Ahead of Vote, Hun Sen Breaks Silence to Make Land Promises

Just days ahead of Sunday’s commune elections, Prime Minister Hun Sen again broke his pledge to remain silent during his party’s campaign period and sought to ease the concerns of communities whose livelihoods have been threatened by land disputes. Speaking to villagers through a mobile telephone, and with his voice being amplified by a loud speaker, Mr. Hun Sen on Thursday used the final stages of the 15-day campaign trial to convince thousands of villagers in Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey provinces that their land was not under threat from private investors who have been granted economic land concessions. The timing of Mr. Hun Sen’s speech appears to demonstrate just how contentious the issue of land loss has become in Cambodia, and how aware the ruling party is of the effects it could have on Sunday’s vote. Last month, a 14-year-old girl was shot dead during a violent land eviction in Kratie province, 14 women and one man were jailed for protesting against a forced eviction in Phnom Penh, and a well-known monk was warned by his religious superiors to stop advocating on behalf of communities fighting against land grabbing. …