A report by Amnesty International in 2008, noted that around 150,000 Cambodians were at risk of eviction. This conservative estimate has since been widely quoted in the international media. For the most part, however, the individual experiences of those affected go unreported. People living in poverty are routinely excluded from decisions affecting them. So-called development often happens to their detriment and at their expense, rather than in consultation with them.

But just how widespread is the problem? All around the country, thousands of families have lost -- or are at risk of losing -- their homes and livelihoods. They report losing their land and forest through economic land concessions, mining concessions, special development zones, logging concessions, hydro-electricity dams and just plain-old land grabbing by the rich and powerful. These maps have attempted to gather information about all these factors into one place.

Cases of land alienation, though totaling a large area, are not possible to map. The maps we release her, therefore, could be considered to be a conservative estimate of the problem of land and forest conflict in Cambodia.

The issue that we also need to look at is the claim that these developments are being done in the name of development and poverty reduction. Everyone needs to think about the reports that come in from communities to say that it is not the local people affected by concessions that are employed as laborers on the concessions – it is the landless people from other areas and from other countries who are brought in –ironically creating more landless poor.

The maps presented here are a complement to the database currently presented on this website which we are developing in order to show the extent of human rights abuse in Cambodia. We would like the government to declare which of the area in the maps are not concessions or have been cancelled. We welcome government clarification.

Forest Cover Map

Official government data as released by Save Cambodia’s Wildlife in their Cambodian Atlas maps available on line at http://www.cambodiaatlas.com/map. The map outlines 33 Protected Areas in Cambodia which accounts for a total of 4,624,971 hectares.