UN Envoy Notes Human Costs of Land Concessions

U.N. human rights envoy to Cambodia Surya Subedi wrapped up his seventh mission to Cambodia on Friday, saying that his own assessments of land concessions confirmed that they are being unfairly granted and leaving many communities out in the cold. Mr. Subedi said that meetings held with Environment Minister Mok Mareth and officials from the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction had been “cordial, candid and productive,” but that he regretted not having the opportunity to meet with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, despite requesting a meeting in a letter in March. The Agriculture Ministry plays a key role in the granting of concessions. Mr. Subedi said the meetings he did have with government officials regarding economic land concessions were “constructive.” “It was a good opportunity for them to put to me the government’s side of the story,” Mr. Subedi said, but did not elaborate as to what response he had received. Such details, he said, would be presented in his final report to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva in September. …