PHNOM PENH: Members of a Bunong indigenous community in Mondulkiri province have appealed to environment officials to show compassion to those linked to the September burning of the Sre Chrey sub-station in Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary.
On the afternoon of Sept 6, villagers from Roya village and commune, in Koh Nhek district, angered by a crackdown on illegal mining stormed the outpost and burned it down. A young woman was reportedly killed in an incident associated with the enforcement operation, further enraging the villagers.
Officials said at the time that she lost her life in a traffic accident.
Investigators have identified several individuals they believe were involved in the destruction of the facility and summoned them for questioning.
Villager Koeun Channa, 32, is one of several people summoned by the Ratanakiri Provincial Court. He has been ordered to appear before the court on Oct 20.
The summons orders Channa to appear to provide a statement regarding “the burning and destruction of the Srae Chrey sub-station (state property), committed in Thmei village, Chey Oudom commune, Lumphat district, Ratanakiri province, on September 6, 2026”.
Bunong’s Voice, a website which advocates for the Bunong indigenous community, noted that traditional gold mining was undertaken simply to earn a living but had turned into a tragedy, leaving families and the community in pain.
Following the burning of the environment office, some community members, including people who helped organise the funeral, are facing or could face legal action, the website warned.
“Please consider the hardships faced by the people with compassion and humanity,” said the site.
“Behind this tragic incident lies the difficult livelihood of people living in poverty, burdened by debt and lacking the means to support their families. Faced with these hardships, they turned to traditional gold mining practices within their community to earn income to raise their children and repay debts weighing heavily on their families,” it added.
The villagers have appealed to authorities at all levels, including Phon Khemrin, head of the Ratanakiri Provincial Department of Environment, as well as Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth, to consider bringing the dispute over the burned sub-station to a close.
They acknowledged that the law must play an important role in maintaining order and delivering justice, but that “humanity” should also guide decisions made by the country’s leaders.
The Ratanakiri environment department has condemned the burning of the sub-station, describing the violence as the work of “opportunists” who intended to tarnish the reputation of law enforcement officials through unsubstantiated allegations and incite violence to destroy public property. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
