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Article

25 Jul 2016

Author:
Ron Corben, VOA Cambodia

FIDH says legal & institutional reforms needed to address growing conflicts over land in ASEAN countries

"Human Rights Body Calls for ASEAN Land Reforms", 22 July 2016

An international human rights umbrella says the Southeast Asian region faces the threat of growing conflicts over land between investors and local people unless legal and institutional reforms are put in place.

The warning from the 180-member International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) comes against a backdrop of significant economic gains and growth across Asia supported by foreign and domestic investment.

The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is looking to spur growth through the ASEAN Economic Cooperation (AEC) and foreign investment alone reached $136.3 billion in 2014.

But the opening to investors seeking land to develop for factories and plantations has triggered conflict with local communities, especially where laws governing land registration and title are weak.

These land disputes, forced evictions and violence have risen as the regional drive for economic growth has accelerated…