Cambodian lawyers, human rights activists and opposition politicians are warning that a new law will weaken safeguards against expropriation of land in a country where evictions are already stoking discontent.

The law, passed last week, allows the government to seize land for developments that are deemed to be in the public interest. The government said the law will allow it to fast-track infrastructure and other projects.

But opponents say the definition of public interest is too vague and puts too much power into the hands of the government.

"This is a huge step backwards," said Mu Sochua, a prominent member of the opposition Sam Rainsy party, who failed to stop the passage of the bill through a house where the party of Hun Sen, the prime minister, has 90 of the 123 seats.

The law takes force against a backdrop of longstanding accusations that powerful members of the government and security forces have exploited the chaotic state of Cambodia's land title system.

GARMENT exports declined at their slowest pace this year in October, falling just 6.64 percent on an annualised basis to US$199.35 million, figures released Wednesday by the Ministry of Commerce showed. The decline is the smallest year-on-year monthly drop since last December, when exports fell 13.64 percent to $222.1 million, though industry figures said it was too soon to claim that the sector’s fortunes were changing.

Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia Secretary General Ken Loo said one relatively good month was not enough to predict whether the impact of the global economic recession on the sector was beginning to bottom out.