This 340-square-kilometre area of the Botum Sakor national park in Cambodia was once pristine jungle.

Now it's making way for a city-sized casino resort being built by Chinese firm Tianjin Union Development Group.

But villagers say they've been forced from their homes.

SOUNDBITE: Tith Ten, villager from Thmar Sar district, saying (Khmer):

"The Chinese company is threatening our villagers who refused to leave their homes in the area. In the past we haven't had such threats. Now we are living in fear. We ask the government of Cambodia to help resolve the problems in our village. Please give us justice. Without justice we have nowhere to go, we might as well die."

This man was paid 400 U.S. dollars for his fishing village home.

He and his family now live in an area set aside for relocation but he says it's impossible to make a living.

SOUNDBITE: Moeung Sam Oeun, displaced villager, saying (Khmer):

"The forest behind my house here belongs to the Chinese company. If we even dare to cut a piece of a tree we can be jailed or made to pay compensation of about 100 dollars per tree, according to the local authorities. So people here dare not cut anything from these trees. They'll even throw away their knives and run off when they see security guards."

Cambodia's government has stepped up sales of protected land to private companies.

Criticism from foreign conservation groups is muted because they fear being kicked out.

Chut Wutty of the National Resource Protection Group says the buyers are forcing people from their homes.

SOUNDBITE: Chut Wutty, director of National Resource Protection Group saying (English):

"They use arms and they kick the people out with no respect to the local people."

Last year Cambodia's government sold off more than 7, 600 square kilometres, most of it in national parks and wildlife havens.

Companies from many countries are exploiting the sell-off... but the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights says the most lucrative projects are dominated by the Chinese.

Paul Chapman, Reuters