MASTER THESIS Titel der Master Thesis / Title of the Master’s Thesis „Fertile Grounds for Conflict - The Struggle for Land Security of Indigenous People in Cambodia“ Verfasst von / Submitted by Willemijn Eva Bezemer Angestrebter akademischer Grad / In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (MA) Wien 2016 / Vienna 2016 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt / A 992 884 Postgraduate programme code as it appears on the student record sheet: Universitätslehrgang lt. Studienblatt / Universitätslehrgang Master of Arts in Human Rights Postgraduate programme as it appears on the student record sheet: Betreut von / Supervisor: Univ.- Prof. Dr. Wolfram Schaffar Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 1 Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 General Description of the Research Context ............................................................................... 3 1.1.1 The Economic and Political Situation .................................................................................... 4 1.1.2 Indigenous People .................................................................................................................. 5 1.1.3 Economic Land Concessions .................................................................................................. 9 1.2 Research Question ....................................................................................................................... 11 1.3 Structure of the Thesis ................................................................................................................. 12 Chapter 2: Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 14 2.1 Research Population .................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Research Objectives .................................................................................................................... 15 2.3 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 16 2.4 Fieldwork Locations .................................................................................................................... 17 2.5 Interview Techniques .................................................................................................................. 18 2.6 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 19 2.7 Anonymisation of Data ............................................................................................................... 20 2.8 Terms Used.................................................................................................................................. 21 2.9 Coding ......................................................................................................................................... 21 2.10 Use of Written Sources .............................................................................................................. 22 Chapter 3: The Indigenous Identity ....................................................................................................... 23 3.1 Development of the concept of ‘Indigenous People’ .................................................................. 23 3.1.1 Historic Discourses ............................................................................................................... 24 3.1.2 Role of the International Community and Civil Society ...................................................... 26 3.2 Contesting Definitions ................................................................................................................. 27 3.3 The Struggle against Assimilation............................................................................................... 29 3.4 Development of the Indigenous Identity ..................................................................................... 36 3.4.1 Primordialism, Constructivism and Instrumentalism ........................................................... 37 3.5 Effects of the Land Crisis on the Indigenous Culture ................................................................. 39 3.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 4: Legal Framework ................................................................................................................. 42 4.1 International Law ........................................................................................................................ 42 4.1.1 Manila Declaration ............................................................................................................... 46 4.2 Domestic Law.............................................................................................................................. 47 4.2.1 Land Law .............................................................................................................................. 47 4.2.2 Sub-Decree on Procedures of Registration of Land of Indigenous Communities ................ 49 4.2.3 Forest Law ............................................................................................................................ 51 4.2.4 Sub-Decree on Economic Land Concessions ....................................................................... 53 4.3 Implementation ............................................................................................................................ 55 4.4 Legal Position of Corporations .................................................................................................... 58 4.5 Role of other Non-State Actors ................................................................................................... 61 4.5.1 Supporting Communities in Registration ............................................................................. 61 4.5.2 Financing Land Concessions ................................................................................................ 62 4.6 Legal Pluralism............................................................................................................................ 63 4.7 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 64 Chapter 5: Human Rights Violations .................................................................................................... 65 5.1 Land Grabbing ............................................................................................................................. 65 5.1.1 Evictions ............................................................................................................................... 66 5.1.2 Land Grabbing by Other Actors ........................................................................................... 67 5.2 Effects of Land Grabbing on People ........................................................................................... 68 5.2.1 Financial Insecurity .............................................................................................................. 68 5.2.2 Water Contamination............................................................................................................ 70 5.2.3 Pesticides .............................................................................................................................. 72 5.2.4 Healthcare ............................................................................................................................. 72 5.3 Violations in relation to the Police Force .................................................................................... 73 5.3.1 Restricting access to the Forest ............................................................................................ 73 5.3.2 Disturbing Indigenous Protests and Celebrations ................................................................. 74 5.3.3 Arbitrary Arrests ................................................................................................................... 74 5.3.4 Military Violence ................................................................................................................. 75 5.3.5 Indigenous people in the police force ................................................................................... 77 5.3.6 Estrangement from authorities ............................................................................................. 77 5.4 The development paradox ........................................................................................................... 78 5.4.1 Education .............................................................................................................................. 79 5.4.2 Development by Corporations .............................................................................................