PM Defends ELC Signings

Prime Minister Hun Sen has fiercely defended his right to grant economic land concessions after issuing a moratorium on the leases in May, pointing to a loophole in the ban which exempts ELCs that already had in principle approval. Hun Sen attacked the Post and the Cambodia Daily in a speech yesterday for failing to understand the legalities of his May 7 moratorium when reporting that ELCs had been granted despite the order – an apparent contradiction. … Specifically, the premier highlighted Point 4 of the order, which states that for ELCs which had already “received the official permission from the government before the issued date, it is necessary to continue to enforce in according with legal principles and procedures in effect”. … Naly Pilorge, director of the rights group Licadho, yesterday attacked the loophole in the moratorium, which she said was “so big it swallows the ban itself” and left everyone in the dark as to just how many more ELCs were coming. …

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