Brooke Lewis and Mom Kunthear
Phnom Penh Post
A CONSERVATION NGO collaborating with an investment firm told residents of an island off the coast of Preah Sihanouk province this week that they would be restricted to a 12.3-hectare piece of land in order to make way for a development project, Paul Ferber, the founder of Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC), said.
Ferber said the meetings between the residents of Koh Rung Sangleum and representatives of Fauna and Flora International (FFI) took place on Monday and Tuesday. He noted that the size of the land could be subject to change.
Toby Eastoe, project manager for FFI, confirmed that the meetings had taken place, and said his organisation was working with the Hong Kong-based investment company Lime Tree Capital on the development project. He said the size of the land for villagers and the details of the development project had yet to be finalised.
MCC, an ecotourism business based on the island, has criticised the restriction that could be imposed on the 92 families who stand to be affected by the project, saying it would constitute an unnecessary impingement on their rights.
“FFI, even with knowledge about the reduction of community land, seems happy to support a concessionaire that has created a master plan without any local consultation, regardless of the effects to the community,” Ferber said by email Thursday.
He said the restriction, which has yet to be approved by the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), would leave “absolutely no room for the village to grow”.
But Eastoe defended FFI’s work with Lime Tree Capital, saying they were working together to mitigate the potential effects of the project on both the environment and the local community.
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he still here, we sign but he still coming
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Nation Religion King
Koh Rong Commune
Koh Rong Sanleum Village
Koh Rong Sanleum 1st November 2010
Application for Complain and Dissatisfaction
- We all people living in Koh Rong Sanleum village, Koh Rong commune, Preah Sihanouk province
Would like to inform Koh Rong Commune Chief
- For a period of time ago, there is one organization named FFI has assigned one staff and colleagues to work in the village where we are living. The staff named Toby came to facilitate in our village in the purpose of forest and wildlife conservation. However, Toby lied people in the village that he would conserve forest, and then lied people again that he would develop the village and even wanted to take half of our village. We all could see the lying behavior of Toby and we all do not agree to have this staff to work on the island anymore.
- We are people living in Koh Rong Sanleum would like to suggest the commune chief help facilitate accordingly.
- Toward NGO named FFI, we all still continue the cooperation.
- To ensure the truth, we all will leave our right thumb prints as the evidence.
- Please the commune chief help and tolerance for us all on Koh Rong Sanleum Island.