3 indigenous communities obtain their Community Land Title
As part of measures to empower and improve the sustainable livelihood of the people in rural areas, the government of Cambodia, the government of Belgium (DGD) and two non-governmental organizations WWF and FLO have given support by spearheading and facilitating the approval of 3 Community Land Titling. To celebrate the final approval (total process took over 4 years), a three-day event was organized on the 24th,25th and 26th October 2018 by FLO and the Ministry of Interior (MoI). The event was themed: “ Kuoy Rural Community Land Title Congress ,” and held in three (3) villages namely Kampong Kbeoung, Enta Chey and Kampong Domrey.
Dignitaries present included representatives from Ministry of Interior(MoI), Ministry of Rural development (MRD), Department of Environment, Department of Development, Department of land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, Department of Agriculture, Police and Commune Council, Provincial Hall and NRD .
According to MRD, a total of 1745 hectares of land have been titled to the 271 families of these three villages.
Mr. Ann Vaesna, Deputy Director of Association and Political Party Affairs who represented the General Department of Ministry of Interior, assured the indigenous community of the government’s commitment to protect their lands, rights and cultures. He also commended the remarkable altruism of DGD, WWF and FLO for their numerous effort under the SCALE-UP program for sustainable development and building resourceful communities.
Speaking on behalf of the Kuoy community, Mr. Gneon Houn said, “Our happiest moment is receiving the Land Title certificate today and; we would like to express our gratitude to the government and FLO for their immersed effort to make this journey a success”
Miss Kim Vandy, the Executive Director (FLO) raised FLO’s concerns about the rapid degradation of the land and natural resources, and the need for the protection and conservation. She emphasized on the vulnerability and social exclusion of the indigenous communities. It is high time to recognize that more attention must be paid to the various factors and processes which we either constrain or enhance poor people’s ability to make a living, in an economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable manner.”
By George.F Afful