TRY HEAP MINING: Try Heap was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in December 2019 for having built a large-scale illegal logging operation with Cambodian government protection. His family continues to extend its destructive activities in Cambodia, Mongabay, a US-based non-profit environmental science, reported on 23 January.

Mongabay reports that in 2023, five mining concessions totalling 28,000 hectares were awarded to the Global Green company, controlled by Try Heap, in Cambodia’s northern Preah Vihear province. The concessions have been awarded despite an official “freeze” on new mining projects in the Prey Lang wildlife sanctuary. Locals have expressed their fears that further illegal deforestation, chemical poisoning of the water table and loss of wildlife will result from the planned mining projects.

· Sanctioned timber baron wins new mining concessions in Cambodia’s Prey Lang (mongabay.com)