Deal #6350
Lao PDR
Created at
2014-05-09
Last update
2023-06-08
Last full update
2022-03-20
Names of communities / indigenous peoples affected
Name of community
Bru ethnic group
Name of indigenous people
Ta Oy ethnic group
Comment on communities / indigenous peoples affected
Base on the study by Miles Kenney in 2015, over 30 villages were affected by this project.
The project involved corruption of district officials. And the resistance of villagers to this project is very much related to political connection. When villagers refused to concede their lands to the investor, government officials threatened to accept the project [Miles Kenney, 2019].
Consultation of local community
Community consultation
Not consulted
Comment on consultation of local community
No prior consultation was made before the project entered to the communities.
How did the community react?
Community reaction
Rejection
Comment on community reaction
The resistance and refusal did occur, but with limited success [Miles Kenney‐Lazar, 2015].
The resistance is always related to connection to the high ranking politicians. It is almost impossible for farmers/villagers to refuse the project if they do not know any politicians in high positions.
Presence of land conflicts
Presence of land conflicts
Yes
Comment on presence of land conflicts
The company cleared the land before detailed surveys of what land is available have been conducted, and they usually only conduct surveys at all if there is a conflict with villages concerning the land cleared [Miles Kenney‐Lazar, 2015].
District officials never talked about a lack of land available for this company. They only complained that the company cleared land outside of the area allocated to them, and did so without notifying the district, only apologizing and making up excuses afterward [Miles Kenney, 2015].
Negative impacts for local communities
Negative impacts for local communities
Displacement
Promised or received compensation
Promised compensation (e.g. for damages or resettlements)
None
Received compensation (e.g. for damages or resettlements)
None
Promised benefits for local communities
Promised benefits for local communities
Education, Productive infrastructure (e.g. irrigation, tractors, machinery...), Roads, Other
Comment on promised benefits for local communities
Company failed to do as they promised to pay for the installation of electricity to the village, to build a road, to build a school [Miles Kenney, 2015].
Based on Vietnam Plus [Vietnamese news, 2014], the company said that it poured 2.3 billion VND (over 108,000 USD) into the construction of roads, a power system, schools and pagoda.
Materialized benefits for local communities
Comment on materialized benefits for local communities
Quasa-Geruco failed to deliver on these promises, even after land had been cleared and trees planted.
[Source: Resisting with the State: The Authoritarian Governance of Land in Laos (2016)]
Presence of organizations and actions taken (e.g. farmer organizations, NGOs, etc.)
Presence of organizations and actions taken (e.g. farmer organizations, NGOs, etc.)
The US-based Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) suspended all operations under the company in 2013-2014.