Indigenous land exploited

Ethnic Tampoun villagers perform a traditional dance in Ratanakkiri province last year. Adam Miller

Friday, 02 March 2012
Tep Nimol
The Phnom Penh Post

The Royal Government of Cambodia and private land developers were exploiting indigenous communities in Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri provinces by signing concession deals for the communities’ land without prior consultation, advocates said yesterday.

“We urge the government as well as the private sector to respect [indigenous peoples’] rights to their land . . . and their rights to independence and cultural integrity,” Chhith Sam Ath, executive director of the NGO Forum, said.

“All these projects must be planned with care, transparency and accountability.”

The NGO Forum of Cambodia launched its publication on “Free, Prior and Informed Consent in Development” pointing the finger at the government and companies who were making land deals behind closed doors that affected indigenous peoples’ land.

One case study in Ratanakkiri’s Malik commune, in Andong Meas district, used in the publication describes how the Heng Brother Company began bulldozing its economic concession of 20 hectares of forest.

Kratie Villagers Protest Land Destruction

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
02 September 2008

About 300 ethnic minority villagers wielding axes and knives gathered in protest at the Kratie province village Tuesday, angered over the start of land clearance by a private company.

No violence was reported from the demonstration, in Kbal Damrei commune, which is home to mostly Phnong and Mil minority villagers. The 300 protesters were representing about 700 familes.

"Since this weekend, two bulldozers and one tractor of the company have come and cleared our land, where we plant rice and other vegetables, and where our ancestors are buried," said villager Suon Ouk, who joined the demonstration. "They came and cleared without asking permission."

Provincial authorities say the Sun Puy Ty import-export company has plans to cultivate rubber trees on the land, but villagers say between 2,000 and 4,000 hectares of land has been seized by the company where they planned for conservation.

So far, about 10 hectares have been cleared.

The demonstration was quiet by Tuesday afternoon, Uch Sareth, chief of Kbal Damrei commune said. "We promised to resolve the problem for them in five days, and they have calmed down now."

The dispute over the land has been forwarded to provincial authorities, and Kratie Governor Uch Sareth said Tuesday he would send officials to negotiate with the villagers.

"The company has the right to exploit 1,500 hectares," he said. "But they must resolve everything before starting work."

Minorities Warn Against Land Concessions

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
08 August 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

A group of ethnic minorities from Cambodia's far-flung provinces gathered in Phnom Penh Friday, urging the government to reconsider its concession policies on land where they make a living on natural resources.

Cambodia's once-remote northeast has opened up to mining and other concessions in recent years, leading to a large number of displaced minorities and conflict over land.

"Don't take the land of ethnic minorities for concession," said Tep Toem, a Kuoy ethnic minority from Preah Vihear province. "Before giving land concessions to companies, the government should talk with the people in advance, whether the land concession will affect people's livelihoods or not."

Members of Cambodia's minorities spoke following a meeting in Phnom Penh sponsored by the NGO Forum. Cambodia has an estimated 190,000 minorities, comprising 17 indigenous groups.

Members of the different groups are responsible for the management of around 4 million hectares, NGO Forum said in a statement.

UN special rights envoy Yash Ghai warned on a visit last year that land disputes in rural provinces could lead to political instability.

Officials for the Ministry of Land Management could not be reached for comment Friday.