contents

home

cover

1. recommendations

2. introduction

3. the case for positive conditionality & international responsibility

4. the forest policy reform project & the steering committee

5. transparency

6. forest yield & revenue potential

7. concession activity and review

8. dfw–enforcement & jurisdiction

9. situation update–general

special military region

military region 1

military region 2

military region 3

military region 4

military region 5

10. the role of cambodia’s neighbours & other importing countries

thailand

laos

vietnam

japan

11. opportunities

the forest stewardship council (fsc)

protected areas and world heritage status

12. conclusion

 

Military Region 4



Preah Vihear, Siem Reap & Kompong Thom



Key Players: General Keo Thy; General Oy Sok Pheap; Mr San (high MR4 official in Sandan District; Chea Sothea; Guon Gil; Mr Khem; Kun Kim; Mr Chay–high ranking Military official in Prasat Sambo; Ing Ky; Mr Met; Sia Seun; Tan Panny; Mr Un Von (policeman); Mr Lok Lon; Mr Sue (his brother); Mr Anky; Mr Chun; Mr You; Mr Kok Sok; Mr Chhout (local businessmen); ex- KR Units.



From September to December 1998, large quantities of logs were transported down Rte 12 and through Kompong Thom town. These came from a new cutting area inside the Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary and were transported to 5 main destinations:

  1. In September 1998, the Lang Song Company factory on Rte 12 was receiving approximately 100m3 per day. In January 1999, Lang Song continued to receive logs from both their concession area to the north of the sanctuary and from the sanctuary itself. Also in January 1999, the DFW confiscated 24 truck loads of logs situated on Rte 12 which had come from the sanctuary. Many of these logs were marked for the Lang Song factory. Given the close proximity of Lang Song’s harvesting to the north of the sanctuary and the company’s bad record in adhering to Cambodian regulations, the DFW should be concerned that the company may be cutting within the sanctuary itself, via access roads which are only just to the north of the park boundary.

  2. From September to December 1998, Logs were transported to Kingwood’s Prek Anchagn sawmill.

  3. In September 1998, approximately 20-30 log trucks per day transported logs across the Tonle Sap river via the Prek Kdam ferry crossing, and deposited the logs at the Colexim factory to the north of Phnom Penh on Rte 5. A high percentage of these logs were then transferred onto new trucks inside the Colexim factory compound and transported via a side road (11°39’04"N, 104°52’10"E). The logs were then taken with military facilitation along dirt tracks, re-emerging on Rte 4, just beyond Ponchentong airport, having avoided observation in Phnom Penh. It is likely that they were destined for the sawmill described under Special Military Region.

  4. Between mid September and 15th October 1998, approximately 10,000m3 of logs were transported on 24 boats to the Casotim factory near to Neak Loeurng.

  5. In September 1998, local businessman Mr Kok Lon transported approximately 500m3 of logs per day from the sanctuary and stockpiled them on Kompong Thom airfield. In January 1999, a much-reduced flow of logs continued to be delivered to the airfield. No attempt had been made to confiscate these logs, or to prosecute Mr Kok Lon.



Logs being loaded onto Lang Song's trucks, just north of Bang Per Wildlife Sanctuary, January 1999.



Sandan District has been a major source of illegal logs in recent years, with transport only possible during the rainy season along the Stung Sen river. Cutting activity was much reduced over 1997, due to log supply exhaustion, which resulted in an assault on the eastern edge of the Beng Per Wildlife sanctuary. Approximately 10,000m3 of logs, owned by the high ranking MR4 official Mr San, were transported to the Balang stockpile, which is also used by Mieng Ly Heng, Colexim and GAT. Also operating at this site is Kun Kim and Chea Sothea and a sawmill belonging to the Hong Kong based Hong Phat Company.
In May 1998 the co-Prime Ministers approved Document No 987/97 which allocated a 2,400 Ha concession within Phnom Kulen National Park to Division 11 of MR4.
Phnom Kulen National Park had already been subject to excessive logging by both the KR from the north and in the past year by Division 11. The extent of damage is now so great that officials consider the park to have lost all commercially viable species and to have been damaged extensively. Despite Ministry of Environment attempts to close down the Division 11 operation inside the park, the unit commanded by Oy Sok Pheap continues to operate one sawmill which collected logs from both the park and surrounding concession areas. Oy Sok Pheap received direct authorisation from General Keo Thy at the general staff office of MR 4.
The entire valley to the south of the tourist entrance to Phnom Kulen park has also been clear-cut during the past 6-7 months by soldiers from Division 11 and local businessmen, with extensive damage to the base of the park escarpment. The ex-KR continue to claim the area from the top to the foot of the mountain. They also claim all areas which they have occupied in recent years, and continue to exploit the forest.
Just prior to the defection of the KR in the Anlong Veng area, Hun Sen provided them with a two-year tax exemption for logging. Despite the 6th January 1999 order to clamp down on logging activity, both the ex-KR and Division 11 continue to operate with no regard to the concessionaires. Both groups also log in an area called Prey S’Aak, famous as a site of natural beauty; its dense forests being a major source of high value timber. Both the Samrong Wood Company and the Mekong Company have suffered almost complete loss of concession viability due to the continued illegal logging operations of these groups. Samrong are keen to convert their concession area into a palm oil plantation but claim to have insufficient funds to do so.
The ex-KR currently operate a mobile sawmill (13°47’96"N, 104°02’00"E), which takes logs from the surrounding vicinity, possibly including the Kulen Promtep National Park. The ex-KR owner of this sawmill complained vigorously about the Malaysian company further along Rte 67 which he claimed had been allocated all this land as a concession.

Special Military Region



Military Region 1



Military Region 2



Military Region 3



Military Region 5



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