Urbanisation

Indonesia: Recognizing Indigenous Rights

whit — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 13:00:49 +0000

Indonesia’s first-ever national inquiry delves into dozens of land disputes involving indigenous peoples and customary forest rights. The target: new President Joko Widodo.

The Pagu woman raised her voice in the presence of officials from the mining company that had caused her so much grief.

To cement her tribe’s territorial claim, she invoked centuries-old place names and a landmark Constitutional Court ruling from last year.

“This is our land, not the state’s land!” Afrida Erna Ngato hollered in the hearing room in Ambon, Maluku.

Report Shows Lack of Information on Chinese-Funded Railway

whit — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:10:06 +0000

ROVIENG DISTRICT, Preah Vihear province – With locals demanding dialogue with the Chinese firms behind a proposed multibillion dollar rail line to Preah Vihear province, an NGO report released yesterday highlights the dearth of information that has been made available on the project.

Chinese company Cambodia Iron and Steel Mining Industry Group (CISMIG) has said it will build a 404-km railway connecting a new steel mill in Preah Vihear province and a new port in Koh Kong province, in a project estimated to be worth a total of $11.2 billion that is supposed to get under way in July.

Over 300 land protestors charged this year

Kailash — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:22:02 +0000

TOTAL of 306 villagers have been charged this year in connection with land disputes in 18 provinces, according to figures released by rights group Adhoc yesterday.

Ouch Leng, Adhoc’s land programme officer, said that of those charged, 128 were released on bail after periods in detention, while 51 remain in prison.