Cambodia: Land Grabbing ICC Case
In 2014, GD Partner, Richard J Rogers, filed a Communication on behalf of victims to the Prosecutor of the ICC, alleging that widespread land grabbing and mass forced evictions amounts to crimes against humanity under international law. The case demonstrates that senior members of the Cambodian government, security forces, and government-connected business leaders planned and perpetrated the crimes. By 2016, over 830,000 people had been adversely affected by land conflicts. Minority indigenous people and women have suffered disproportionately.
Pursuant to its policy to stay in power at all costs, the crimes committed by the ruling elite against dissidents fall under the same ‘attack.’ Civil society leaders, monks, journalists, lawyers, environmental activists, trade unionists, civilian protestors, and opposition politicians have been assassinated, or imprisoned on trumped-up charges.
This is the first case presented to any international criminal court in which the bulk of the allegations pertain to land grabbing during peacetime. It highlights the brutality of kleptocratic dictatorships, underscores the importance of corporate compliance, and provides an opportunity for the ICC to tackle environmental destruction.
On 15 September 2016, the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC released a new policy paper , stating that it will prioritise crimes within its jurisdiction that are committed by means of or result in “the destruction of the environment, the illegal exploitation of natural resources, or the illegal dispossession of land.”
Documents:
Summary of the communication submitted to the ICC, dated 7 October 2014
Supplementary submission, dated 22 July 2015
Media / News
European Parliament: On 5 November 2014 the Communication was debated in the European Parliament. The European Commission rep stated that land grabbing was “a very important issue worldwide” and the ICC Communication was “a very interesting initiative”.
US Congress: On 21 August 2015, Rogers testified to the issue before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Sub-Committee on Asia and Pacific.
Liberal International, expressed its support for the ICC communication. The President of Liberal International called on the ICC to investigate the allegations made in the filing.
NGO Support: 40 civil society organisations submitted a statement to the ICC: “Civil Society Statement Supporting the Case Filed Against the Cambodian Ruling Elite in the International Criminal Court” stressing: “We have a duty to protect the victims of land grabs and associated forced evictions who have no chance of obtaining justice in their own countries.”
Cambodian Support: Petitions signed by 7,606 Cambodians in support of the Communication were submitted to the ICC.