The sugarcane industry has been one of the worst offenders. At least 75,000 hectares in economic land concessions have been granted to private companies for industrial sugarcane production in recent years. These concessions have led to the destruction of protected forests, the pollution of water sources, and the forced displacement and dispossession of thousands of people in Koh Kong, Kampong Speu, Oddar Meanchey and Svay Rieng provinces.
Crops have been razed. Animals have been shot. Homes have been burned to the ground. Thousands of people have been left destitute. Some have been thrown in jail for daring to protest.
Despite the abundant evidence of these crimes, none of the responsible individuals and companies have been held to account.
Meanwhile, the sugar that is tainted by gross human rights abuses is exported to Europe, where suppliers and importers receive special trade benefits under the EU Everything But Arms initiative.
For the past two years, we have called upon the companies that are producing and selling this sugar to provide restitution to those who have lost their land, homes and livelihoods to make way for their plantations. We have sent letters and filed complaints against Ly Yong Phat, Mitr Pohl, KSL, Ve Wong Group, Tate and Lyle Sugars and its parent company American Sugar Refining (owner of the Domino Sugar brand in the United States). These companies have all failed to respond and take action to repair the harm that their business has caused to so many Cambodian families.
So, we are now calling upon consumers around the world to stop buying their products. In particular, we urge consumers to boycott Tate and Lyle Sugars and their affiliated US company Domino Sugar.
To kick off this campaign, Clean Sugar Campaigners produced this powerful online video:
Here’s how you can support the campaign:
- Watch the video, share it and help us make it ‘go viral’
- Sign this petition telling Tate & Lyle Sugars to stop importing sugar from land grabbers in Cambodia and compensate victims
- Sign this letter telling the European Commission to revoke “Everything But Arms” trade preference for land grabbers operating in Cambodia
- Visit the campaign website to learn more.
- Share these materials through your networks and encourage others to join the action!
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The Clean Sugar Campaign is a coalition of affected communities and civil society organizations working to:
▪ Stop human rights abuses and environmental damage caused by the Cambodian sugar industry;
▪ Bring about a just resolution for the individuals and communities that have been harmed by the industry; and
▪ Ensure that the agricultural development and trade policies benefit smallholder farmers and local communities.
For more information, visit www.boycottbloodsugar.net