Cambodia: Wildlife Sanctuary Office Torched by Residents After Young Woman's Death

A sub-station of the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Sreychrey, Ratanakiri province, was vandalized and set ablaze by a group of residents around 4 PM on September 6, 2026. This occurred after reports surfaced that a young woman had lost her life in a motorcycle accident while returning home. According to local reports, on the morning of September 6, a team of three rangers from the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary and one volunteer patrolled the Prey Meas area in Tommay village (Sreychrey), Jay Udorm commune, Lumphat district. There, they encountered approximately 80 residents engaged in gold mining and advised them to return home. In the afternoon of the same day, it was reported that a young woman named Salieng Saven, aged 19, of Pnong ethnicity and Cambodian nationality, a farmer residing in Roy village, Roy commune, Koh Nhek district, Mondulkiri province, lost her life after falling from her motorcycle while traveling home. Following this incident, residents claimed the young woman died due to rangers chasing her and a gunfire exchange. However, rangers have refuted these claims, stating they did not chase or fire any shots, and only advised residents to return home. Upon hearing the news of the young woman's death, a large group of residents from Roy village gathered around 4 PM, vandalized, and set fire to the Sreychrey sub-station, causing severe damage and destruction by fire. Mr. Sei Toch, the governor of Koh Nhek district, told "Kampuchea Thmey" on the afternoon of September 6 that he had received news of a resident's death in Roy commune and expressed deep sorrow for the loss of life. The governor emphasized that while the loss of a family member is deeply painful, resorting to violence and arson against the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary sub-station is unacceptable. He urged residents with concerns or issues to seek resolution through local authorities and peaceful means, in accordance with the law, and to avoid violence, as the country has laws. Information source: Kampuchea Thmey Security