Chinese and Vietnamese companies are turning Cambodia’s Ta Kream Mountain into gravel, ruining its natural beauty, causing health problems for nearby villagers, permanently changing the way they live, the villagers told RFA.
Environmental activists and villagers told RFA that the mountain, in the northwestern province of Battambang’s Banna district, is being systematically converted to gravel for a construction boom in the capital Phnom Penh and within the province.
Banna district was once home to 31 historic mountains that housed ancient temples and popular tourist attractions. A few of the mountains were destroyed by development in 2013.
Now Ta Kream and several other nearby mountains are at risk of falling to the same fate.
Residents of Ta Kream village said they have petitioned local authorities to stop the companies from destroying their mountain to preserve it for future generations, and to avoid health complications resulting from the operation, as several of them have developed respiratory problems as the gravel factories emit large amounts of dust.
“I am so sad because we could be having wild vegetables and mushrooms but now the forest-covered mountains have become deserts,” a villager, who declined to be named for security reasons told RFA’s Khmer Service.
He said the mountains used to be places for people to make a living, and the gravel operations are destroying wildlife habitats, as well as the identity of the villagers.
In December, a group of villagers protested and blocked a road to prevent the companies from accessing the mountain.
They also urged authorities to stop the gravel operations, but the local authorities refused to take action, charging some of the protesters with incitement, he said.
The inaction by authorities will speed up the destruction of the mountain, he said.
Other villagers told RFA that the four gravel companies, Heng Chat Construction, Nim Meng Group, and the Tang Thailong and Thy Long companies are likely operating without licenses, because the local authorities tried to hide information and ignored their health concerns.
Gravel companies have been exploiting Cambodia’s mountains for two decades with little transparency, Phoung Keo Raksmey, an environmentalist, told RFA.
“The government should have been responsible back then,” she said, adding that it is the government’s duty to protect historic mountains.
“I have observed that the central and local government have supported these kinds of businesses. I hope they will wake up and protect our natural resources,” she said.
RFA was unable to reach Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Peaktra for comment.
The government should take tougher measures to protect natural resources, and resolve the villagers’ concerns, Heng Kimhong, head of the research and advocacy program of the Cambodian Youth Network, told RFA.
“How much revenue from the mountain’s exploitation goes to the government and the local community?” he said.
“There should be transparency before these people’s lives are impacted,” he said, adding that the people are saddened when the mountains they are attached to are being destroyed.
Soeum Bunrith, a spokesman for the province, told RFA that the gravel companies were all licensed and had performed environmental impact studies.
The companies have also constructed many local buildings and a highway to Phnom Penh, the spokesman said.
He however acknowledged that the companies have negatively impacted the environment and the livelihood of the people and promised that the authorities would not ignore these issues.
“We have studied the villagers’ complaints and educated the investors,” he said.
“Any development will impact local communities, so the companies must find ways to protect the environment and the people’s livelihood if they want to sustain their businesses,” said Soeum Bunrith.
But the government may be to blame.
Cambodia’s natural resources are being destroyed due to government negligence and corruption, Soeung Seng Karuna, spokesman for the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), told RFA.
“I urge the authorities to reconsider this case because the issues impact villagers. Authorities should protect natural resources and our forests,” he said.
Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.