We are the undersigned association, unions, civil society organization, active youths, are deeply concern after receiving information about Angkor Plywood Co. Ltd's request for a five-year extension of timber exports from 2022 to 2026. Based on reported by RFA, on July 7, 2023, titled “Angkor Plywood Company Continues to Export Rare Timber for Sale Abroad,” the Office of the Council of Ministers granted permission to postpone the export of timber until the end of 2023 in response to the company's request to export timber for five years.

According to Decision No. 739 issued on December 15, 2021, the Royal Government of Cambodia has granted Angkor Plywood Co. Ltd, an extension for the export of the remaining 103, 763.15 cubic meters of processed wood products from their 2016 permission. This extension permits Angkor Plywood Co. Ltd to continue exporting until December 31, 2023. Despite being granted permission to export only processed wood products such as plywood, flooring plywood, and milled wood products, Angkor Plywood Company exported 223,5884 kilograms of rare timber species such as Sralav (Lagerstroemia calyculata), Kakah (Sindora Sumatrana), Pcak (Thitya), and Sokram (Xylia xylocarpa) to Vietnam. This information was obtained from the company's timber export list published on March 19, 2023.

Based on the timber export data mentioned above, in contrasting of the Cambodian Government permission, while national and international and local authorities, constantly found the continuous deforestation in protected areas. To maintain sustainable natural resources in Cambodia, we, as associations, NGOs, unions, local communities, and youth groups, call on the Cambodian government to take serious action. Specifically, we urge the authorities to revoke Angkor Plywood Co. Ltd's timber export license and investigate their illegal export of rare timber species abroad. Such actions are in violation of Cambodian law and pose a significant threat to the country's valuable natural resources.

This joint statement is endorsed by:
1. Cambodian Youth Network Association – CYN
2. Khmer Student Intelligent League Association – KSILA
3. The Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability – CISA
4. The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association – ADHOC
5. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights – CENTRAL
6. Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation – CFSWF
7. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia – COMFREL
8. Labor Rights Supported Union – LRSU
9. Cambodia Tourism Workers’ Union Federation – CTWUF
10. 1Independent Trade Union Federation – INTUFE
11. People Center for Development and Peace – PDP-Center
12. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association – IDEA
13. Youth Resources Development Program – YRDP
14. Cambodian Institute for Democracy – CID
15. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights – LICADHO
16. Mother Nature Cambodia – MNC
17. Prey Lang Community Network – PLCN
18. Friend of Reading Club, Phnom Penh
19. The Forest Guad, Phnom Penh
20. Pa Klea Indigenous Community, Kratie Province
21. Kbal Kla Forestry Community, Kampong Thom Province
22. Boeung Thom Fishery Community, Kampong Thom Province
23. Meta Forest Community Forest, Kampong Speu Province
24. Ta Ngon Land Affected Community, Koh Kong Province

For more information, please contact:
▪ Mr. Heng Kimhong, Head of Research and Advocacy Unit, CYN, Tel: 0967 888 368 / 092 667 599
▪ Mr. Koet Saray, President of Khmer Student Intelligent League Association, Tel: 0962 424 393

PDF: Download full statement in English - Download full statement in Khmer
MP3: Listen to audio version in Khmer