State-owned Viet company to grow 70,000 hectares of rubber trees in Cambodia and Laos

State rubber group to divest from non-core sectors

Mon, April 9, 2012
Tuoi Tre

The Vietnam Rubber Group will divest 100 percent of its stakes in companies operating in its non-core sectors, the company CEO-cum-chairman said on Sunday.

VRG will only focus on three main sectors -- planting and exploiting rubber, the rubber industry, and wood processing, said chairman Tran Ngoc Thuan, citing the institution’s newly-developed restructuring plan.

VRG will divest from 40 businesses in the finance, securities, and banking sectors between 2012 and 2013, added Thuan.

“Total divestment is expected to reach VND1.4 trillion by 2015, and an additional VND1.7 trillion in the 2016 – 2020 period,” he said.

“Non-core investment is set to account for only 2 percent of VRG’s equity.”

As of the end of last year, VRG’s rubber planting area amounted to 330,000 hectares, with latex exploitation production of around 279,000 tons.

The state-run group is implementing 25 projects to grow 70,000 hectares of rubber in Laos and Cambodia, added Thuan.

ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋស្រុកស្នួ​ល ខេត្តក្រចេះ ប្រមាណជា ៤០០ គ្រួសារ បានបិទផ្លូ​វសាជាថ្មី ដើម្បីអោយរ​ដ្ឋាភិបាលដោះ​ស្រាយដីធ្លី​ជូនពួកគាត់ - Kratie road closed in land dispute

ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋប្រមាណជា ៤០០​គ្រួសារ ក្នុងចំនោម ៥០០ គ្រួសារ នៅក្នុងស្រុកស្នួលខេត្ត​ក្រចេះ បានការ បិទ ផ្លូវជាតិ លេខ ៧៦ A នៅចំនុច​១០៤ ឃុំ២ធ្នូ កាលពី​វេលាម៉ោង ១២ថៃ្ងត្រង់ ថៃ្ងទី ៣១​ ខែ មិនា​ ឆ្នាំ ២០១២​ ។

គោលបំណង​នៃការបិទ គឺទាមទារអោយរដ្ឋាភិបាល ដោះស្រាយដីធ្លី ជូនពួកគាត់ ពីបញ្ហាក្រុមហ៊ុន សម្បទាន ដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ច ចំនួន​៤ ក្នុង​នោះមាន​ ក្រុមហ៊ុនចំការកៅស៊ូមេមត់ ក្រុមហ៊ុនសុវណ្ណរិទ្ឋី ក្រុមហ៊ុនសំណាងអង្គរ និង​ក្រុមហ៊ុនដែនណាម​ ។

កាលពីឆ្នាំ​២០០៨ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋបានរួមគា្នធើ្វលិខិតស្នើសុំដីទាំងនោះ រហូតសម្តេចនាយកមន្រ្តីហ៊ុន សែន បាន​ចារលិខិតចំនួន ៦ដង​ ក្នុងគោលនយោបាយ​ដោះសា្រយ​ដីធ្លីជូនប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ទាំង៥០០គ្រួសារក្នុងតំបន់នេះ ប៉ុន្តែ​រហូត​ដល់ពេលនេះមិនមាន​ដំណោះ​ស្រាយ​ជាក់លាក់ណាមួយក្នុង​ការដក​ហូតដី​ទាំង​នោះប្រគល់​ជូន​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ឡើយព្រម​ទាំងមានលិខិតចេញដោយឯកឧត្តម ម៉ុក ណារ៉េត រដ្ឋមន្រ្តីក្រសួងបរិសា្ថន ថាប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ យល់ព្រមប្រគល់ ដីអោយ ក្រុមហ៊ុន ។

បើតាមការអះអាងរបស់តំណាងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋបានអោយដឹងថា​ ពួកគាត់ធា្លប់បានបិទផ្លូវជាច្រើនលើកហើយពេល​នេះពួក​នឹងបន្តកា​រ​បិត​ផ្លូវ រហូតមាន​ដំណោះសា្រយពីរដ្ឋាភិបាល

ពត៌មានលំអិតសូមទំនាក់ទំនង:

លោក ឈឹម សាវុធ អ្នកសំរួបសំរួលគំរោងវេទិការសាធារណ:និង​បណ្តុះបណា្តល នៃមជ្ឃមណ្ឌលសិទ្ឋិមនុស្ស កម្ពុជា លេខទូរសព្ទ(៨៥៥)​១២៨៩ ៩៨​ ៥៨ /៨៨ ៩៩ ៦៩ ២៤១​

អ្នកស្រី ហេង អូន តំណាងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ លេខ​ទូរសព្ទ័​ (៨៥៥)​៩៧ ៣៥ ៨៤ ៣១៤

Cheth Tan
Project Assistant
Community Training and Public forum
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights
#798, St 99, Sangkat Boeng Trabek,
Khan Chamkar Morn, Phnom Penh, Kigdom of Cambodia.
Mobile : (855-12) 80 62 95
Tel : (855-23) 72 69 01
Fax : (855-23) 72 69 02
E-mail : chethtorn@cchrcambodia.org

Activists arm with fire, photos

A group of villagers who are patrolling for illegal loggers in the Prey Lang forest rest in hammocks yesterday afternoon. Photo by May Titthara

Villagers from four provinces, who have been patrolling Prey Lang forest for illegal loggers since the weekend, rest in hammocks yesterday after taking a lunch break. A group of villagers has burned a cache of logs they suspected had been cut illegally. Photo by May Titthara

Wednesday, 28 March 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Kampong Thom province - Villagers patrolling Prey Lang forest on motorbikes yesterday defended their decision to burn more than 360 cubic metres of timber, tear down 10 huts used by “illegal loggers” and confiscate a chainsaw, a villager representative said.

As 500 villagers continued their patrols for illegal loggers, Hoeun Sopheap, a villager representative from Kampong Thom, said the villagers had filmed and photographed the burnings to show the authorities the extent of Prey Lang’s destruction.

“The reason we burned this wood was because we have no ability to take it to show the authorities, so we have had to burn it down and take photos,” he said. “If we don’t burn it, illegal loggers will come back and get it.”

Since the weekend, his group had burned 364 cubic metres of timber, he said.

Prayers to forest spirit as villagers fear future

Wednesday, 08 February 2012
Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

More than 100 villagers who gathered to pray in Prey Lang forest yesterday will lose their lives if they lose their forest to development or illegal logging, a Prey Lang Network representative has said.

The ethnic Kuoy villagers and members of the network united to invoke the spirit of Prey Lang in a bid to have it watch over the forest and deter illegal loggers.

Yem Sokhoy, a member of the Prey Lang Network and a representative of ethnic villagers from Stung Treng province, said villagers also voiced concerns over the Ministry of Agriculture’s drafting of a sub-decree pertaining to the forest, which they say they weren’t given the opportunity to contribute to.

“The sub-decree does not write that people have the right to protect the forest,” Yem Sokhoy said.

“If there is crime, people can report quickly to the local authority because they live directly in the forest,” he said, adding that villagers feared eviction after the adoption of the sub-decree.

Deforestation of Prey Lang

17 January 2012
Radio Free Asia

Prey Lang is a very valuable natural resource for Cambodians, however it suffers intense destruction and the authority is not doing anything against this deforestation even though, at the beginning of November 2011, numerous activists held a protest on this issue.

Prey Lang, which is filled with rare and almost extinct animals is a natural refuge for wildlife and it also provides livelihood for hundreds of thousands of Cambodians, is under imminent danger due to deforestation conducted by local companies and a mysterious Vietnamese company. The following were taken on 14 January 2012 by the Natural Resource Defense organization.

-------
ព្រៃ​ឡង់​ដែល​ជា​សម្បត្តិ​ធម្មជាតិ មិន​អាច​កាត់​ថ្លៃ​បាន​របស់​ប្រជាជាតិ​ខ្មែរ កំពុង​បន្ត​រង​ការ​កាប់​បំផ្លាញ​យ៉ាង​ខ្លាំងក្លា និង​គ្មាន​ការ​ទប់​ស្កាត់​ពី​អាជ្ញាធរ​មាន​សមត្ថកិច្ច បើ​ទោះ​ជា​មាន​យុទ្ធនាការ​តវ៉ា​យ៉ាង​សកម្ម​ពី​ប្រជា​សហគមន៍​ជា​ច្រើន​រយ​នាក់ កាល​ពី​ដើម​ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ​២០១១ ក៏ដោយ។

ព្រៃ​ឡង់​ដែល​សំបូរ​ទៅ​ដោយ​សត្វ​កម្រ និង​ជិត​ផុត​ពូជ និង​ជា​ជម្រក​របស់​ជីវចម្រុះ ព្រម​ទាំង​ផ្ដល់​អនុផល​សំរាប់​ទ្រទ្រង់​ជីវិត​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​រាប់​សែន​នាក់​នោះ កំពុង​រង​គ្រោះ​យ៉ាង​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ ដោយ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​កាប់​ឈើ​ក្នុង​ស្រុក និង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​វៀតណាម ដ៏​អាទិ​កំបាំង​មួយ។
ព្រៃ​ឡង់​ដែល​ជា​សម្បត្តិ​ធម្មជាតិ មិន​អាច​កាត់​ថ្លៃ​បាន​របស់​ប្រជាជាតិ​ខ្មែរ កំពុង​បន្ត​រង​ការ​កាប់​បំផ្លាញ​យ៉ាង​ខ្លាំងក្លា និង​គ្មាន​ការ​ទប់​ស្កាត់​ពី​អាជ្ញាធរ​មាន​សមត្ថកិច្ច បើ​ទោះ​ជា​មាន​យុទ្ធនាការ​តវ៉ា​យ៉ាង​សកម្ម​ពី​ប្រជា​សហគមន៍​ជា​ច្រើន​រយ​នាក់ កាល​ពី​ដើម​ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ​២០១១ ក៏ដោយ។

ព្រៃ​ឡង់​ដែល​សំបូរ​ទៅ​ដោយ​សត្វ​កម្រ និង​ជិត​ផុត​ពូជ និង​ជា​ជម្រក​របស់​ជីវចម្រុះ ព្រម​ទាំង​ផ្ដល់​អនុផល​សំរាប់​ទ្រទ្រង់​ជីវិត​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​រាប់​សែន​នាក់​នោះ កំពុង​រង​គ្រោះ​យ៉ាង​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ ដោយ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​កាប់​ឈើ​ក្នុង​ស្រុក និង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​វៀតណាម ដ៏​អាទិ​កំបាំង​មួយ។

រូប​ឈើ​ដែល​ត្រូវ​គេ​កាប់​នៅ​ក្នុង​តំបន់​ព្រៃ​ឡង់ នា​ខេត្ត​កំពង់ធំ ផ្ដល់​មក​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី ដោយ អង្គការ​ការពារ​ធនធាន​ធម្មជាតិ។ រូបថត​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១៤ ខែ​មករា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២។

15 rubber concessions granted by Hun Xen to some of his Viet bosses

Vietnam Rubber Group has 24 projects in Cambodia, Laos

Sunday, Jan 08, 2012
Saigon Giai Phong (Vietcong Commie party)

The Vietnam Rubber Group has currently 24 ongoing projects to grow rubber trees outside of the country, 15 of which are in Cambodia and 9 in Laos.

This was revealed at a year-end summarization meeting on January 7, which also stated the total investment of all 24 projects to be nearly VND20 trillion.

The Vietnam Rubber Group is cultivating over 70,000 hectares and in the past year, the group collected nearly 270,000 tons of rubber latex, achieving an average yield of 1,635 tons per hectare.

The group’s revenue has reached more than VND33.49 trillion. It contributed nearly VND3.6 trillion to the national budget. The average salary of an employee of the group is VND8 million per person per month.

Activists pressured on return

Villagers are confronted by police during a protest at the CRCK rubber company in Prey Lang forest, in Kampong Thom, last week. (Photo by: May Titthara)

Monday, 14 November 2011
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

After spending the past week roaming Prey Lang forest in search of illegal logging activity, villagers from Kampong Thom’s Sandan district had a disconcerting homecoming Saturday, as local authorities awaited them with requests for thumbprints and background information, villagers told the Post yesterday.

The villagers were among a group of 300 from provinces overlapped by the endangered forest who had walked from their homes in a protest that culminated with a confrontation at rubber company CRCK on Thursday.

Sim Sean, a representative of Sandan district who took part in the protest, said that when villagers arrived home, they were confronted by police, military police, the district governor and commune chief, who demanded they write down background information about themselves.

សកម្មជន​ការពារ​ព្រៃឡង់​ឡោមព័ទ្ធ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​កៅស៊ូ​វៀតណាម - Prey Lang activists surround the Viet rubber company

១០-វិច្ឆិកា-២០១១៖ ក្បួន​របស់​សកម្មជន​ការពារ​ព្រៃឡង់ ដង្ហែ​ឆ្ពោះ​ទៅ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​វៀតណាម CRCK នៅ​ព្រៃឡង់ នា​ខេត្ត​កំពង់ធំ។ 10 Nov 2011 - Prey Lang activists march toward the Viet CRCK rubber company located in Prey Lang forest in Kampong Thom province (RFA/Uon Chhin)

មន្ត្រី​មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល​​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​កម្ពុជា ដែល​បាន​តាម​ឃ្លាំមើល​ការ​ដើរ​ល្បាត​របស់​សកម្មជន​ការពារ​ព្រៃឡង់​ប្រមាណ ៣០០​នាក់ បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា នៅ​ល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃ​១១ ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា សកម្មជន​ការពារ​ព្រៃឡង់ បាន​ចូល​ទៅ​ដល់​ទីតាំង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​កៅស៊ូ​វៀតណាម CRCK ហើយ​បាន​ប៉ះ​ទង្គិច​ជាមួយ​ក្រុម​សមត្ថកិច្ច​ការពារ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន។

Synopsis: Officials from the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) who are following on the patrol conducted by about 300 Prey Lang Activists, indicated on 11 Nov. 2011 that the activists have reached the location of the Viet CRCK rubber plantation and a clash took place with the Xmer cops who are protecting this Viet company against Khmer activist. The activists are attempting to prevent the destruction and the deforestation of Prey Lang forest.

2011-11-12
ដោយ អ៊ួន ឈិន
Radio Free Asia

ការ​ប៉ះ​ទង្គិច​មួយ​បាន​កើត​ឡើង​រវាង​ប្រជា​សហគមន៍​ព្រៃឡង់ និង​កង​កម្លាំង​ប្រដាប់​អាវុធ មាន​នគរបាល និង​កង​រាជ​អាវុធហត្ថ​នៅ​ចំណុច​ភូមិ​ជាំប្រអប់ ឃុំ​សណ្ដាន់ ស្រុក​សណ្ដាន់ ខេត្ត​កំពង់ធំ កាល​ពី​រសៀល​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១១ ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ​២០១១។

តំណាង​ប្រជា​សហគមន៍​ព្រៃឡង់​ដែល​ជា​ជនជាតិ​ដើម​ភាគ​តិច​ព្នង មក​ពី​ខេត្ត​ស្ទឹងត្រែង លោក យ៉ែម សុខខូយ បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា នៅ​រសៀល​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១១ ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា ប្រជា​សហគមន៍​ព្រៃឡង់​ចំនួន​ប្រមាណ​ជាង ៣០០​នាក់ ដែល​កំពុង​ស្ថិត​ក្នុង​យុទ្ធនាការ​ទប់ស្កាត់ និង​បង្ក្រាប​បទល្មើស​ព្រៃឈើ​នៅ​តំបន់​ព្រៃឡង់ បាន​ដុត​ឈើ​នៅ​ទី​តាំង​អាជីវកម្ម​ឈើ​ខុស​ច្បាប់​មួយ​កន្លែង​នៅ​ភូមិ​ជាំប្រអប់ បន្ទាប់​មក​កង​កម្លាំង​ប្រដាប់​អាវុធ​ស្រុក​សណ្ដាន់​ប្រមាណ ១០០​នាក់ បាន​ឡោមព័ទ្ធ​ចាប់​លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី ដែល​ជា​នាយក​នៃ​អង្គការ​ការពារ​ធនធាន​ធម្មជាតិ ដោយ​ចោទ​លោក​ថា ជា​អ្នក​ញុះញង់​ប្រជា​សហគមន៍។

នាយក​អង្គការ​ការពារ​ធនធាន​ធម្មជាតិ លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី ថ្លែង​ថា ទង្វើ​របស់​កង​កម្លាំង​ប្រដាប់​អាវុធ​ចំពោះ​រូប​លោក និង​ប្រជា​សហគមន៍ បាន​បង្ហាញ​យ៉ាង​ច្បាស់​ថា អាជ្ញាធរ​ខេត្ត​កំពង់ធំ នៅ​ពី​ក្រោយ​បទល្មើស​ព្រៃ​ឈើ​នៅ​តំបន់​នោះ។

Cambodia wilderness under the chainsaw

Environmental activists call on the government of Cambodia to conserve Prey Lang forest [EPA]

Thu, 2011-11-10
By Stephanie Scawen in Asia
Al Jazeera

"Tell me how can we fix Khmer culture," my driver asked me, as we sat outside the CRCK rubber concession in Prey Lang forest.

"Education, education, education," I replied. "So that people know corruption is wrong and can be stopped."

"Yes, but our leaders, they are rich and they were educated overseas. They have education, but it seems to make no difference," he retorted. "What can we do?"

It's heartbreaking to see the rapid destruction of the last and largest primary forest of its kind left on the Indochina peninsula.

Prey Lang activists, police face off - សមត្ថកិច្ច​ប្រើកម្លាំង​៥០០នាក់​ដើម្បី​ទប់​ការតវ៉ា​ពី​សកម្មជន​ព្រៃឡង់

Police confront villagers at the CRCK rubber firm in Prey Lang forest, in Kampong Thom, yesterday. កំពង់ធំៈ កម្លាំងសមត្ថកិច្ច​ប្រមាណ​៥០០នាក់​ត្រូវបាន​ពង្រាយ​ ខណៈ​អ្នកភូមិ​ប្រមាណ​៣០០​នាក់ មកពីខេត្ត​នៅជុំវិញ​ព្រៃឡង់ ​គ្រោង​ធ្វើការតវ៉ា​នៅ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ចំការកៅស៊ូ CRCK ។

Friday, 11 November 2011
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

“I think the reason that they did not allow villagers to go inside the company is because authorities have some [financial] interest in the company,” Chhim Savuth said.

ប៉ូលិសស្មែរការពារក្រុមហ៊ុនយៀកកុង! 

អស្ចារ្យ រ៉ុយ​ៗ!

Kampong Thom province - The long journey of 300 villager-activists intent on exposing illegal logging in the endangered Prey Lang forest ended on the doorstep of rubber firm CRCK yesterday.

About 5pm, the villagers, some of whom had been walking for more than a week, emerged from the forest, broke down CRCK barricades and entered the grounds of the rubber firm – although police stopped them short of entering, and inspecting, the company’s sawmill.

Thirty-five-year-old Sen Sothea, of Stung Treng province, said that after numerous encounters with illegal loggers during their journey, he and the other villagers had no intention of leaving without achieving that particular goal.

“We have to go inside the company land and see the saw- mill, because they say they have never cut the trees,” he said.

“If they do nothing illegal, please let us go inside.”

Showdown looms in Prey Lang [-The cops are defending the Viet company!]

An armed police officer guards the premises of the CRCK rubber company in the Prey Lang forest, in Kampong Thom province, yesterday. (Photo by: May Titthara)

THURSDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2011
MAY TITTHARA
The Phnom Penh Post

He said police would not allow villagers to set foot inside CRCK’s grounds because it had a legal concession from the government.

CRCK Rubber Development Co, owned by Nguyen Duy Linh of Vietnam, received its 6,155-hectare rubber concession in Kampong Thom on May 5 last year.

About 300 villagers from provin-ces bordering the endangered Prey Lang forest are planning to protest at the rubber firm CRCK today.

Between them and the company lie 500 police and military police officers. One side has guns.

Sim Sean, a representative of Kampong Thom’s Sandan district who has come to the forest to participate in the villagers’ ongoing patrols against illegal loggers, said that even though many of the villagers had become weak – with some developing fevers and wounds on their legs – they remained undaunted in their trek to CRCK, which they should reach at noon today.

“Even though we have had to struggle a lot, we still come to protest,” he said. “We are not afraid of authorities that threaten us; we just want to protect the natural resources.”

Kratie villagers shut down National Road 7 to protest land dispute

Residents from 6 villages shut down National Road 7 to traffic to protest company land-grab in Svay Cheah commune, Snuol district, Kratie province on 17 September 2011 (Photo: Keo Nimorl, RFA)

17 September 2011
By Keo Nimorl
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Oss Dey

About 500 residents from 6 villages in 2 communes of Snuol district, Kratie province, shut down National Road No. 7 (NR7), stopping all traffic. The villagers shut down the road to protest against an investment company which grabbed their lands and cleared out all their crops.

A large number of vehicles traveling along NR7 from Phnom Penh to Kratie came to a stop in front of the Svay Chreah commune office for 4 hours on 17 September.

The villagers said that they shut down the road so that the provincial authority and the various government departments hear and help them in their demand to the agro-business investment company in Svay Chreah commune to exclude 5,600 hectares of land belonging to the villagers from the 26,000-hectare of land belonging to the company.

The [Viet] companies that are involved in the dispute with the villagers are the Dau Tien Rubber and the Dau Tien Kratie companies. Villagers from the 6 villages involved come from 5 villages in Svay Chreah commune – Rompuk, Daun Mea, Ta Som, Sre Cha and Ta Pum villages – and from Choeung village in Khsim commune.

Vietnam Rubber Group helps Cambodian workers ... by ROBBING their jobs and their lands

Is this a pagoda model suggested by VRG?

CPP Comrade Nguon Nhel

12/07/2011

(VOV) - The Vietnam Rubber Group’s (VRG) investment projects in Cambodia have helped improve living condition for local people, said Nguon Nhel, First Vice-President of the Cambodian National Assembly (NA).

Mr. Nhel said this while receiving VRG General Director Tran Ngoc Thuan on July 12. He emphasized that Cambodia will create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese group to implement its projects in the country in the spirit of friendship and for the benefit of both peoples.

General Director Thuan said VRG will help Cambodia to build two pagodas and asked authorities to decide on their models and locations. [KI-Media Note: Will it be a Vietnamese-style pagoda?]

Hun Xen bends over backward to accomodate Viet rubber company ... even in violation of Cambodia's Constitution

Cambodia and Vietnam cooperate in rubber growing

Friday ,Jun 10,2011
Saigon Giai Phong (Vietcong communist party)

The Cambodian Government will create the best favorable condition for the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) to plant rubber trees in Cambodia, stressed Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhayly.

The Deputy PM, who is also Chairman of the Cambodian Council for Agricultural and Rural Development, made the affirmation at the first day of his working sessions with the Dong Phu Rubber Joint Stock Company and the Phu Rieng Rubber Company on June 9.

He praised the VRG for having planted 60,000 ha of rubber trees in Cambodia.

Mr Nguyen Thanh Hai, General Director of Dong Phu Rubber Joint Stock Company reported to the Deputy PM that Dong Phu Rubber Joint Stock Company ha planted 11,000 ha of rubber in Vietnam, and the rural productivity reaches more than 2.2 ton per ha in 2010, and until now Dong Phu has invested in growing 5,000 ha rubber trees in Cambodia.

MP Son Chhay urges gov't to halt deforestat​ion in Prey Lang

On March 7, 2011: SRP MP Son Chhay asks Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly urge the government to quickly halt of the deforestation in Prey Lang area, owner of Vietnamese Company which name CRCK.

Please see the attachment file of the letter in Khmer.

SRP Cabinet

MP Son Chhay's Letter 07 March 2011

Fresh proof of illegal deforestation in rubber plant concession for Vietnamese company

Source: Anonymous

Please find attached, a picture taken secretely yesterday afternoon from the pick-up truck that accidentally crossed a Vietnamese rubber plantation field in Kratie province. Once the truck crossed the field, all the guys who were loading the logs on big truck throw things on our truck. We can't count how many log have been cut. The logs look very fresh. The following picture may tell you about this deforestation crime.

The photo was taken in Kompong Thom Province, probably Staung district on 12 December 2010. The Vietnamese rubber plantation is situated in Boeng Paer wildlife sanctuary Zone.

Logging in land-concession for Vietnamese rubber plantation in Kratie province

Secret documents for 100K Hectares land concession for Vietnam

KI-Media would like to thank Lok BCD  for sharing these documents

 Click here to download this document (PDF)

Vietnam investment takes off in Cambodia; some wary

Wed Jun 30, 2010
By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Vietnam's biggest commercial bank, Agribank, with assets of $26 billion, opened its first branch in neighbouring Cambodia this week, illustrating the growing economic bonds between the neighbours.

The Cambodian government has consistently promoted ties with Vietnam while relations with Cambodia's other main neighbour, Thailand, have at times over recent years been seriously strained by a decades-old border dispute.

But many Cambodians have traditionally been suspicious of their much bigger neighbour to the east and the booming Vietnamese investment in Cambodia is not without critics, some of whom say Vietnamese companies are taking Cambodians' land.

Le Bien Cuong, a commercial counsellor at the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh, said bilateral trade was up nearly 40 percent this year and could reach $2 billion.

"We will try to have $2 billion trade between the countries by this year," Le told Reuters in a recent interview.

"We try to have partnership with Cambodia to supply goods for the people of Cambodia," he said.

Underscoring good ties with Vietnam, Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni and his father, former king Norodom Sihanouk, who at times over his long career was hostile towards Vietnam, this month paid a visit to Vietnam.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An hailed ties with Cambodia's "great friend" at this week's bank launch, saying Cambodia would always welcome Vietnamese business.

The value of the bilateral trade between the countries rose 38.6 percent to $717.78 million in the first five months of this year, according to figures from the Vietnamese embassy.

ANGER OVER RUBBER

Vietnam's exports to Cambodia increased 37.3 percent to $598 million while Cambodian exports to Vietnam rose 45.2 percent to $119.74 million, according to the figures.

Vietnam's investments in Cambodia are worth $600 million in areas such as electricity, agriculture, telecommunications, banking and health care, according to Le.

He said there was no Cambodian investment in Vietnam.

But it is Vietnamese involvement in Cambodia's rubber sector that is stirring controversy in a country where traditional suspicion of Vietnamese designs on Cambodian territory lingers.

About 11 Vietnamese companies announced this year they had obtained separate land concessions totalling 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) to grow rubber in Cambodia.

But rights groups and villagers have voiced concern about the concessions saying Cambodians were losing their land.

"Now everything is Vietnamese," said 56-year old villager Dorn Sina, from one of the 1,000 families involved in a land dispute with a Vietnamese rubber company since 2005 in Kompong Thom province, 170 km (110 miles) north of the capital, Phnom Penh.

Dorn Sina said she lives on a government relocation site after being evicted to make way for a Vietnamese investor.

"How we suffer when we have to start with empty hands," she said.

Pen Bonnar, coordinator of the Adhoc rights group in Ratanakkiri province, 600 km (400 miles) northeast of Phnom Penh, said villagers there were also in dispute over land for Vietnamese investors' rubber plantations which they believed would bring little benefit in terms of jobs.

Yuon to boost investment in Kingdom's rubber industry ... at the expense of forced Khmer evictions from their land?

The Vietnamese Rubber Enterprise Federation breaks ground Sunday on a new rubber plantation in Cambodia. The group announced it would increase investment by US$200 million through 2012. (Photo by: Chun Sophal)

Vietnam to boost investment in Kingdom's rubber industry

Monday, 21 June 2010
Chun Sophal
The Phnom Penh Post

Vietnamese Rubber Enterprise Federation to increase outlay by $200 million

THE Vietnamese Rubber Enterprise Federation (VREF) announced it would invest an additional US$200 million on planting rubber trees in Cambodia from 2009 to 2012, on top of a previous $600 million commitment, officials said Saturday.

The 14-member federation intends to plant a total of 100,000 hectares of rubber trees in Cambodia, its chief of governing council Le Quang Thung said at the ceremony for rubber plantings by Vietnamese firms Dong Nai and Dong Phou in Sambor district, Kratie province.

“We are happy to increase our capital for growing rubber in Cambodia, because we hope it will help the federation form strong infrastructure for long-term rubber plantations,” he said.

Le Quang Thung said the initial announcement for $600 million might be enough for operating the plantations, but it would not be enough to improve infrastructure in the area.

“We will use the additional amount to build roads, bridges, healthcare centres, schools and houses, so workers can access the areas companies are developing,” he said Saturday.

The VREF announced the initial $600 million investment to grow rubber when it was granted 100,000 hectares of land concessions in Kampong Thomg, Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri, and Mondulkiri provinces in 2009.

Cambodian Rubber General Directorate director general Ly Phalla said the increased investment, now totalling $800 million, was a positive sign for the VREF, as it would help create a strong basis to carry out its future plans, but that cooperation is still to be worked out.

“We are not yet aware of the degree of cooperation required to help the Vietnamese Rubber Enterprise Federation succeed in its plans to grow rubber in Cambodia, as we have not worked together yet.”

The VREF first revealed plans to grow up to 100,000 hectares of rubber in Cambodia by 2012 following an agreement last year between leaders of the two countries.

It said the group’s 14 companies planted rubber on 10,000 hectares as a first step in 2009, adding 20,000 hectares in 2010, 30,000 hectares in 2011, and 40,000 hectares in 2012.

Last year’s VREF planting took place on 10,500 hectares in Kratie, Kampong Thom, and Ratanakiri provinces.
Le Quang Thung added the Federation might expand future plantations in Cambodia pending future discussions.

“We will invest more on growing rubber in Cambodia if the country is able to give more economic land concession,” he said.

Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Im Chhun Lim said the Cambodian government weighed forest loss against economic needs when granting concessions.

Firms investing in the domestic agro-industry created job opportunities, reducing poverty and boosting sources of income for the national economy, he said.

“We welcome the investment from Vietnam because it can help improve Cambodia to be as capable as other countries in the region.”
Low-quality rubber traded for $2,900 per tonne over the weekend, and high-quality rubber sold for approximately $3,800 a tonne.

The Vietnamese Rubber Enterprise Federation plans to be growing rubber on 200,000 hectares in Myanmar by the end of 2010, Le Quang Thung said.

In 2006, the federation also invested capital to grow rubber on a total of 100,000 hectares in Laos.

High temperatures over the year to date may restrict the Vietnamese federation’s planned yield, VREF’s Cambodia president Leng Rithy said.

He added that he expects a 10 percent smaller yield due to changing weather in 2010, and that the federation might be able to grow only 18,000 hectares of rubber this year.

Le Quang Thung did not mention the potential impact of hot weather when speaking Saturday.

Despite growing prices for rubber on international markets, several producers have said that poor weather and rising oil prices are slowing plans to plant the lucrative crop.

100,000-hectare Yuon rubber plantation lanched in Kratie ... with the blessing of CPP Im Chhun Lim

Rubber group launches tree planting project in Cambodia

06/20/2010
VOV News (Hanoi)

Dong Nai and Dong Phu rubber companies under the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) began a campaign to grow new rubber trees in 2010 in Sombo district, Kratie province in Cambodia on June 19.

The campaign is the result of great efforts by VRG’s subsidiary companies to plant 100,000 hectares of rubber trees in Cambodia despite harsh weather conditions and escalating oil prices.

Addressing the ceremony, Le Quang Thung, Chairman of the VRG Management Board affirmed that VRG-funded projects in Cambodia have proved to be effective. Currently, the two companies have attracted more than 2,000 workers in Cambodia.

Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Im Chun Lim, also highlighted VRG’s investment models in Cambodia, adding that subsidiary companies of VRG have helped generate jobs, eradicate poverty and stabilize local residents’ lives.

These companies have been implemented this project to grow rubber in Sombo district since 2008.

After receiving a license to operate in more than 16,000 hectares of land in Sombo, the companies planted more than 2,000 hectares of rubber trees in 2008-2009 period and each company is expected to plant around 2,000 hectares in 2010.