“Landmark Report Promotes Human Rights in Transboundary Investments“, 10 Jun 2015

Almost 10 years ago, hundreds of villagers in Sre Ambel District in Koh Kong Province in south-western Cambodia were violently evicted from their homes to make way for a massive land concession granted to a group of companies to develop a sugar plantation and processing factory…majority owned by Thai company Khon Kaen Sugar Limited (KSL)…Now, finally, a report of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) has publicly acknowledged these human rights violations…[and] found that the land grab violated the right to life, the right to self-determination, including the right to manage and benefit from natural resources, and the right to development of the affected villagers...The NHRCT’s investigation has been recognized by Surya Subedi, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia, as “a landmark case for international advocacy in Cambodia”…Measures are urgently needed within ASEAN to implement and strengthen recognition of [extra-territorial obligations] at national and regional levels and ensure access to remedy for affected communities…