"Cambodia tested waters amid pollution claims; months later, still no public results", 4 May 2026

… Authorities from Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment were dispatched to Mondul Yorn, a small village in the remote northeastern province of Ratanakiri, … to conduct water and sediment testing on the O’Ta Bouk River following community complaints of health problems linked to declining water quality…

The O’Ta Bouk flows south through a gold mining operation in Ta Veng district before it reaches Mondul Yorn, where Indigenous Brao communities have reported experiencing skin rashes and itching sensations after coming into contact with the river’s water since gold mining began in mid-2023.

To date, no results of water, sediment or fish sampling have been made public, despite experts urging more comprehensive testing and communities languishing in uncertainty over the safety of the river…

But neither the endangered wildlife nor the conservation funding prevented the Cambodian government from awarding an 18,900-hectare (46,700-acre) mining exploration license to Global Green (Cambodia) Energy Development, a politically connected company, …, Global Green was also granted a 4,000-hectare (almost 10,000-acre) economic land concession that sits within the 18,900-hectare mining concession…

… Global Green did not respond to questions sent by email and its representatives could not be reached by phone. However, …, the company responded to a viral social media campaign launched on Jan. 17 by Mother Nature Cambodia, issuing a statement saying, “Our company has never conducted gold mining and other mineral mining activities in the national park located in Ta Bok Village, Ta Veng Leu Commune, Ta Veng District, Ratanakiri Province, as claimed by Mother Nature Cambodia.” The company also stated that it “is not affiliated with tycoon Try Pheap and his family.”…

While Global Green denied any involvement in the mining operations that have contaminated the O’Ta Bouk River, documents seen … and verified by relevant government officials suggest the company controlled the mining exploration site when pollution was first reported by communities…