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Article

21 Jun 2011

Author:
Julian Boys, Economic Justice Researcher at Christian Aid in Guardian [UK]

Cambodia's oil must not be the slippery slope to corruption and catastrophe

Cambodia's discovery of oil raised hopes of faster development for the country – but also fears that the "resource curse" might strike again…[L]ocal campaigners are racing to prevent Cambodia going the same way as…Nigeria, where the industry has fuelled corruption and environmental catastrophe…[In 2009] Global Witness…reported that oil exploration licences had been granted largely in secret, while the mining sites it investigated were all owned by the country's political and military elite. Since then, the public has not been consulted about the drafting of new laws governing extraction of natural resources…[G]rassroots organisations are pushing for Cambodia's oil to be managed in ways that allow citizens to see what the government does with the resulting revenues – and to hold it and oil companies accountable for their actions…[refers to Glencore, Mopani Copper Mines]