Land
Conservationists ask minister to take action
A group of conservationists in Kratie province submitted on Friday a formal request asking Defence Minister Tea Banh to discipline two Kratie-based military commanders. They accuse the officers of profiting from illegal logging and threatening to kill an activist should he continue his work. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/conservationists-ask-minister-take-action
Civil society groups condemn recent arrest of two in a land dispute, call for their release
A group of civil society organization has condemned recent arrest of two citizens who were involved in a land dispute with the Khun Sear Import Export company, and called on the government to release them and ensure the safety of their family. In a joint statement ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/civil-society-groups-condemn-recent-arrest-of-two-in-a-land-dispute-call-for-their-release-7699
Hitachi looks to set up SEZ in Kandal province
Japanese conglomerate Hitachi on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with three major companies to conduct a feasibility study on the potential development of a new special economic zone (SEZ) in Kandal province, said the CEO of one of the signatories. ...
Kang Sothear
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/hitachi-looks-to-set-up-sez-in-kandal-province-72712/
After hiatus, World Bank OKs proposal for new funding
Officials at the World Bank, which in 2011 froze new loans to Cambodia amid a furore surrounding the Boeung Kak lake evictions, have approved preliminary proposals to issue funding for a project that could see families forcibly removed in Kampong Thom province. Under the World Bank’s ...
Daniel Pye and Mom Kunthear
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/after-hiatus-world-bank-oks-proposal-new-funding
Evictees prepping complaint
Former residents of two villages in Koh Kong province that were razed last week by security guards for Chinese firm Union Development Group are preparing to file a complaint to Prime Minister Hun Sen. Fourteen homes were destroyed by company security guards Thursday morning, according to ...
Taing Vida
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/evictees-prepping-complaint
Mine found buried near S’ville road
Officials are requesting the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) to destroy an anti-tank mine unearthed last week next to a Sihanoukville town street. According to village chief Heng Bunly, Commune 4 is rife with UXO because it was a former military base during the Lon ...
Phak Seangly
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/mine-found-buried-near-s%E2%80%99ville-road
Still work to do on land issue: envoy
Germany’s ambassador to Cambodia, Joachim Baron von Marschall, yesterday cautioned against too much optimism in the land sector in the face of ongoing disputes and forced evictions. The ambassador made the comments at a workshop on sustainable land policy in the capital, where speakers from ...
Taing Vida
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/still-work-do-land-issue-envoy
Cambodian Red Cross swaps Siem Reap office
The Siem Reap provincial office of the Cambodian Red Cross has swapped land with a private company, moving from a prime spot in the heart of Siem Reap City to a cheaper plot 8 km away and on the outskirts of town, officials said Tuesday. ...
Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cambodian-red-cross-swaps-siem-reap-office-72129/
Massive luxury timber haul in Mondulkiri
Forestry Administration officials in Mondulkiri province are on the lookout for illegal loggers, after finding 130 pieces of luxury-grade timber in Koh Nhek district. The find comes on the heels of 3,221 pieces of timber found in Mondulkiri’s Pech Chreada district last month. ...
Phak Seangly
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/massive-luxury-timber-haul-mondulkiri
Gov't audit shows Vietnam Rubber Group missing millions
Contentious plantation giant Vietnam Rubber Group reportedly “lost” nearly $391 million of state funds over five years, including $22.75 million from a rubber plantation in Cambodia, an official investigation into the firm’s dealings has found, according to Vietnamese media. Hanoi’s anti-corruption body, the General Inspectorate, last ...
Daniel Pye and May Titthara
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/govt-audit-shows-vietnam-rubber-group-missing-millions
Mitr Phol disputants to testify
Representatives of Oddar Meanchey villagers who allegedly lost their homes in a 2008 land grab by Thai-owned sugar giant Mitr Phol are hopeful a settlement may soon be reached after they testify before Thai human rights officials today. Witnesses representing more than 400 families are slated ...
Sean Teehan
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/mitr-phol-disputants-testify
Prey Lang activists say logger ‘connected’
Members of a conservation group in Kampong Thom province stopped a van carrying illegal timber on Sunday night only to be threatened by a man claiming to be the nephew of a powerful National Assembly parliamentarian. The van was driving with no licence plate and was ...
Taing Vida
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/prey-lang-activists-say-logger-%E2%80%98connected%E2%80%99
Petition delivered: Villagers demand land be returned
More than 200 people in Kampong Speu’s Oral district gathered yesterday to submit a second petition to HLH Company – an agro-business linked to Hun Seng Ny, the sister of Prime Minister Hun Sen – demanding the return of their land, community representatives said. ...
May Titthara
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/petition-delivered-villagers-demand-land-be-returned
Luxury wood confiscated in Banteay Meanchey
Police and Forestry Administration officials in Banteay Meanchey province confiscated more than 120 pieces of illegally logged luxury-grade wood in two separate operations on Tuesday and Wednesday, officials said Thursday. In one case, authorities on Wednesday found 75 pieces of beng and thnong wood inside a ...
Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/luxury-wood-confiscated-in-banteay-meanchey-71893/
Update on Borei Keila requested
The National Assembly’s anti-corruption commission submitted a letter to the Phnom Penh Municipal Hall last week requesting an update on the resolution of the long-running dispute between evicted Borei Keila villagers and development firm Phan Imex. ...
May Titthara
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/update-borei-keila-requested
Protected wetlands urged
A new wetland protected area may be implemented in Battambang province following talks between scientists, Asian governments and conservation groups held in Siem Reap this week. The message seems to have been heard, at least by the Ministry of Environment, which yesterday said it would ...
Taing Vida
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/protected-wetlands-urged
Koh Kong community rep’s bail request denied
More than 100 demonstrators continued to stage an anti-eviction protest in front of Koh Kong province’s city hall after a jailed community leader was denied bail yesterday. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/koh-kong-community-rep%E2%80%99s-bail-request-denied
Clash at Koh Kong SEZ protest
A 60-year-old woman was injured and sent to hospital yesterday when police cracked down on anti-eviction protesters blocking a busy bridge in Koh Kong province, villagers said. More than 100 villagers locked in a dispute with the company that manages the Koh Kong Special Economic ...
Sen David and Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/clash-koh-kong-sez-protest
UDG guards again accused of violent evictions
About 40 security guards armed with axes and AK-47s and working for the Chinese-owned Union Development Group (UDG) on Sunday demolished the homes of three villagers who claim to own land on UDG’s sprawling $3.8-billion beachside tourist development in Koh Kong province, villagers said. ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/udg-guards-again-accused-of-violent-evictions-71628/
Villagers block highway after police raze homes
Representatives of some 100 families living at the top of a waterfall on the outskirts of Sihanoukville blocked a major highway on Saturday to protest the destruction of their homes and crops by authorities earlier that day, villagers and local officials said Sunday. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villagers-block-highway-after-police-raze-homes-71632/
Villagers blocked from stopping construction
Security guards hired by the Chinese-owned Union Development Group (UDG) thwarted an attempt Friday by 10 villagers to bring a halt to the company’s clearing of land in Koh Kong province, locals said. ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villagers-blocked-from-stopping-construction-71588/
Mondolkiri villagers seek cancellation of rubber concession
Representatives of 273 ethnic Bunong families from Mondolkiri province submitted a petition on Thursday to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet in Phnom Penh, seeking the cancellation of an economic land concession they say has infringed on their ancestral lands. ...
Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/mondolkiri-villagers-seek-cancellation-of-rubber-concession-71463/
Villagers demand millions
More than 200 ethnic families in Mondulkiri’s Sen Monorom town filed complaints to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet and the provincial court yesterday, asking for the cancellation of Villa Development’s land concession and demanding $500 million for allegedly destroying their resin trees. The complaint is the ...
Phak Seangly
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-demand-millions
Tbong Khmum villagers block road in heart of rubber country
About 500 villagers involved in a protracted land dispute with a rubber company blocked National Road 7 in Tbong Khmum province’s Memot district on Thursday to demand titles to land they say they have lived on since 1980. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/tbong-khmum-villagers-block-road-in-heart-of-rubber-country-71461/