“Statement in Response to Phnom Penh Sugar Company’s Allegations Against Equitable Cambodia Executive Director Eang Vuthy”, 21 August 2014

On August 18, 2014, the Phnom Penh Sugar Co. Ltd., took out advertisements in several major Cambodian newspapers accusing Equitable Cambodia’s Executive Director, Mr. Eang Vuthy, of making false and misleading statements about Oknha Ly Yong Phat, and causing “irreparable damage” to the Senator’s reputation as well as that of his business, Phnom Penh Sugar...Eang Vuthy did not say anything to suggest that the Senator was currently involved in the operations of these sugar companies…While the Senator may currently have no involvement in the management or ownership of Khon Kaen Sugar Company’s in Koh Kong province or Mitr Pohl Sugar Company’s in Oddar Meanchey province, there is strong evidence that Ly Yong Phat was involved with each of these companies and with the forcible eviction of thousands of villagers…[The] human rights abuses [in Koh Kong] were committed in 2006 and 2007 when Ly Yong Phat was the Chairman of one of the companies and a major shareholder of the joint venture…In 2007, local authorities told villagers affected by the [Oddar Meanchey] concessions that if they want to file complaints against any of the three companies, they should be addressed to H.E. Ly Yong Phat, “since he is in charge of all of them.”…[refers to Angkor Sugar, Koh Kong Plantation, Kong Kong Sugar, Sugar Valley, Tonle Sugar Cane]