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International Land Coalition Asia (ILC Asia) stands in solidarity with Heng Phen, an indigenous woman and land rights defender from the Kuy community in Cambodia. Local authorities arrested Phen on 14 June 2022 and sent her to pretrial detention at the Kampong Thom Provincial Court in central Cambodia. Phen was charged with “committing violence against a real estate occupant” - a charge she denied - after a complaint came from Chheng Phan, a representative of Sambath Platinum company. The company used a section under Cambodia’s Land Law to wrongfully charge Phen. This is particularly concerning as 

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"We will always protect our land. We will keep fighting to find a solution if someone tries to take the land. I recently got out of jail, but there are still lingering land issues. However, because it is the land of our ancestors, we shall all unite as one to struggle with the court to reclaim it. The accusation that I have encroached on the company property is demonstrably untrue because we have used this land for many generations, starting with our ancestors. Therefore, from this point on, let all institutions and leaders assist in recognizing our community land." said Heng Phen in a video clip following her release on bail on Thursday, June 30.

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Representative of Kui indigenous group in Ngon commune, Sandan district, Kampong Thom province has been remanded in custody following a lawsuit filed by the SAMBATH PLANTINUM. Co., LTD((https://data.opendevelopmentcambodia.net/km/dataset/sambath-platinum-co-ltd-amendment)). Hean Hiek, First Vice President of the Kui Kbet Chonghor Khna Indigenous Community said authorities arrested her on June 14, 2022, and sent her to pretrial detention according to the complaint of Chheng Phan, a representative of Sambath Platinum Company.

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Following a lawsuit brought by a private company, four Bunong indigenous people who are active in land and natural resource protection have urged the court to dismiss the charges against them. According to the complaint filed by Kak Ratana, who claims to be the director of Villa Development Co., Ltd., Mr. Eang Sokun, Representative of the Mondulkiri Provincial Prosecutor's Office, summoned four indigenous peoples, including Mr. Kroeurng Tola, Ms. Phloek Phirum, Ms. Phloek Nary, and Mr. Khleng Tum, to appear on the afternoon of June 7, 2022 for " Phloek Phirum, Mondulkiri's Indigenous Network Coordinator, told VOA Khmer that the court questioned them for hours yesterday about the charges befo…

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About 9 indigenous Jarai families in Tang Chi village, Nhang commune, Andong Meas district, Ratanakkiri province, lost their farmland after some people posing as the manager of 7 Makara Phari Company brought in excavators and tractors to clear and destroy community plantations where the 9 families had been practicing for years. The nine families demanded that the authorities intervene and do the study to remedy their concerns on June 1, 2022. On May 8, 2022, land was cleared without notice after community members alleged they had harmed several hectares of crops. Furthermore, the cle…

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The Preah Vihear Provincial Court summoned five indigenous Kui for questioning this morning, June 1, 2022. Thong Suth, Suth Savon, Thap Sok Khi, Ngon Him, and Ms. Roeun Khat (Khan) are the five accused, who are members of the Kui ethnic group and live in Prame commune, Tbeng Meanchey, Preah Vihear Province. According to the summons, the five were charged with threatening to kill and threatening to inflict damage on February 4, 12, and 13, 2022, in Sre Prieng Village, Prame Commune, Tbeng Meanchey district, Preah Vihear Province, according to Mr. Vuth Savy, a representative of the Preah Vihear Provincial Prose…