Groups Call on Donors to Ease Evictions

Past evictions like these were always resulted in violence, often at the hands of the police.

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer

Phnom Penh

19 February 2008
Chiep Mony reports in Khmer(1.12 MB) - Download (MP3) Chiep Mony reports in Khmer(1.12 MB) - Listen (MP3)

A leading federation of rights groups called on international donors Tuesday to alleviate Cambodia's growing land seizure problem.
The International Federation for Human Rights said the ongoing land grabs across the country were leading to a crisis that international donors should consider before they pledge aid to the Cambodian government later this year.
"We would like to ask donors to intervene," said Souhayr Belhasen, a human rights leader in the Federation.
Local and international rights workers warn that land thefts and displacement are a threat to the country's stability.
"It's time for the Cambodian authorities to make a radical shift in their approach to land disputes," said Naly Pilorge, director of the rights group Licadho.
Government officials were not available Tuesday for comment.