Officials are addressing allegations against the economic land concession company Sovannaphum Agro-Industrial Investment Co Ltd in Preah Vihear province for irregularities involving forest clearance, which allegedly violated directives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

A joint working group inspected the company’s site in Rovieng district’s Romny commune on December 28. The team included agricultural and environmental officials, local authorities and members of the Nature Lovers Youth Association.

Director of the provincial agriculture department Poeung Tryda stated that authorities are investigating and will take corrective action if irregularities are confirmed. He added that plans are being prepared to address the issue, and minor violations would be resolved through discussion.

“[We are] working on this case and plan to continue. If there are any minor mistakes, we will discuss and work together to find a solution,” he said.

In May 2011, the government granted 9,913 hectares of land in Boeung Per to the company, owned by tycoon Oknha An Mady. The land was designated for agricultural and industrial development, including rubber plantations and livestock farming.

Nature Lovers Youth Association head Tan Kimsour claimed that the company had almost entirely disregarded conditions imposed by the government. He alleged that the ministry had issued a directive requiring the company to collaborate with the provincial agriculture department to designate forest-clearing zones before beginning operations, but this was not implemented.

“The ministry banned the clearance of the stream area, but the company cleared it. It also cleared many hectares of state forest land,” he said, adding that protected stream buffer zones were cleared despite strict prohibitions.

On January 15, the ministry granted the company permission to clear land in specific sub-areas of its economic land concession. This was intended for agricultural development and to safeguard state land from illegal encroachment. 

The ministry required the company to collaborate with the provincial agriculture department to ensure compliance, avoid affecting protected areas and stream buffer zones and prevent damage to community land. 

Additionally, the company was instructed to label its machinery, adhere to technical procedures, clear and plant crops sequentially in sub-areas, and report its progress to the ministry for further recommendations.

Kimsour alleged that the company failed to label its machinery with logos as required and did not follow standard technical procedures. He criticised the company for clearing land across multiple areas simultaneously rather than step-by-step as mandated by the ministry.

Kimsour warned that a lack of enforcement against companies violating forest protection laws could lead to public dissatisfaction. He added that the public perceives a disparity in how laws are enforced, with ordinary citizens penalised for minor infractions while companies responsible for large-scale environmental damage face little to no consequences.

When contacted for comment, company owner Oknha An Mady declined to elaborate on the allegations and directed inquiries to the applicable officials. 

“Please consult the relevant forestry administration officials for the details. The civil servants who conducted the inspections already know. Let the experts who have the knowledge explain it,” he said.

Tryda confirmed that machinery logos were not visible, explaining that they were affixed inside the machinery but were obscured by curtains and other coverings.

Provincial environment department deputy director Meas Nhim, who participated in the inspection, could not be reached for comment on December 30.