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ESCR / Urgent Interventions / 2010 / March

Cambodia: Suy indigenous peoples at risk of extinction

CAMBODIA Action File 243 full text
8 pages / 179 KB

OMCT ACTION FILE (KHM 260310.DESC)

ANOTHER LAND CONCESSION JEOPARDISES THE SURVIVAL OF THE LAST SUY INDIGENOUS GROUP LIVING IN O RAL DISTRICT, KOMPONG SPEU PROVINCE, CAMBODIA 
 
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), on the basis of reliable information received, expresses its concern at the situation faced by 1200 peoples living in O Ral District, Kompong Speu Province, Cambodia. The Suy indigenous group is losing its ancestral lands due to Economic Land Concession (ELC) issued by the Government of Cambodia to private companies for economic exploitation of corn agribusiness. OMCT is further concerned that violence and intimidation will be inflicted on those communities activists that, in the attempt to defending their economic, social and cultural rights, and thus their survival, protest against concessions of their lands. OMCT express deep concern at the economic policy undertaken by the Royal Government of Cambodia aimed at granting ELCs over indigenous and non-indigenous lands for economic exploitation by private companies. This policy necessarily has a severe negative impact on the livelihoods of rural communities and indigenous peoples living on these lands, and thus exacerbates their already poor living conditions. In its very recent Concluding Observations, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed deep concerned at the Economic Land Concession policy in Cambodia and its impact on indigenous peoples.

OMCT recalls that the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in its General Comment No. 7 stated that “Evictions are, prima facie, incompatible with the principles of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)”. In the same line, the Special Rapportuer on Adequate Housing emphasised that forced evictions “involve gross violations of a range of internationally recognized human rights, are justifiable only in the most exceptional circumstances and in the full respect of international standards.”

OMCT calls upon the Royal Government of Cambodia to abide by international standards on forced evictions and to respect international and national law on indigenous peoples. OMCT also calls upon the Royal Government of Cambodia to suspend existing ELC and set a moratorium on new ELCs until an independent commission sheds light on the current ELC procedures. OMCT also calls upon the Royal Government of Cambodia to dismiss ungrounded charges against community leaders struggling for their economic, social and cultural rights. OMCT also calls upon the HLH Groups Limited - the Singaporean Company to which was granted the indigenous land - to comply with international law and to fully respect the economic, social and cultural rights of all local communities affected by its economic activities.





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For further information, please contact:  Francesca Restifo, fr@omct.org  

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Date: March 26, 2010
Activity: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Type: Urgent Interventions
Subjects: Development actors, Development projects, Economic policies, Indigenous peoples, Land and Housing, Non-state actors, Right to adequate standard of living, Threats, intimidation and harassment

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