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.
