Indigenous land exploited

2 March 2012
The Phnom Penh Post
Agriculture and fishing / Ethnic minorities and indigenous people / Human rights / Land / Social development
Indigenous / Indigenous Communities / indigenous peoples / Mondulkiri / NGO Forum / NGO Forum of Cambodia / Ratanakiri

The Royal Government of Cambodia and private land developers were exploiting indigenous communities in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces by signing concession deals for the communities’ land without prior consultation, advocates said yesterday. “We urge the government as well as the private sector to respect [indigenous peoples’] rights to their land . . . and their rights to independence and cultural integrity,” Chhith Sam Ath, executive director of the NGO Forum, said. “All these projects must be planned with care, transparency and accountability.” The NGO Forum of Cambodia launched its publication on “Free, Prior and Informed Consent in Development” pointing the finger at the government and companies who were making land deals behind closed doors that affected indigenous peoples’ land. ...

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012030254821/National-news/indigenous-land-exploited.html