Wed Sep 18 02:07:46 UTC 2024: ## Cambodian Indigenous Community Displaced as Mining Company Secures Thousands of Hectares of Public Forest
**Phnom Penh, Cambodia** – A new investigation by Mongabay reveals how a mining company, Lin Vatey, acquired thousands of hectares of a public forest in Cambodia, displacing local communities, including the Kuy Indigenous people. The land, previously home to a thriving community forest and ecotourism venture, was granted to ten individuals with close ties to the Cambodian government.
The investigation, conducted by Mongabay writer Gerry Flynn and freelance journalist Nehru Pry, details how the Phnom Chum Rok Sat community forest was effectively taken from the local residents. The government granted the land to the ten individuals despite the community’s long-standing management of the forest and their reliance on its resources.
“Ten individuals seemingly just reached out to the government to ask if they could just have 3,064 hectares of land… much of which is in the community forest,” Flynn says. “Which is a pretty bizarre request, most normal people can’t just ask the government [for] that much land.”
The land acquisition has forced the local community to abandon their traditional way of life and resulted in the closure of the successful ecotourism venture. The investigation raises serious concerns about the lack of transparency and community consultation in the land allocation process. It highlights the vulnerability of indigenous communities and the importance of protecting their rights and access to their ancestral lands.
**This article was adapted from a Mongabay podcast featuring Gerry Flynn discussing his investigation. You can access the full podcast here: [Insert podcast link]**
**The Cambodia Daily is an independent non-profit digital news service for Cambodia and Cambodians. Support independent journalism in Cambodia by donating at [insert donation link].**
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