Deal #6586

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Local authorities believe the project will help to improve the livelihoods of local people.

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]

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]