A heavy truck transporting timber intended for construction at a monastery in Kampong Cham province has been released after initially being impounded.
PHNOM PENH: A heavy truck transporting timber intended for construction at a monastery in Kampong Cham province has been released after initially being impounded by the authorities in Preah Vihear province on the night of Monday (Feb 3).
The truck was detained on suspicion of transporting undocumented illegal timber.
However, the director of the Kampong Cham provincial administration clarified the case on Wednesday (Feb 5), explaining that the timber would be used for the benefit of the public, specifically for building doors and windows at a monastery.
Venerable Nhor Savy, the abbot of Wat Botum Ratanak Deidoh, had previously submitted a request to the Preah Vihear provincial authorities in December 2024 through the Kampong Cham authorities, seeking approval to transport the timber.
“Recently, I purchased 12.75 cubic metres of wooden doors, windows and planks (including phdeak and sokrom) from a carpenter in Preah Vihear’s Chhey Sen district. It is for the construction needs of our pagoda. I request permission to transport the timber to Wat Botum Ratanak Deidoh in Kampong Cham,” said the letter.
The letter had not received an official approval signature from the Preah Vihear provincial governor.
Tan Kimsour, president of the Nature Lovers Youth Association, told The Post that upon learning about the suspected illegal timber shipment, he travelled six hours from Phnom Penh to investigate.
Initially unaware that the timber was for a monastery, he stated that the Chhey Sen forestry Administration Cantonment had confirmed the shipment was illegal, as it had insufficient documentation.
He pointed out that official transport permits allow only 12 cubic metres, whereas the truck was carrying nearly 30 cubic metres, including luxury-grade hardwood, which is strictly prohibited.
He believed the shipment included exceeded the initial request and included freshly cut high-grade wood that was not mentioned in the original request.
Despite the alleged offending, the truck was released, following intervention from Kampong Cham Governor Un Chanda.
Tan Kimsour expressed his disappointment.
“I am not trying to create problems, but as a citizen who supports the government and cares about natural resources, I cannot stand by and watch such destruction. The law should apply equally to all, including monks who violate regulations,” he explained.
Khorn Bros, director of the Kampong Cham provincial administration, defended the release, arguing that the timber was for monastery construction and not personal gain.
“If the timber were for the private home of the monk, that would be a concern. But this is for public benefit at a monastery,” he said.
He also suggested that anyone questioning the quantity of the shipment should visit the site and measure it themselves.
After the timber reached the monastery on the morning of Feb 4, Venerable Savy publicly thanked the governors and relevant ministries for facilitating the purchase and transportation of the timber.
He expressed his gratitude in a video posted which was posted to social media of the Kampong Cham administration. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
