Statement
On the unjust accusation and the arrest of village representatives
on the Economic Land Concession land dispute with Peam Chaing Rubber Company
The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) would like to express our dissatisfaction for the unjust measure taken by first instance provincial court in Svay 
Rieng that arrested one village representative, Mr. Yea Yeng and sent him to prison. Not only that, the court continues to try to arrest other 15 villagers on criminal charges related to the Economic Land Concession dispute between the rubber plantation company, Peam Chaing, and 5 villages. ADHOC notifies that this land dispute case has not reached to the point which they use the court system yet, because the government is now trying to ease the tension in this area. So, the court should delay the criminal charges of the villagers for this moment and continue to try for the fact finding of the situation clearly first. The people’s protests was instigated from the flaw distraction in resolution of land dispute on time and let the company clear the land; destroy property and plantation of people without restraint since 2007.
ADHOC understands that the villagers have been really occupying the land legally based on the land law 2001 and they were also recognized by the local authority legally. Therefore, the people’s protest to protect their land, houses, and their plantation are not illegal actions at all.According to research and study documents on this Economic Land Concession from the government showing that this company has not got the full rights of ELC from the government yet along with the sub-decree No.146 on ELC procedure. Especially, this company hasn’t shown publicly the official resolution, eventually on the environmental, social and economic assessment with the human rights perspectives. In contrast, this company violates announcement or sub-decree from the government related to the dispute resolution on the damages, such as sub-decree No.166 on Social Land Concession and sub-decree No.167 issued on 9th October, 2009. These sub-decrees show the government guideline on the resolution in the land disputes for the people.
ADHOC would like to insist the first instance provincial court and provincial authority in Svay Rieng to release the village representative, Mr. Yea Yeng from the prison. Also, we ask to drop the charges on the arrest for other villagers who are now run away from home in order to give them the opportunity to meet with their families again. Lastly, we ask to give the land back to the people so that they can start farming in the upcoming time for this year.
Svay Rieng 24th May, 2010
For further information, please contact;
Mr. Chan Soveth, Chief of the monitoring section of ADHOC, 016 937 591
Mr. Ouch Leng, Land Programme officer of ADHOC, 011 256 053
Mr. Nget Nara, Provincial director in Svay Rieng, ADHOC, 012 338 007
