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Article | More than 1,000 Gather in Phnom Penh to Seek Solutions to Land Conflicts

30 March 2023audio available

More than 1,000 community members from Siem Reap, Koh Kong and Kampong Speu provinces gathered in Phnom Penh between 27 March and 29 March to petition for solutions to ongoing land disputes affecting their homes and livelihoods, in some cases facing restrictions on movement and assembly from local authorities.

Between 27 and 28 March, about 150 people from seven Siem Reap communities gathered in Phnom Penh, where representatives submitted petitions to the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of National Defence on behalf of approximately 10,000 families who live within Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site that includes the temple of Angkor Wat. Their petitions included a request for the government to return land titles to community members, enact protections for the Kleang Tuek 78 reservoir, and provide fair compensation to those already affected by evictions within the site. The government has previously said the evictions are necessary to maintain the area’s UNESCO World Heritage status.

Flash Info | Over 800 Land Community Members Petition Ministries Despite Police Roadblocks

6 September 2022audio available

Authorities pressured and prevented dozens of members of communities embroiled in land conflicts from travelling to Phnom Penh this morning to join with more than 800 other land community members delivering petitions to government ministries.

Around 500 people from Koh Kong province and some 360 more from Kampong Speu province rallied in the capital to demand the government resolve longstanding land disputes and deliver land titles and/or fair compensation to communities left waiting for years. Representatives of six Koh Kong communities and three Kampong Speu communities delivered petitions to the ministries of justice, interior and land management as well as Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet on Tuesday amid a heavy police presence.

En route to Phnom Penh, police stopped dozens of members of Kampong Speu’s Amleang Land Community and compelled community representatives to sign agreements not to cause “social insecurity” in Phnom Penh before allowing seven of their eight vehicles to continue, claiming some vans were overloaded with passengers.

Flash Info | Koh Kong Land Protesters Back in Phnom Penh

27 June 2018audio available

This morning, around 200 villagers representing 317 families affected by land disputes related to sugar land concessions in Chi Kha Leu, Chi Kha Kraom, Dang Peng and Kandoul communes, Koh Kong province marched through Phnom Penh to demand land and compensation. They are currently being blocked by security forces on Sihanouk Boulevard.

Yesterday, the villagers were forced to walk part of the way from Koh Kong to Phnom Penh after being blocked by police and military police led by the Koh Kong deputy governor. They arrived at the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) yesterday evening, when community representatives met with representatives from the ministry before walking to Samaki Raingsey pagoda where they stayed overnight.

This is the third time that the villagers have been blocked in their efforts to reach the ministry. On 5 June, members of the communities had their vans stopped in Koh Kong by police and were forced to walk for hours through heavy rain towards the capital. On this occasion, after protesting in front of the Ministry of Land, officials promised some families monetary compensation and land by 20 June 2018. Last month, around 200 people from these communities were blocked and violently shoved by security forces in Phnom Penh as they attempted to walk from Samakki Raingsey pagoda to the MLMUPC. Many villagers were carrying babies and small children.

Flash Info | Koh Kong Land Protestors Petition Ministry

5 June 2018audio available

(Updated 14.00 following land ministry meeting)

Despite attempts to prevent them travelling to Phnom Penh, more than 200 villagers from Koh Kong communities seeking compensation for a decade-old land grab rallied outside the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction early on Tuesday morning.

They were met by Koh Kong deputy governor Orn Pheareak who asked them to return to their province to discuss a solution. Community representatives also met land ministry officials and were given a letter pledging to measure land for 585 families by 20 June 2018.

Flash Info | Koh Kong communities protest sugar land concessions

6 March 2018audio available

More than 100 villagers from communities affected by land grabbing in Koh Kong’s Sre Ambel district demonstrated today outside a factory owned by Koh Kong Sugar Industry Co. Ltd.

The protestors, from Chi Kha Leu, Chi Kha Kraom and Dang Peng communes, were met by about 50 police and military police outside the factory.

The communities have fought for compensation since 2006 when hundreds of families were dispossessed by economic land concessions granted to sugar companies, one of which was partly owned by ruling party Senator Ly Yong Phat.

Flash Info | Koh Kong Farmers Protest Sugar Concession Land Grabbing

22 August 2017audio available

This morning more than 100 farmers from Chi Kha Kraom community in Koh Kong protested outside the Ministry of Land Management, demanding that the government resolve a land conflict affecting at least 15 families. Police and para police pushed the protesters from the roadside, hurting two female members of the community and smashing the group’s megaphone.

In 2010, the affected community lost their farmland to an Economic Land Concession (ELC) held by the Heng Huy Agriculture Group which cleared it for sugar production. The community has struggled to find a solution for seven years, repeatedly presenting their case at the local and national level. More than 120 members of the community travelled to Phnom Penh on 2 February 2017 and spent several months petitioning authorities.

Returning five days ago, the community met with a representative of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet who pledged to find a solution. After several hours protesting outside the land ministry today, a spokesman informed the group that their case was still being examined.

Flash Info | Koh Kong Land Communities Deliver Petitions in Phnom Penh

4 August 2016

Today 74 representatives of communities in Chi Kha Leu commune, Sre Ambel district, Koh Kong submitted five petitions at government, parliamentary and diplomatic offices in Phnom Penh calling for a resolution to their decade-old land conflict.

The protest is the latest in a series of actions by the communities protesting against land grabbing by sugar producers in Sre Ambel district. The dispute began in 2006 following the establishment of sugar Economic Land Concessions (ELCs) in Koh Kong.

The peaceful protest saw representatives carrying banners and flags deliver petitions to the Ministry of Land Management, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Commerce. Other petitions were delivered to the embassy of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia and the National Assembly.

Flash Info | Hundreds Continue to Protest Land-Grabbing Sugar Companies in Koh Kong

25 March 2016

Today, about 300 people from four communes in Sre Ambel and Botom Sakor districts, Koh Kong, marched to submit petitions to their district governors protesting land grabbing by sugar producers.

The communities delivered the petitions to the district governors demanding their support in an ongoing land conflict with Thai company KSL, majority owner of Koh Kong Plantation Co and Koh Kong Sugar Co. The conflict with KSL relates to the land grabbing of over 900 hectares of land and the loss of livelihoods for local families after the company, at the time co-owned by CPP Senator Ly Yong Phat, were granted adjacent land concessions for the two subsidiary companies totaling almost 20,000 hectares.

The communities have been actively protesting the land grabs by the sugar company since the dispute began in 2006.

Flash Info | Hundreds of villagers petition commune chiefs over decade-long land dispute with sugar company

20 January 2016

Today over 300 protesters from four communes, Kandoul, Chi Kha Leu, Chi Kha Kraom and Dang Peng delivered petitions to their respective commune offices to protest land grabbing by sugar producers in Sre Ambel district. The protest is the latest in a series of actions by the communities since the dispute began in 2006.

The communities delivered the petition to their commune chiefs demanding their support for the return of land and compensation for 753 families after a decade-long dispute with the Thai sugar company KSL. The conflict with the sugar company concerns the land grabbing of over 900 hectares of land and the loss of livelihoods for local families after the companies, at the time co-owned by CPP Senator Ly Yong Phat, were granted adjacent land concessions totaling almost 20,000 hectares.

After delivering the petition to all four commune offices the protesters returned to their homes after setting a two week deadline for the authorities to provide a resolution.

Article | Cambodian Women on the Front Line: Six Stories of Resistance

13 March 2015audio available

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2015 LICADHO, together with the Highlanders Association of Cambodia, organised a forum in Ban Lung, Ratanakiri for people affected by land grabbing. The forum was attended by over 100 representatives from eight different indigenous communities from within Ratanakiri and by land rights activists from other provinces around the country. The theme of the forum was the effect of land conflicts on women and the majority of the participants were women. The participants shared their experiences and ideas and many performed songs they had written telling the stories of their land disputes. We profile six of the women who attended the forum. Their stories illustrate the many hardships faced by women affected by land disputes as well as their remarkable spirit and resilience.

Statement | Oddar Meanchey Authorities’ Continued Illegal Conduct Towards Equitable Cambodia’s Staff

16 October 2014audio available

We, the undersigned civil society groups, condemn the actions of the Oddar Meanchey authorities who have, since September 2014, been engaged in the obstruction, harassment, intimidation, and assault of rights workers. Most recently, a four-person team from Equitable Cambodia (“EC”) was in the province to conduct field research on the impacts of forced evictions resulting from economic land concessions granted for the development of sugarcane plantations. The plantations are owned by the Mitr Phol Group, one of Coca-Cola’s top three global suppliers. Research data collected will be provided to the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (“NHRCT”), which is investigating Mitr Phol’s operations in Cambodia.

Flash Info | Rights worker beaten by Oddar Meanchey police while documenting land dispute

11 October 2014

This afternoon, police in Oddar Meanchey beat a staff member from Equitable Cambodia after they refused to allow officers to search their car without a warrant and gain access to a camera.

Police stopped the car as it was transporting villagers back to their community, following interviews with Equitable Cambodia staff at an office belonging to ADHOC.

Following the illegal search and beating of the staff, police confiscated the car and deleted a number of photos from the camera. The staff from Equitable Cambodia are now in Oddar Meanchey Provincial Police Station negotiating with police but are not currently detained.

Flash Info | 250 villagers march over long running land dispute with Koh Kong Sugar

9 October 2014

This morning 250 villagers from three villages, Trapaing Kandorl, Chi Khor, and Chhouk, marched to deliver a petition to Chi Kha Leu commune hall and Sre Ambel district office to petition authorities over a long running land dispute regarding an overlapping economic land concession, that involved Oknha Ly Yong Phat and is used to produce sugar for Thai sugar-manufacturer, Khon Kaen Sugar (KSL).

The district governor and commune leader for Chi Kha Leu received their petitions after which the villagers then marched to Koh Kong Sugar, where a representative for the company accepted their petition as well.

The villagers plan to deliver another petition to the provincial hall if there is no resolution between district authorities and Koh Kong Sugar following today's activities.

Statement | Civil Society Groups Condemn the Groundless Detention of Equitable Cambodia Staff

12 September 2014audio available

We the undersigned condemn the continued intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders in Cambodia. We call upon the competent authorities to investigate those responsible for ordering the groundless detention of Equitable Cambodia Staff Meg Fukuzawa and Lida Sok.

Statement | Response to Phnom Penh Sugar Company’s Allegations Against Equitable Cambodia Executive Director Eang Vuthy

21 August 2014audio available

On August 18, 2014, the Phnom Penh Sugar Co. Ltd., took out advertisements in several major Cambodian newspapers accusing Equitable Cambodia’s Executive Director, Mr. Eang Vuthy, of making false and misleading statements about Oknha Ly Yong Phat, and causing “irreparable damage” to the Senator’s reputation as well as that of his business, Phnom Penh Sugar.

While the Senator may currently have no involvement in the management or ownership of Khon Kaen Sugar Company’s in Koh Kong province or Mitr Pohl Sugar Company’s in Oddar Meanchey province, there is strong evidence that Ly Yong Phat was involved with each of these companies and with the forcible eviction of thousands of villagers.

Flash Info | UN Special Rapporteur Visits Victims of Land Grabbing in Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk

21 June 2014

This morning, Surya P. Subedi, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Cambodia, visited and held discussions with land grab victims in Chikhor Leu village, Sre Ambel District, Koh Kong province. The land overlapped with an economic land concession given over to the production of sugar which was linked to ruling-party senator Ly Yong Phat.

In the afternoon, Subedi also visited Spean Ches community, Village 6, in Preah Sihanouk province. Some residents of this community were among the over 100 families violently evicted on April 20, 2007 from a plot of land 500 meters away in Commune 4, Mittapheap District, Sihanoukville, by 150 armed forces including military. Subedi held discussions with community members before meeting with the provincial governor.

Subedi’s visit throws light on long-standing land grabbing cases that remain unresolved. In both cases, the state-involved land grabs happened over half a decade ago.

Statement | Child Labor on Sugar Plantations in Cambodia is Well Documented

23 July 2013audio available

The Guardian newspaper recently ran a damning expose of child labor on the KSL Group sugar plantations in Cambodia that supply the sugar giant Tate & Lyle Sugars. Rather than acting quickly to address the abuses, the companies seem to have resorted to a strategy of denial and legal bullying in an attempt to defend their tarnished reputations.

Statement | Cambodian NGOs allege serious abuses linked to Thai sugar giant, Mitr Phol Sugar Corporation

31 May 2013audio available

Two Cambodian NGOs, LICADHO and Equitable Cambodia filed a petition on behalf of 602 complainants about serious human rights violations linked to large sugar concessions held by Thai sugar giant, Mitr Phol Sugar Corporation.

Article | Eviction and Land Grabbing Surges Across Cambodia

2 April 2010

The use of military police by government-affiliated companies and individuals to forcibly evict villagers featured prominently in land grabbing cases in first quarter of 2010, leaving over 2,500 families at risk of losing their homes or livelihood.

LICADHO received 23 complaints of land grabbing between January and March 2010, ten of which involved the violent eviction of individuals following the grant of economic land concessions by government ministers to relatives or elites, and their affiliated companies.

Video | Villagers Unite to Release Community Representatives in Land Dispute

2 April 2010audio available

On 26 March 2010, more than 600 - entangled in a land dispute with Okhna Ly Yong Phat's sugar plantation - villagers gathered on National Road 4, blocking the road for almost two hours, and demanded the release of their two representatives, Khem Vuth and You Tho, who had been arrested two days earlier. This led to heavy traffic congestion and prompted the deputy provincial governor, court officials and provincial police commissioner to talk with villagers. After lengthy negotiations, the villagers agreed to move and discuss the matter at the provincial court.

On 29 March 2010 Mr. You and Mr. Vuthy were released on bail and placed under surveillance.

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