BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM ANALYSIS
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- SUMMARY OF CONTEXTUALIZATION
Democracy in Cambodia is moving backward, while CSO working space is shrinking because of political tension, which led to dissolution of a main opposition party. Some NGOs have been put in black list, and some NGO leaders escaped from Cambodia because they fear of arrest. Few NGOs were finally closed. Freedom of speech is banned, whereas the rights to access to information are very strict, given to many media outlets (Around 27 Radios and 1 newspaper, Cambodia Daily) were closed in 2017. At the end of 2018, while there are strong international pressures, mainly from EU to remove the EBA, the ruling party has begun to release some politicians, NGOs staff, journalists, and land rights activist. Furthermore, in order to assuage the political tension, recently, there has been Instruction by Ministry of Interiors No. 040; dates 31st Oct 2018, for NGOs that properly registered have full rights to conduct their operation in Cambodia in accordance with law. On 4th Dec 2018, based on Radio Free Asia, the government is planning to raise ban for 118 politicians to rejoin political life.
The rapid growth of the national economy made huge changes for corporations engaged in natural resources development, including land and forest concessions, and particularly mining for gold, gems, bauxite, and oil and gas. Presently, there are 267[1] big Cambodian and foreign companies that are investing in the mining resources of Cambodia, for which the government issued licenses to spur national economic development. It is remarkable; the value of mining projects approved by the Cambodian Development Councils (CDC) has grown from 181 million dollars in 2005 to 403 million dollars in 2006.[2]
Cambodia is rich in unexploited natural resources, which has attracted the attention of many investors, as resource demands have increased regionally and globally. Exploration on results on land and under water, coupled with Government’s granting of legal licenses to explore and operate, and has fostered increased activity. Other companies, not having corporate status, have explored as well. It is expected that in 2015, approximately 20 mining companies[3] are going to begin their extractions in the north-eastern provinces of Cambodia.
In this context, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process has played an important role in the research to determine any positive and negative effects. But there are weaknesses in the application of the EIA, and a lack of civic participation. The booming economy from the mining sector has adversely affected the environment and the livelihood of the people living within the impacted areas. Negative effects include issues of health, loss of land, wildlife, animal deaths, and loss of sources of subsistence[4].
- RATIONALE AND JUSTIFICATION
Preah Vihear is one of the provinces being drastically sustained to this threat which will provide the “missing voice” for IP of target villages at an opportune time in their history. The marginalized communities, especially indigenous people, who subsist by the natural resources are at great risk of being forcibly derived of their resources and not received any compensation to the loss of their land and livelihoods, let alone their cultures. The Preah Vihear has seven districts3 which its boundaries adjacent to the Thailand and Lao PDR to the North, Stung Treng province to the East, Kampong Thom province and Siem Reap province to the South and Oddar Meanchey province to the West. This province has vast of natural resources such as forest land and mineral under the ground. Major of indigenous are Koy and Por, but among Koy ethnicity has other seven different names such as Koy Antrue, Koy Ork, and Koy Ompor etc. and most of them living in the remote areas. The community’s lives are connected with natural resources with nearby communities. Normally, they enter to jungle to collect non-timber forest’s products ranging from resin, fishing, go hunting and some areas dig gold mining for daily livelihood.
Recently, there are many national and foreign companies are doing investment in Cambodia, in total there are 286 Economic land Concession in entire of Cambodia. In these numbers, 26 economic land concession and 49 mining companies are operating at Preah Vihear province since 2009 up to now.[5]
Most of all companies invested on the sector of agro industry such as rubber and pepper plantation. These investments affected the community livelihood, because most of the indigenous communities are living attached with natural resources around their communities.
[1] : https://archive.opendevelopmentcambodia.net/company-profiles/concessions-of-mining/ traditional s and powerful people encroachede from traditional mining digging.ct of mining from companies and powerful people. B
[2]:http://w http://www.ccc-cambodia.org/downloads/research-report/Round20_Mining_Study_Final_Report_Oct2010_Revised_Kh.pdf
[3]http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/economy-business/a-40-2010-03-18-voa7-90235907.html
3http://www.tourismcambodia.com/travelguides/provinces/preah-vihear/geography.htm
[4] : It is shared in the EISEI National Network at all every quarter. It is available with EISEI secretariat.
[5] : https://archive.opendevelopmentcambodia.net/company-profiles/concessions-of-mining/…..
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