Cambodia's islands up for grabs [-A country for sale ... down to the last island, if it is not given to Vietnam yet]

A view from the pristine beaches on Koh Rong island, off Sihanoukville. The island is one of 28 in Cambodia earmarked for development. Photograph: Will Baxter/Phnom Penh Post

Friday, 17 August 2012
May Titthara and David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

Some of the most audacious Cambodian island developments have been connected to shady individuals, including convicted pedophile Alexander Trofimov, who allegedly drove to his resort on Koh Pos from prison regularly before he was pardoned by the king last year.

Adhoc’s list of soon-to-be concessionaires includes a veritable who’s who of controversial development including LYP Group (Koh Kong Knong), TTY Corporation Co, Ltd (Koh Koan) and Try Pheap Company (Koh Tonsay), all firms that have been involved in major land disputes.

More than 180,000 hectares on 28 of Cambodia’s 64 islands were reclassified as state private property for 31 companies seeking land concessions between 2008 and 2010, government sub-decrees reveal.

The reclassification sub-decrees, compiled by investigators at the rights group Adhoc, pave the way for firms to secure 99-year leases to develop hotels, resorts and casinos, mostly on islands dotted across the coasts of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong province.

They include already popular destinations off Preah Sihanouk and Kep province such as Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island), Koh Russey (Bamboo Island), Koh Rong, Koh Rong Somleom and Koh Takhieo, as well as far more obscure enclaves.

Experts in the investment and conservation communities have told the Post that on top of these land reclassifications, many of which have since gained final approval, plots have been earmarked for development by private firms on almost every single island in the Kingdom.

Try Pheap - the forest criminal in Cambodia, especially in the Cardamom Mountains

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaIwPFQKkVs

Try Pheap (left)

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អ្នក​ឃ្លាំមើល​និយាយ​អំពី​ឧក្រិដ្ឋកម្ម​ព្រៃ​ឈើ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា - Forest crimes in Cambodia: Observers

Try Pheap (L) sitting behind Mok Mareth (frist row) (Photo: CEN)

Aerial photos showing forest destruction in Cambodia  - រូប​ថត​ពី​លើ​អាកាស​នៃ​ទិដ្ឋភាព​ព្រៃ​ឈើ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​ដែល​រង​ការកាប់​បំផ្លាញ។ (Photo courtesy of Global Witness)

12 Nov 2011
Taing Sarada
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Oss Dey Oss Prey

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Forest conservation groups in Cambodia indicated that precious woods in the central Cardamom region (Phnom Krovanh) of the Boeung Per wildlife refuge and in the Virakchey natural park have been logged and the woods are taken out for sale to Vietnam in large quantity.

The groups pointed out tycoon Try Pheap as being the culprit crook involved in the deforestation. Try Pheap is known as a close supporter of the ruling CPP party and he is also closely linked to the RCAF – Cambodia’s armed forces. Try Pheap is the man behind an unnamed Vietnamese company involved in the deforestation under the guise of economic concession or development planning.

Chhuth Vuthy, chairman of the Cambodian-based natural resources protection organization, said that tycoon Try Pheap received several thousands of hectares in land concession in the central Cardamom mountain, between Pursat and Koh Kong provinces, under the guise of electricity development. But, in reality, it is just a front end to hide illegal logging of Cambodian previous woods by Vietnamese companies who are protected by Try Pheap.

Viet Nam, Cambodia sign mineral exploration deal

03-07-2007
VNS (Hanoi)

HA NOI — Vietnamese and Cambodian companies have inked a deal to explore mining possibilities in Cambodia over the next few years.

Viet Nam’s Coal and Mineral Industries Group and Cambodia’s Try Pheap Mining and Mom Good Luck Mining signed the deal yesterday.

As per the contract, the three firms will conduct two years of research in Stung Streng Province’s Thalabori Vat District and Anlong Chey and Anlong Phe regions. They will use the results as the basis for mining exploration in the region.