Special Economic Zones and Land Dispossession in The Mekong Region

Special economic zones (SEZs) have become a one-size-fit-all policy solution for governments eager to expand their industrial economy. Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam have all brought into the idea that SEZs will spur the development of a modern industrial sector that will form the basis of future economic growth.

As a model for development, SEZs are even more problematic when social and environmental impacts are taken into account. As this report examines, SEZs in the Mekong region are often linked with human rights violations such as land dispossession, poor working conditions and environmental degradation. As SEZs have expanded in the region, so too have social conflicts and resistance from local residents who have fought to protect their land and resources. This study will provide a basis for further discussion and help build a platform for people who have had their land rights violated to voice their concerns.