A stand-off broke out yesterday after Forestry Administration officials in Oddar Meanchey province impounded a military truck belonging to a unit from Intervention Division 2’s Brigade 4, which was seized loaded with illegally felled timber.

Tieng David, the provincial Forestry Administration director, said his officers were forced to barricade the truck inside their Anlong Veng district compound after 10 soldiers belonging to the unit attempted to retake it.

“They came, but the truck is still there because they were taking the timber illegally; they did not have the agreement from the Forestry Administration [to take the timber]. So, they cannot take [the truck] back,” David said.

David said the wood was being transported from the province’s Trapaing Prasat district to the base of Unit 243, who claimed they were using the wood to build their headquarters.

He said the Korean-made truck, capable of carrying 2 and a half tonnes of timber, was frequently used to transport wood and had been a donation to the unit from Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife.