Islands up for grabs
More than 180,000 hectares on 28 of Cambodia’s 64 islands were reclassified as state private property for 31 companies seeking land concessions between 2008 and 2010, government sub-decrees reveal. The reclassification sub-decrees, compiled by investigators at the rights group Adhoc, pave the way for firms to secure 99-year leases to develop hotels, resorts and casinos, mostly on islands dotted across the coasts of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong province. … Soveth said there was a lack of vision and co-ordination from the government as it hastily divvied up Cambodia’s islands, reclassifying land for 99-year leases without assessing negative effects such as the depletion of forest resources that supported communities. … But Tourism Minister Thong Kong yesterday defended the aggressive island development plan, which was guided by the Cambodian Development Council, saying it would lead to jobs and prosperity for the local populations. …
