Hun Sen grants four economic land concessions

Prime Minister Hun Sen has signed off on four more economic land concessions (ELCs), all in protected areas, despite placing a moratorium on granting such leases on May 7.

Since the May 7 sub-decree, the premier has now signed off on seven concessions totalling 56,586 hectares to develop agro-industry, though his cabinet has argued that three granted on May 18 did not flout the ban because they were ELCs already in the final stages of approval.

The latest Royal Gazette reveals more than 35,000 hectares were granted in ELCs to four companies on June 7.

When asked why the leases had been granted in apparent contradiction of the moratorium, Council of Minister’s spokesman Phay Siphan said he was not aware of the concessions and believed there were no arrangements for new ELCs.

“We’re afraid that they just changed the owner from the old document [ELC],” he said.

Khun Sea Import Export was granted 8,200 hectares of land in Oddar Meanchey province’s Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary, and A2A Town (Cambodia) Co Ltd received a 9,668- hectare ELC in the Kirirom National Park that stretches across Kampong Speu and Preah Sihanouk provinces.

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