MEKONG RESOURCES FORUM III Development Impacts and Resilience in Agriculture and Forestry in the Mekong Region Hoa Binh, Vietnam. 15 16 June 2017 By: Eang Vuthy, Equitable Cambodia The Context 1
The Context (cont.) Cambodia s total landmass: 17,650,913 ha Cambodia s total arable landmass: 3,607,847 ha Economic Land Concessions: 2,139,552 ha = 59.3 % of total arable landmass ELCs: Main Driver of Deforestation 2
The Social Costs Rural population depend on land and natural resources for their livelihoods 65% of rural population estimated to be landless or land-poor WFP: 4.6 million chronically food insecure. Food insecurity highest in concession areas Massive displacement, dispossession and conflict Cambodia s Indigenous Peoples hardest hit The sugar boom 3
Everything But Arms Cambodian sugar and other agricultural product exports to the EU currently benefit from special status under a preferential trade scheme called Everything But Arms (EBA). This initiative permits goods produced in Cambodia to be exported to the EU without import duties or quotas and, in the case of sugar, at a guaranteed minimum price. 1 - Oddar Meanchey Angkor Sugar Co.Ltd: 6,523 ha (reduced to 6238 ha) Cane and Sugar Valley Co.Ltd: 6,595 ha (reduced to 5909 ha) Tonle Sugar Cane Co.Ltd: 6,618 ha (reduced to 6165 ha) 4
2-Koh Kong province Koh kong Sugar Industry co.ltd (KSI): 9700ha Koh Kong Plantation co.ltd: 9400ha 3 - Kampong Speu Phnom Penh Sugar Co.Ltd: 9,393 ha Kampong Speu Sugar co.ltd: 13,753 ha 5
Clean Sugar Campaign Stop human rights abuses and environmental damage caused by the sugar industry in Cambodia; Bring about a just resolution for the individuals and communities that have been harmed by the industry; and Ensure that the agricultural development and trade policies benefit smallholder farmers and local communities. Targeting producer companies, their investors and major buyers 6
Actions taken to demand accountability Filed Complaints against Tate & Lyle and Mitr Phol with Bonsucro, alleging non-compliance with Bonsucro Code of Conduct Result: Tate & Lyle was suspended and then withdrew; Mitr Phol withdrew, but readmitted to Bonsucro in 2015. EC, IDI and Licadho submit a new complaint (in process). Complaints against KSL and Mitr Phol with Thai HR Commission Investigation and reports are completed and published very critical of Mitr Phol and KSL. RESULT: Mitr Pohl pulled out of Cambodian concessions as a result of campaign. We continue to pressure them to provide redress to the displaced families. 7
Actions taken to demand accountability Transnational legal action: Lawsuit filed in the UK High Court by displaced Cambodian villagers against Tate & Lyle / Tate & Lyle Sugars Claim alleges Tate & Lyle is peddling fruits of stolen land and the villagers have a claim on part of the value of the raw sugar that Tate & Lyle purchased -> Result: UK court granted jurisdiction and negotiations is ongoing with Tate & Lyle and Community. Actions taken to demand accountability Exposure and engagement with buyers: Tate & Lyle, Coca Cola and Pepsi Tate & Lyle exposed on front page of The Guardian. They have refused to engage in dialogue. Coke and Pepsi both committed to zero tolerance for land grabs in supply chain Coke undertook human rights impact assessment of its supplier, Mitr Phol and KSL, and pressuring them to provide redress to affected people. 8
EU-EBA Campaign European Commission has the means under the GSP regulation to suspend EBA preferences on a product-specific basis on the basis of serious and systematic violations of human rights. -> RESULT: - Two supportive resolutions from the European Parliament - EU and Gov t have already finalized ToR to support the 3 rd party displacement audit of sugar concessions in Cambodia and is now waiting for the Prime Minister to sign before it can go forward. For more info: visit www.cleansugarcampaign.org Thank you for your attention! 9