ABC Radio Australia
Cambodia has reportedly been promised one hundred million U-S dollars from the United States to help fight hunger and develop agriculture among small-scale farmers. The money will be given directly to the Cambodian government, even though it's regarded as one of the most corrupt in Asia. While donor countries throw lots of money at the issue of food security, the challenge faced by many small-scale farmers in Cambodia is the forced take-over of their land by those with government or military connections. One of the biggest cases currently being fought out is in Kampong Speu province.
Presenter: Liam Cochrane
Speakers: Hong Neu, Cambodian farm owner; David Ped, executive director, Bridges Across Borders Cambodia; You Tho, commune councillor of Amleang; military police/company guards
Listen: Windows MediaCOCHRANE: A tractor ploughing a field before the rice planting season should be a common sight at this time of year in Cambodia. In this case however, it's an act of defiance and optimism, there's no guarantee the owner of this 10 hectare farm, Hong Neu, will ever see the rice that's about to be planted.
The day before, bulldozers arrived at her back fence, belonging to a sugar company owned by a powerful tycoon.
HONG: Yesterday, the company's employees came to clear my land, without saying anything. I asked them to talk about compensation first before clearing my land, they said they'd leave just 200 meters of land for me and would clear everything.
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