Cambodia's government has come under fire for failing to protect indigenous peoples

from land-grabbing by the rich and powerful. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

in Cambodia said on Wednesday that the government needs to act swiftly to halt land-grabbing

in tribal areas. Although Cambodia's 2001 land law recognizes indigenous rights to

collective land ownership, it said "not a single collective land title"

had been issued to any indigenous community by the government. It expressed deep

concern and claimed "the government tilts in favor of business companies whenever

their interests clash with the interests of rural or urban people". The government

dismissed the allegations, calling them unacceptable.