Report

1-      Executive summary

This report presents the finding of investigation and research of Cambodia Human Rights Task Forces (CHRTF) on the allegation of illegal logging by Try Pheap’s company in Cambodia. The report aims at revealing facts and evidences around illegal logging, management and use of natural resources, analyzing on legal frameworks related to illegal granting of concession license to this company, and examining on gap of government in monitoring and following up on the destruction of forest committed by this company after the economic land concession’s license was given by government. This report solely focuses on Try Pheap’s company with the aim of informing the government, and urging for cancelation the rights of concession from this company. Secondly, to redistribute those economic concession land the landless people as to advancing the land social concession policy, and to demand to the government of Cambodia to fulfill its obligation in taking a strong legal measure against deforestation act committed by Try Pheap’s Group in ten provinces: Koh Kong, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Ratanakiry, Mondulkiry, Pursat, Kg.Thom, Siem Reap, Udarmeanchey and Kampong Speu.

The report unfolds some data information related to illegal logging to the public to be aware of, the loss of the forest and also to answer the following questions:  who is involved? Where the revenue of the deforestation goes?  Whether or not deforestation has contributed to improvement of people’s living standard in the mentioned ten provinces?  Moreover, it will review how much Try Pheap’s deforestation project has contributed to natural disaster: flood, drought and loss of bio-diversity and human lives including private properties. In addition, it attempts to show how the impact of illegal logging critically contributes to climate change and natural disasters that cause the death of human lives and animals. According to the investigation and research conducted by CHRTF, Try Pheap Group’s main business is logging and exporting luxurious timbers namely rosewood (Kranhoung), Beng, Kokoh, Neangnuon, Thnung, Koki and other lucrative wood from Cambodia to abroad through Vietnam border. The group uses agro-industrial plantation: peppers and rubber plantation as a cover of timber business which does not generate much income to support its business activities.

The main objective of Try Pheap Group is to take advantage of economic land concession status granted by the government through logging activities rather than turning the economic land concession into agro-industrial planation as required by concessionary agreement. The Group had improved nothing for people’s living conditions in the area where the special economic zone is established.  According to villagers, people’s living conditions were much better while forest and land were still belonging to them. An anonymous source reveals that “before my land was grabbed, I could earn around 10,000USD per year from my cassava plantation, but now I only rely on my son who makes 200$ per month from working for this company. My family’s living condition is worse than before”, she added. CHRTF also established that this company violates land law, directive of government, guideline on fair and just investment, green growth policy, including other human rights violation. Finally, report calls upon government of Cambodia to stop all illegal logging activities of Try Pheap Group by taking strong legal action against this company.