Cambodians continue fighting Boeung Kak land grab

3 July 2012
Bretton Woods Project

The Cambodian government has been under a [World] Bank lending freeze over a controversial land-titling project, financed by the Bank, that resulted in the evictions of the Boeung Kak lake community in Phnom Penh (see Update 75). Following the violent repression of protests and the arrest of local activists in May, 127 Cambodian and international civil society groups sent a letter to then Bank president Robert Zoellick and president-elect Jim Yong Kim, urging the Bank to "ensure a fair resolution for the displaced and excluded families before the Bank provides any further financing to the [Cambodian government]". Natalie Bugalski and David Pred, of NGO Inclusive Development International, argued in June that the "Bank is in a rare position to push that agenda forward by making it clear that it will maintain the lending freeze until ... a comprehensive agreement is reached with the majority of Boeung Kak households who are still awaiting a remedy."

Bugalski also wrote a discussion paper, launched by NGO Equitable Cambodia and German political foundation Heinrich Boell in late May. Eang Vuthy of Equitable Cambodia explained that the paper "was written against a backdrop of increasing forced evictions, displacement and landlessness in Cambodia, and the regular granting of dubious economic land concessions that are now estimated to cover a total land mass equivalent to over half of the country’s arable land". In it, Bugalski proposes a framework for a human rights approach "to development interventions in the land sector [in Cambodia], in which processes and tools that elevate rights, transparency and accountability are incorporated throughout the project cycle and broader country strategy."

Women slow to climb Cambodia's market

Hem Sothy, a 48-year-old shop owner, speaks to the Post yesterday in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Don Weinland
The Phnom Penh Post

Women's economic roles in Cambodia have made slower progress than in many other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, World Bank economists said yesterday.

The region as a whole has seen tremendous gains in the way of gender equality during the past 20 years, but increasing wages and education for women should be a policy priority for Cambodia, according to the economists and a World Bank report issued yesterday.

The report identified gender equality as a contributor to higher productivity and income growth.

It also pointed to foreign direct investment into garment manufacturing as a driver for women’s employment, although the stability of that work was susceptible to external shock should demand for Cambodia’s largest gross domestic product generator decline.

Cambodian women earn US$0.75 to every dollar their male counterparts make, World Bank economist and lead author of the report Andrew Mason said yesterday during a web conference from Bangkok.

Cambodia: A woman is only 3/4 of a human being?

Less Power for Cambodian Women, Report Says

Monday, 18 June 2012
Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer

"In Cambodia, women earn $0.75 to every dollar a man earns."

Cambodian women have fewer opportunities than men, and less access to economic and political positions of power, a World Bank report says.

Women in Cambodia and other countries in East Asia and the Pacific do have more economic access and business ownership than in some Western countries, but they have less power in family, politics and civil society, the report says. Women also face a greater risk of human trafficking in the region, according to the report.

In Cambodia, women earn $0.75 to every dollar a man earns, said Andrew Mason, a co-author of the report, “Entitling Toward Gender Equality in East Asia and the Pacific.”

World Bank Listing of Ineligible Firms & Individuals in Cambodia

Fraud and Corruption

This List is Current
Source: http://web.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64148989&piPK=64148984&theSitePK=84266&theSitePK=84266&contentMDK=64069844&querycontentMDK=64069700&sup_name=&supp_country=KH

The firms and individuals listed in Table 1 below are ineligible to be awarded a World Bank-financed contract for the periods indicated because they have been sanctioned under the Bank's fraud and corruption policy as set forth in the Procurement Guidelines or the Consultant Guidelines. Such sanction was imposed as the result of:

(1) an administrative process conducted by the Bank that permitted the accused firms and individuals to respond to the allegations. Through July 2007, this process was conducted in accordance with the Sanctions Committee Procedures adopted on August 2, 2001. Since then, the process has been conducted in accordance with the Sanctions Procedures of the World Bank Group Sanctions Board. For more information on the two-tier sanctions process go to Sanctions Management webpage.

OR

(2) cross-debarment in accordance with the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions dated 9 April 2010, which, as of July 1, 2011, has been made effective by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Inter-American Development Bank.

Click here to see additional notes on debarred firms and individuals and here to see an explanatory note on the application of cross-debarment.

The Bank may also apply other actions to firms and individuals that do not result in debarrment. For the current list, see Table 2: Other Actions.

To report allegations of fraud and corruption in Bank-financed projects, please contact the Integrity Vice Presidency.

WB លាត​ត្រដាង​ឈ្មោះ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ទុច្ចរិត​ចំនួន​៨ នៅ​កម្ពុជា - WB reveals the name of 8 dishonest companies in Cambodia

2012-06-07
ដោយ ហាស់ សាន
RFA

ក្នុង​រយៈ​ពេល ១៣​ឆ្នាំ ធនាគារ​ពិភព​លោក​បាន​អង្កេត​រក​ឃើញ​ការ​ធ្វើ​អាជីវកម្ម​មិន​សុចរិត​ពី​សំណាក់​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ជា​ច្រើន​រយ​នៅ​ទូទាំង​ពិភព​លោក ប៉ុន្តែ​មិន​បាន​ផ្សព្វ​ផ្សាយ​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ជា​សាធារណៈ រហូត​ដល់​ខែ​ឧសភា​កន្លង​ទៅ​នេះ។

ធនាគារ​ពិភព​លោក (World Bank) បាន​ចេញ​ផ្សាយ​របាយការណ៍​រាយ​ឈ្មោះ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន និង​ឈ្មោះ​បុគ្គល​មាន​ចំនួន​ជាង ៥៣០​ក្រុមហ៊ុន និង​បុគ្គល ដែល​គេ​បាន​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត​រក​ឃើញ​ថា បាន​ប្រើ​ល្បិច​ផ្សំ​គំនិត បន្លំ​ភ្នែក ពុក​រលួយ កេង​ប្រវ័ញ្ច​យក​ចំណេញ​ទាំង​បំពាន​ច្បាប់ និង​លក្ខន្តិកៈ​កិច្ច​សន្យា​ផ្សេងៗ ចាប់​ពី​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩៩ មក។ ធនាគារ​ពិភព​លោក មិន​បាន​ផ្សាយ​ឲ្យ​សាធារណ​ជន​បាន​ឃើញ​បាន​ដឹង​ទេ រហូត​ដល់​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៣០ ខែ​ឧសភា ទើប​សម្រេច​ផ្សព្វ​ផ្សាយ​ជា​សាធារណៈ ដែល​អ្នក​វិភាគ​ចាត់​ទុក​ជា​ជំហាន​មាន​ប្រសិទ្ធភាព​មួយ ដើម្បី​ប្រឆាំង​នឹង​អំពើ​ពុក​រលួយ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​នានា។

នៅ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ធនាគារ​ពិភព​លោក​បាន​រាយ​ឈ្មោះ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ចំនួន​៨ ដែល​មាន​ទីស្នាក់ការ​នៅ​រាជ​ធានី​ភ្នំពេញ ហើយ​ដែល​ថា​បាន​អនុវត្ត​ផ្ទុយ​ពី​កិច្ច​ព្រមព្រៀង​រវាង​ធនាគារ​ពិភព​លោក និង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​នោះ។ វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ី​សេរី​ព្យាយាម​ទាក់​ទង​តំណាង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ទាំង​៨ ប៉ុន្តែ​ទាក់​ទង​បាន​តែ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ពីរ។

ធនាគារ​ពិភព​លោក​ហាម​លោក ទិត វឿន មាន​ទីលំនៅ​ក្នុង​ខណ្ឌ​ចំការមន ដែល​មាន​ហ៊ុន​ក្នុង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ផលិត​ទឹក​ស្អាត​មួយ​ឈ្មោះ Sincam Water Technology, Ltd. ដែល​ជា​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ពី​ប្រទេស​សិង្ហបុរី មាន​ទីតាំង​ក្នុង​ខណ្ឌ​ចំការមន មិន​ឲ្យ​ចូល​រួម​ចុះ​កិច្ច​សន្យា​ទទួល​ម៉ៅ​ការងារ​ពី​ធនាគារ​ពិភព​លោក ចាប់​ពី​ខែ​កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ រហូត​ដល់​ខែ​កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ​២០១៦ ដោយ​ជាប់​ចោទ​ពី​បញ្ហា​សូក​ប៉ាន់។

Boeung Kak disgrace prompts renewed lobbying of World Bank

Children protest the jailing of the their mothers outside the Justice Ministry last week. Thirteen of 15 women were arrested during a protest over a long-running land dispute. Photograph: Hong Menea/Phnom Penh Post

Tuesday, 05 June 2012
The Phnom Penh Post Staff

Following the imprisonment of 15 land activists, more than 100 Cambodian and international NGOs, unions and community groups have cautioned the World Bank that any resumption in new lending to the Cambodian government would send a dangerous signal. Their letter to its president, Robert Zoellick, and its president-elect, Kim Yong-jim, is reprinted in its entirety below.

It has recently come to our attention that the World Bank is considering ending its suspension of new loans to the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and preparing an Interim Strategy Note to facilitate new lending. We, the undersigned organisations, write to express our deeply held view that, despite some positive developments regarding the Boeung Kak Lake case, now is the wrong time to end the suspension. Doing so would not only risk undoing gains made, but would also send a dangerous message to the RGC in light of the spate of recent killings and unwarranted jailing of activists, including Boeung Kak community leaders. We believe that these appalling events call not for reward and the injection of more funds, but rather a coordinated and public condemnation by the international community, including the World Bank.

The past month has seen a series of shocking and inexcusable events in Cambodia. On April 26, Chut Wutty, a tireless environmental activist was shot dead by armed forces after taking two journalists to a logging area in Koh Kong province. On May 16, Heng Chantha, a 14-year-old girl was killed by a soldier during a brutal forced eviction of a village in Kratie province.

Strict Policies Needed to Stop Land Grabs: Advocate

In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010, a service train operated by Toll Royal Cambodia passes over a river, just south of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. An Australian joint venture has a 30-year lease to upgrade and operate Cambodia's railway, part of the Cambodian government's efforts to spur the economy and link up with the other economies of the Mekong River region of Southeast Asia. (Photo: AP)

Monday, 23 April 2012
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

“The government, before borrowing from the World Bank or ADB, should apply the policies.”

Eang Vuthy, a housing rights advocate at Bridges Across Borders Cambodia, says donors like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank need to be more strict in their policies if land grabs are to be curbed in Cambodia.

He and other land rights activists are currently in Washington, meeting with donors and US officials in an effort to allay the impacts of development on Cambodia’s poor. The World Bank is holding an annual meeting and the ABD is currently reviewing its policies on projects.

The World Bank has been critical of its own programs in Cambodia and has frozen funding to the country pending better protections of land rights. And the ADB recently underwent intense scrutiny for a railway project that displaced many families who later complained of poor living conditions at resettlement sites.

Nominee Rattles World Bank

Jim Yong Kim - U.S.'s nominee

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala - Nigeria, Angola and South Africa's nominee

José Antonio Ocampo - Brazil's nominee

U.S. Pick for President Is a Shoo-In, but Nigerian Rival Challenges Status Quo.

April 12, 2012

By DREW HINSHAW in Dakar, Senegal and SUDEEP REDDY in Washington

The Wall Street Journal

In Cambodia, where officials were accused of profiting from an ecologically destructive illegal logging industry, the IMF suspended loans. Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala took a more diplomatic approach—meeting frequently with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, while maintaining aid. He passed new anti-logging laws just before she left in 2000, but in the five years after that, black market timber sales soared and a third of the country's forest was cleared.

While global public-health expert Jim Yong Kim remains on track to win the World Bank presidency within days, he is the first U.S. nominee to face competition for the job.

His chief rival, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigerian finance minister and former senior World Bank official, is shaking up the process. In recent weeks, she challenged the traditional U.S. control of the selection as out-of-date and garnered international support—despite her own rocky tenure in her home government.

This year's race is the first time any countries have nominated a challenger to the U.S. pick. A third candidate, former Colombian Finance Minister José Antonio Ocampo, has also called for an overhaul in the selection process.

World Bank Document - Cambodia - Joint Bank-Fund Debt Sustainabi​lity Analysis

http://www.box.com/s/fixkhs11n3hdxnom2vk7

Strong growth in developing East Asia faces risks from global uncertainty and natural disasters

Press Release No:2012/160/EAP
Source: The World Bank

Singapore, November 22, 2011 — Growth is still strong in developing East Asia, but continues to moderate mainly due to weakening external demand, underscoring the need for governments to refocus on reforms to increase domestic demand and productivity, says the World Bank in its latest East Asia and Pacific Economic Update released today.

The report, issued biannually, projects that amid uncertainties in Europe and a global growth slowdown, real GDP in developing East Asia will increase by 8.2 percent in 2011 (4.7 percent excluding China) and by 7.8 percent in 2012. Domestic demand in middle-income countries was the largest contributor to growth in the region, although it is easing driven by the normalization of fiscal and monetary policy.

"Lower growth in Europe in the course of fiscal austerity and the banks?needs to increase capital coverage would affect East Asia. Less credit from European banks can also affect capital flows to East Asia, but high reserves and current account surpluses protect most countries in the region against the impact of possible renewed financial stress," said Bert Hofman, World Bank Chief Economist for the East Asia and Pacific Region.

Climate change to bring more floods: World Bank

November 14, 2011
AFP

Climate change will bring more floods and extreme weather to Southeast Asia, a World Bank official said on November 10 on a visit to the region, where hundreds have died in severe inundation.

"What we are seeing is there are more floods, more extreme weather events, higher temperature, more variable rainfalls and we believe that is caused by climate change.

And we should expect this to increase, sadly," Andrew Steer, the World Bank's special envoy for climate change, told reporters in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

Thailand's worst floods in half a century have killed 533 people and damaged the homes and livelihoods of millions around the country.

Minister rejects World Bank report

Monday, 24 October 2011
May Kunmakara
The Phnom Penh Post

Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh has rejected a recent World Bank report that dismissed the Kingdom’s goal of exporting 1 million tonnes of milled rice by 2015.

The report – dated July 12 but leaked last week – said uncompetitive prices and logistics bottlenecks would make even 500,000 tonnes of milled-rice exports virtually unattainable within the intended deadline.

However, Cham Prasidh rejected the World Bank’s calculations as shortsighted. Cambodia has already exported 2 million tonnes of unmilled rice this year, he said, which if milled would convert into about 800,000 tonnes of milled rice, or close to the government’s goal.

Press Release: CITA and World Bank singing the same song

World Bank highlights wage gains

Thursday, 22 September 2011
Bridget di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

The wages and working conditions of garment factory workers in Cambodia are at or above the national average, a report from the World Bank has found.

The report, released last Monday, examines gender and equality issues in developing countries and found that in an increasingly integrated global economy, the movement of production to poorer countries could have a positive impact on wages, citing Cambodia as an example.

Dave Welsh, country director of the American Centre for International Labour Solidarity, said it was “probably true” that wages were at or above the national average in the Kingdom.

“But the report seems to ignore other legal violations such as the proliferation of short term and fixed duration contracts,” he said. “These contracts do not give workers any job security. The government knows this and the factories know this.”

SRP MPs call on the World Bank to maintain its temporary suspension of all funding to the government of Cambodia

Boeung Kak Lake Activist Savagely Beaten by Mob of Police Officers during Forced Eviction

Sam Rainsy Party to send a letter to World Bank to hold all future funding to Cambodia till solutions are found. Solutions that are acceptable to all residents of the Boeung kak Lake and not fake ones as recently proposed by the government that keeps exposing hundreds of residents to violence and forced evictions.

Mu Sochua
-----------
The following was originally posted at:
http://www.licadho-cambodia.org/video.php?perm=25

Video: Boeung Kak Lake Activist Savagely Beaten by Mob of Police Officers during Forced Eviction

September 17, 2011 - Yesterday witnessed the most violent forced eviction of Boeung Kak lake residents to date. Early in the afternoon, a hundred “anti-riot” intervention police officers and Daun Penh district security guards positioned themselves nearby homes of lake residents. Two excavators, protected by the armed group, proceeded in destroying homes of families arbitrarily disqualified from the 12.44 hectares of land given to the remaining lake families.

Later in the afternoon, as the excavators were on the move to destroy more houses, lake resident and activist Suong Sophorn was savagely assaulted by a mob of intervention police officers who left him for dead after kicking and beating him with bricks and batons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBnuFyeeu7c

Land-grabbing letter hits [corrupt regime's] nerve

Wednesday, 07 September 2011
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

SRP lawmakers also highlighted land concessions awarded to prominent figures tied to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party. These included concessions in Kampong Speu province granted to Phnom Penh Sugar Company, run by ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat, and concessions awarded to Pheapimex Group, owned by the wife of CPP senator Lao Meng Khin, and KDC International, which is run by the wife of Industry, Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem.

The government yesterday lashed out at a letter sent by opposition lawmakers to the World Bank that urged the bank to increase pressure on the government to end forced evictions, land grabbing and threats against community members involved in land disputes with well-connected companies.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said that Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers had no authority to ask international organisations to interfere with government decisions.

“This shows that the [SRP] do not understand the law. They sit in parliament and if they see something improper they must debate with the Royal Government because [people] voted for them to sit in parliament,” he said.

SRP MPs' letter to Mr Qimiao Fan, Country Manager of the World Bank in Cambodia

Unofficial Translation

Phnom Penh, 5 September 2011

Drawing Attention to Mr Qimiao Fan, Country Manager of the World Bank in Cambodia

Dear Mr Qimiao Fan,

Firstly, we the members of parliament from the Sam Rainsy Party of the following names, would like to express our deepest gratitude to the World Bank in Cambodia for helping the cambodian people who are victims of human rights abuses, such as land grabbing, forced evictions, threats, and pressure from the authorities in the government, especially the people in the Boeung Kak Lake who recently received reasonable resolutions.

On 9 August 2011 the World Bank decided to suspend its loan to Cambodia due to the real situation of threats, pressures and forced eviction of Boeung Kak Lake villagers. These actions were cruel human rights abuses. The stance of the World Bank did not support the Royal Government of Cambodia's policies, which were being enacted under the lens of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), who had no regard for the wellbeing of the people in the Boeung Kak Lake.

We would like to inform the Country Manager of the World Bank in Cambodia, that the actions of land grabbing, forced evictions, threats and pressures on people from the authorities of government are not only occurring to those people living in Boeung Kak Lake, but are also widespread practices within all provinces. These actions have been committed through:

1) Land concessions to Vietnamese companies: the 'C.R.C.K Rubber Development' (C.R.C.K APHIVATH CAOUTCHOUC CO., LTD) and 'P.N.T' companies in the Prey Lang an area that has borders with four provinces Kampong Thom, Kratie, Stoeung Treng and Preah Vihear.

2) Land concessions in Kampong Thom province: such as in the Krayea commune, San Touk district, to the Vietnamese company 'Tin Bean Co., Ltd' also in Salavisey and Toul Kreul communes, Prasat Balaing district, to the company Ann-mardi Group...

3) Land concessions in Pursat province: such as in the Krakor district to the company 'Pheapimex Group' which is owned by the wealthy tycoon Lao Meng Khin, a member of the senate from the Cambodian People's Party (CPP). In Anlong Tnaut commune the company 'Ratana Visal'. In Veal Veng and Kravanh districts to the company 'Try Pheap'...

4) Land concessions in Kampong Speu province: such as in the Oum laing commune, Thbong district, to 'Phnom Penh Sugar Industry Co., Ltd' which is owned by the wealthy tycoon Ly Young Phat, a member of the senate the Cambodian People's Party (CPP). In Taing Samroung commune, Phnom Sruoch district, to 'Master Group' and 'Slad Sanorn' companies. In Phnom Touch and Damnak Raing communes, Odong district, to 'Meng Kat company'. In Trapaing Chor commune, Aoral district, to 'H.L.H' company...

5) Land concessions in Kratie province: in Snoul district there are 12 companies, Sambor district there are 21 companies, Chet Borei district there are 12 companies, Chhloung district there is 1 company, and Prek Prasab district there are 2 companies. In total 48 companies.

6) Land concessions in Kampong Cham province: In Prek Kak commune, Stoeung Strang district, to the company 'Long Sreng'...

7) Land concessions in Koh Kong province: in Srel Ambel district there are 2 companies, Botum Sakor district there are 3 companies, Koh Kong district 1 company, Kiricholsar district 1 company. In total 7 companies. The Chinese company named 'Union Development Group Co., Ltd' in Botum Sakor district has been involved in a land concession of over 36,000 hectares...

8) Land concessions in Bantey Meanchey province: such as Bantey Chmar commune, Thmar Pouk district, to the 'National Development' and 'Leang Bour' companies, Ou Bei Choan commune, Ou Chroa district, to the 'Hi Sour' company...

9) Land concessions in Mondulkiri province: in Pich Chreada district to 'Korean Phuma', 'Dak Lak' and 'Sok Vin' companies and in Ou Raing district to 'Ho ling', 'Hou Chisan', and 'A Li Mi Na A.C.V' companies...

10) Land concessions in Ratanakiri province: there are at least 10 companies involved covering the province's 8 districts...

11) Land concessions in Siem Reap province: in Khvav and Pong Ro Krom communes, Chi Kreng district, to the companies 'Sauphorn Kheari', 'Ken', 'Nim Neng' and 'Naga Pon'. In Sre Nouy and Lvea Kraing communes, Varin district, to the company 'Ban Ya Group'...

12) Land concessions in Kampong Chhnang province: such as in Ta Ches commune, Kampong Tralach district, to the company 'K.D.C.' which belongs to Mrs. Chea Kheng the wife of Mr. Suy Sem minister of Industry, Mines and Energy. In Sethei commune, Sammki Meanchey district, to the 'Heng Development' company, and in Tek Hot commune Rolea, Phear district, to the 'Chea Rithy' company, and in Bari Bor, Tek Phos, Samm Kimeanchey and Rolea Phear districts to 'Pheapimex Group' a company that belongs to the wealthy tycoon Lao Meng Khin, member of the senate from the Cambodia People's Party (CPP) ...

The land concessions that we have emphasized in this letter, involve a large number of people who have been forcefully evicted or are currently facing the prospect of forced evictions, some of whom have no alternative homes and others have been arrested and unjustly detained in the prisons.

We would like to respectfully request that the Country Manger Mr. Qimiao Fan will assert more influence to cease the actions of land grabbing, forced evictions, threats and pressures that are currently carried out on the Cambodia people under the will of the authorities of the Royal Government of Cambodia. This would allow those people who are victims' access to freedom, justice, and the rule of law, just as the World Bank recently assured for the villagers in the Boeung Kak Lake.

Please accept, Mr Qimiao Fan, the assurance of our highest considerations

SRP Members of Parliament

[Sign]

Ke Sovannroth, Men Sothavarin, Khy Vandeth, Cheam Channy, Long Ri,

Kuoy Bounroeun, Tioulong Saumura, Nuth Rumdoul, Ho Vann, Yont Tharo,

Yim Sovann, Khim Laky, Chea Poch

Cambodia postpones annual meeting with foreign donors [-Land-grabbers, land-grabbers, pants on fire!!!]

Villagers burn tyres during a protest at the Boeung Kak lake area in Phnom Penh August 23, 2011. The villagers said they had written a letter of protest to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen after being told by officials that the land promised to them in return for being removed from their homes at the lake was not being given. Thousands of families living near the lake are facing eviction to make way for a Chinese development project. REUTERS/Samrang Pring

PHNOM PENH, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Cambodia has postponed indefinitely a top-level meeting with foreign donors, a week after an announcement by the World Bank that it had halted loans to the government over its failure to curb forced evictions.

In the letter dated Aug. 17 and sent to the World Bank, Finance Minister Keat Chhon said the upcoming Cambodia Development Cooperation Forum would be shelved because of global economic uncertainty.

Keat Chhon said some of the donor countries were "mired in crisis and struggling for a sustainable solution", according to the letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday. He did not elaborate.

The relationship between Cambodia and the World Bank has been strained recently after the Washington-based lender stopped providing loans to the country over the eviction of thousands of people from lakeside land in the country's capital.

Within two days of the announcement, Cambodia said it would set aside a piece of the land earmarked for a Chinese-led luxury housing project for thousands of people forcibly evicted.

However, some of the residents burned tyres at the site on Tuesday in protest after local officials said they would not be entitled to land deeds.

Cambodia shrugs off aid curb

Aug 23, 2011
By Brian McCartan
Asia Times Online

Cambodian leaders have shrugged off a World Bank move this month to suspend new lending due to state-sponsored, large-scale evictions to clear land for development projects. While rising access to private Asian capital, particularly from China, has helped Cambodia weather previous Western donor pressure for reform, the socio-economic costs of the latest sanction could be much higher.

The World Bank had come under pressure from local and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to take a tough stance against Cambodia's government in response to well-documented forced evictions of communities. The issue centered on a large-scale urban development project planned for central Phnom Penh at Boeung Kak lake where many of the residents are involved in catering to a growing tourist industry.

The pressure increased late last year after an internal investigation found that the World Bank had violated its own social and environmental policies in supporting the project. It is being led by the privately-held Cambodian Shukaku company, which signed a 99-year lease with the government in 2007 to develop Boeung Kak and the surrounding area into a district of luxury apartments and high-end shops.

The company is chaired by Lao Meng Khin, a powerful senator affiliated with the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and a close associate of Prime Minister Hun Sen. Shukaku is partnered with the Inner Mongolia Erdos Hongjun Investment Co Ltd of China, which has pledged broadly to spend US$3 billion in Cambodia on property development, metal processing and power generation.