Deal #6586
Lao PDR
Created at
2015-08-03
Last update
2022-09-28
Last full update
2022-09-28
How did the community react?
Community reaction
Rejection
Comment on community reaction
At least 140 families from eight villages in the Khong district of southwestern Laos’ Champasak province are refusing to sell their land or relocate to make way for a special economic zone planned for their area.
[Source: RFA]
Displacement of people
Displacement of people
Yes
Comment on displacement of people
Villagers displaced by the project would need to be relocated and would be provided with new residences and employment, which could be provided by the project.
Villagers of Hinsiu, Phon, Hang Khong, Don Khong, Muang Sen, Phon Kao, Thakhob, and Houakhok villages officially refused to give up their land (according the RFA report on 9th May 2019)
“The company wants people’s land, but people don’t want to just hand it over,” said the chief of an affected village.
[Source: RFA]
Negative impacts for local communities
Negative impacts for local communities
Environmental degradation, Socio-economic, Cultural loss, Eviction
Comment on negative impacts for local communities
Land loss, impact to the livelihood, local community losing their jobs on fisheries, impacts to the local tourism service.
In the beginning of 2020, the Champask provincial authorities have revoked licences previously issued for several tourism projects in Champassak province so the land can be used to create the Maha Nathi Sithandone special economic zone.
[Source: LIWG]
Promised or received compensation
Promised compensation (e.g. for damages or resettlements)
The Chairman of the Champassak provincial SEZ Authority, Mr Khamphon Nuansengsy, told that “the company is also committed to paying compensation worth US$6.5 million to businesses that hold tourism services concessions at Khonphapheng Waterfall.”
[Source: RentsBuy]
Received compensation (e.g. for damages or resettlements)
The land survey conducted by company between 2018 – 2019, however villagers reported that they still did not know how much compensation they would get or if they will be compensated or not.
[Source: RFA Lao]
Promised benefits for local communities
Promised benefits for local communities
Other
Comment on promised benefits for local communities
Local authorities believe the project will help to improve the livelihoods of local people.
Materialized benefits for local communities
Materialized benefits for local communities
Financial support
Comment on materialized benefits for local communities
According the Chinese News Agency, People Daily reported that ‘the government of Laos will try to ensure priority is given to communities when it comes to job allocation and agriculture production for the project.’
[Source: People’s Daily]
Presence of organizations and actions taken (e.g. farmer organizations, NGOs, etc.)
Presence of organizations and actions taken (e.g. farmer organizations, NGOs, etc.)
Villagers who refused to give up the land launched a complaint to the People’s Council insisting that they did not want to give up their land as they had lived there for generations.
[Source: RFA]