Ethnic Phnong claim their forest land was grabbed by officials

[geovalin]

An ethnic Phnong community in Kratie province’s Snuol district has accused local officials and soldiers of grabbing over 1,000 hectares of community forest and threatening the lives of local villagers for years, with the rights group Adhoc yesterday saying they would take the case to provincial authorities.

 

Community leader Seang Phet, 66, said that since 2011, some 136 families have sought to preserve the 3,036 hectares of community forest, but that in that time over a third of it has been taken over by powerful interests.

 

“Our forest land has not been registered yet, but over 1,000 hectares were already grabbed. The rich and the powerful used excavators to clear [land] and build boundaries for private property without approval from the community,” Phet said, noting that the forestland was either turned into plantation or sold off.

 

Phak Seangly

 

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ethnic-phnong-claim-their-forest-land-was-grabbed-officials

 

 

-- © Copyright Phenom Pen Post 09/01

[Dibbler]

All of Cambodia and its natural resources is up for grab to the lowest bidder now there is no viable opposition to the CPP. What's not already owned by powerful interests will eventually be sold off to the Chinese or Vietnamese. Very sad tale of development going horribly wrong..


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