Cambodia: Suy indigenous peoples at risk of extinction

OMCT ACTION FILE (KHM 260310.DESC)
ANOTHER LAND CONCESSIONJEOPARDISES THE SURVIVAL OF THE LAST SUY INDIGENOUS GROUP LIVING IN O RALDISTRICT, KOMPONG SPEU PROVINCE, CAMBODIA The International Secretariat of theWorld Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), on the basis of reliable informationreceived, expresses its concern at the situation faced by 1200 peoples livingin O Ral District, Kompong Speu Province,Cambodia. The Suy indigenous group is losing its ancestral lands due toEconomic Land Concession (ELC) issued by the Government of Cambodia to privatecompanies for economic exploitation of corn agribusiness. OMCT is furtherconcerned that violence and intimidation will be inflicted on those communitiesactivists that, in the attempt to defending their economic, social and culturalrights, and thus their survival, protest against concessions of theirlands. OMCT expressdeep concern at the economic policy undertaken by the Royal Government of Cambodiaaimed at granting ELCs over indigenous and non-indigenous lands for economicexploitation by private companies. This policy necessarily has a severenegative impact on the livelihoods of rural communities and indigenous peoplesliving on these lands, and thus exacerbates their already poor livingconditions. In its very recent ConcludingObservations, the UnitedNations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed deep concerned at the Economic Land Concession policy inCambodia and its impact on indigenous peoples.
OMCT recalls that the UN Committee on Economic, Social andCultural Rights, in its General Comment No. 7 stated that “Evictionsare, prima facie, incompatible with the principlesof the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights(ICESCR)”. In the same line, the Special Rapportuer on Adequate Housing emphasised thatforced evictions “involve gross violations of a range of internationallyrecognized human rights, are justifiable only in the most exceptionalcircumstances and in the full respect of international standards.”
OMCT calls upon the Royal Government of Cambodia to abide byinternational standards on forced evictions and to respect international andnational law on indigenous peoples. OMCT also calls upon the Royal Governmentof Cambodia to suspend existing ELC and set a moratorium on new ELCs until anindependent commission sheds light on the current ELC procedures. OMCT alsocalls upon the Royal Government of Cambodia to dismiss ungrounded chargesagainst community leaders struggling for their economic, social and culturalrights. OMCT also calls upon the HLH Groups Limited- the Singaporean Company to which was granted the indigenous land - to complywith international law and to fully respect the economic, socialand cultural rights of all local communities affected by its economicactivities.




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