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

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. […]

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Remembering Dey Krahorm: Three Years after their Forced Eviction, Former Residents Petition the National Assembly to Make Cambodia an Eviction and Land-Grab Free Zone

On 08th October 2012, past residents of the Dey Krahorm community in central Phnom Penh gathered at the site of their former homes to petition the National Assembly to put an end to pervasive land-grabbing and forced evictions across Cambodia. The residents of Dey Krahorm were forcibly evicted and the community razed on 29 January 2009, when armed police, military police and demolition workers came at night to tear down houses and move people off their land. In many cases residents did not have time to move their possessions outside of their houses before they were pulled down by the demolition teams.

Remembering Dey Krahorm: Three Years after their Forced Eviction, Former Residents Petition the National Assembly to Make Cambodia an Eviction and Land-Grab Free Zone Read More

Two Persons Accused of Killing Hang Serei Odom Detained in Rattanakiri Province

On Saturday, 15th September 2012, the Rattanakiri province police detained two suspects—one is a military police officer named Ean Bunheng, alias Eng, and the other is his spouse, Sim Vy—at the provincial police headquarters. They have not been sent to the Prosecutor’s office at Rattanakiri Provincial Court yet. What is more, the provincial police prolonged their detention (by 24 hours) in order to conduct more investigation. The victim’s family, the journalists’ community, as well as human rights NGOs, are closely monitoring the handling of the case by the authorities and express grave concerns about this killing.

Two Persons Accused of Killing Hang Serei Odom Detained in Rattanakiri Province Read More

Killing of a Journalist in Rattanakiri Province

On 11 September 2012, ADHOC’s office in Rattanakiri province received reliable information from Mr. Joun Phin Dara according to which a reporter working with the local newspaper Virakchun Khmer, Mr. Hang Serei Oddom, had disappeared.
ADHOC staff immediately started investigating and sought intervention with Mr. Em Vunn, head of Banlung police, to find out about the reporter’s whereabouts. At 12pm, the authorities located Hang Serei Oddom’s car at Savay Channty garden, Touy village, Ja Ong commune, Orchum district, about 3 kilometers away from town. Hang Serei Oddom was found dead in the trunk.

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Mam Sonando’s Trial Began Yesterday at Phnom Penh Municipal Court

The trial of Mam Sonando, President of the Democrats Association and owner of Beehive radio station (FM 105), began yesterday at Phnom Penh Municipal Court. Mam Sonando faces charges related to a so-called “secessionist plot” in Kratie province, including insurrection and incitement, which could carry a sentence of up to 30 years imprisonment. Mam Sonando, who is 71, voluntarily returned to Cambodia to defend himself. He has been seriously ill while in pre-trial detention and was denied bail on two occasions.

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STATEMENT: ADHOC Condemns the Unfair Conviction of 13 Boeung Kak Residents

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) condemns the conviction of 13 women embroiled in a land dispute with CPP Senator Lao Meng Khin’s Shukaku Inc. The Boeung Kak residents were sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail yesterday by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of rebellion (article 504 of the Penal Code) and illegal occupation of land (article 34 of the Land Law). Five of them had their sentences suspended to two years, and another to one year. All were sent to Prey Sar prison immediately after sentencing. The women were arrested on 23 May as they were peacefully protesting against the destruction of their homes by Shukaku Inc. and attempting to rebuild them.

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Authorities Must Drop Charges against Boeung Kak Residents and Seek Fair Resolution of their Dispute with Shukaku Inc.

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) condemns the arrest of 13 female residents of the Boeung Kak community yesterday as they were peacefully protesting against the destruction of their homes and attempting to rebuild them. This latest development illustrates the fact that Cambodian authorities deliberately let the situation deteriorate at Boeung Kak Lake. As the 13 women are sent to court, ADHOC calls on relevant authorities to drop any charges against them and seek fair resolution of this long-running dispute.

Authorities Must Drop Charges against Boeung Kak Residents and Seek Fair Resolution of their Dispute with Shukaku Inc. Read More

STATEMENT: Cambodian Authorities Must Put an End to the Cycle of Violence Related to Land and Natural Resources Rights

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) strongly condemns the shooting dead of a 14-year old girl yesterday, relating to a long-standing land dispute in Kratie province. Heng Chentha was fatally wounded by armed forces in Broma village, Kampong Domrey commune, Chhlong district, as villagers were protesting in Snuol district against forced eviction from the homes and farmland they had occupied for years. Cambodian authorities claim that the disputed land is state-owned; however, evidence suggests that it may have been granted as a concession to Casotim, a Russian company which plans to set up a rubber plantation.

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Freeze on Economic Land Concessions Must Now Be Followed by Positive Action and Existing Concessions Must Be Reviewed

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) welcomes the announcement by Prime Minister Hun Sen that there will be a moratorium on the granting of Economic Land Concessions (ELCs). In an order dated 7 May 2012, the Prime Minister called on public authorities to “temporarily postpone” the granting of ELCs to private companies. Civil society organizations and international human rights bodies have been asking the Cambodian authorities for several years to stop granting new land concessions, to review existing ones, and to ensure respect for relevant laws and regulations, including the 2001 Land Law, Sub-Decree 146 on Economic Land Concessions, and various human rights standards. ADHOC hopes that this move by the government indicates that the demands of NGOs and human rights professionals are finally being met.

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Killing of Mr. Chut Wutty – ADHOC Report

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) strongly condemns the killing of Mr. Chut Wutty, President of Cambodia’s Natural Resources Conservation Group, on 26th April 2012. ADHOC also expresses deep concern about the lack of thorough investigation by the authorities into the case, demonstrating an apparent lack of impetus towards seeking justice. The Chief Prosecutor has refused to meet with ADHOC investigators and to make further inquiries into this case, and the police report is seen as highly contentious by NGOs and the family of the victim. […]

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