Category : LNRR’s Reports

REPORT: A Turning Point? Land, Housing and Natural Resources Rights in Cambodia in 2012

A Turning Point - Cover

Whereas 2011 had seen a sharp increase in the number of Economic Land Concessions (ELCs) granted by the Royal Government of Cambodia to private companies, in 2012 conflicts became more acute and protests multiplied. The government showed that it had understood the seriousness of the situation by taking initiatives aimed at resolving land disputes, addressing some of the issues related to ELCs and granting thousands of land titles to rural families.

However, some of the most pressing concerns about the overall pressure on land, landlessness, land tenure insecurity, lack of law enforcement, power abuses, and encroachment on livelihoods and natural resources remained unaddressed. [...]

Villagers from Kantuot Commune, Preah Vihear Province, Promised Action after Delivering Petition to Prime Minister

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On 09 October 2012 villagers from Kantuot Commune, Choam Ksan District, Preah Vihear Province handed a petition to cabinet official Nov Ra, alleging repeated land grabs, violence and intimidation at a Social Land Concession (SLC) granted to one star General, Pen Lim in 2007. On 10 October 2012, Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly called for Pen Lim’s arrest in relation to the SLC at a land title ceremony in Kampot province. The villagers also came to protest other land grabs in the area, claiming the involvement of other officials from the provincial government and the Ministry of Land.

Welcome Remarks by Ambassador Jean-François Cautain, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Cambodia – Workshop on Human Rights and Democracy

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It is pleasure for me to welcome you today to this very important event on human rights and democracy organised by Adhoc with the support of the European Union. This event is important not only because of the upcoming commune council elections scheduled for 03 June 2012 but also because democracy is more than about elections. Democracy is an every day challenge, democracy is about constant interaction between the different stakeholders of any society. Democracy is about confronting ideas and constructive dialogue. It is why today we have members of the National Assembly, Senate, political parties, and members of local authorities present to discuss with the Civil Society their contribution to democracy and the promotion human rights.

The Delegation of European Union to Cambodia has worked closely with our NGO partner, Adhoc, to organise this event. In collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia and civil society partners the EU has regularly supported similar events over the last years as part of our contribution to Cambodia’s efforts to build a democratic society. And we will continue to do so ! Partnership, constructive dialogue and mutual respect between key actors – Government, Political Parties and Civil Society

Five Employees of JZR Taken Hostage for Two Hours after Company Began Illegally Clearing Tumpoun People’s Land in Rattanakiri Province

On 21 February, after a private company began bulldozing their farmland, 300 villagers from the Tumpoun minority ethnic group captured five company employees and held them hostage for two hours in Lumphat district, Rattanakiri province.
Jing Zhong Ri Cambodia Co. Ltd. (JZR) claims that it was granted a 70-year, 9,000-hectare concession in Lumphat district for a rubber plantation. According to information gathered by the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) however, the company has not signed any contract with the government. It has only been authorized to conduct an investment study.

Peaceful Land Dispute Protesters Threatened by Armed Soldiers outside Kampong Speu Provincial Court

People protested infront the Kg Speu Court

Phnom Penh, 13 February 2012 ― RCAF troops from an unidentified unit were deployed last Thursday to quash a land-related peaceful protest outside Kampong Speu Provincial Court. Villagers from Omlaing commune, Thpong district, Kampong Speu province, gathered to submit a petition to the court demanding the release of Chum Srey Nuon, a villager arrested on 15 December 2011 and detained on charges of illegal occupation of land. They asked the court to drop the charges and protested against harassment by the authorities, as 49 villagers have been summoned by the court since 2010.

Residents at Borei Keila in Phnom Penh Forcibly Evicted

Student in Borey Key La  lost the School

On 3rd January 2012, roughly between the hours of 6am until 11am, armed forces consisting of policemen, military police and the security forces of the Phanimex company, in addition to local authorities and hired workers, raided and destroyed people’s homes, and arrested eleven people at Borei Keila in Phnom Penh, all in the name of development. The arrested people included one underage boy and one woman. The forces defending the company’s development were supported by four fire trucks and two bull dozers, and were equipped with shields, electric batons, fire arms and tear gas; the residents of Borei Keila stood little chance of defending their homes and livelihoods. Both sides threw stones and were injured, including three officers and two hired workers. All the arrested residents were subjected to beatings but the total number of residents injured is unknown.

Intervention Report

59 people from Thmor Koal District, Battambang Province came to Phnom Penh to seek help from ADHOC for their land conflict