Citizens resort to violence and set fire to the Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary headquarters in Ratanakiri Province.

Ratanakiri: On the afternoon of September 6, 2026, a group of local residents reportedly went to destroy and burn the Srae Chrey Sub-Station of the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Ratanakiri Province. According to a report, on the morning of September 6, 2026, a team consisting of three rangers from the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary and one volunteer patrol member conducted a patrol in the Preah Meas area, located in Thmei (Srae Chrey) Village, Chhay Otdam Commune, Lumphat District, Ratanakiri Province. When the team arrived at the above-mentioned location, they found approximately 80 local residents entering the area to mine for gold. The team then provided education and instructions to the residents, asking them to return home. Later that afternoon, there were reports that one resident was riding a motorcycle back home when he fell from the motorcycle and died. The deceased was reportedly a resident of R'Yea Village, R'Yea Commune, Koh Nhek District, Mondulkiri Province. Local residents claimed that the deceased died because rangers chased and attempted to arrest him, and that gunfire was heard, causing him to fall from his motorcycle. The rangers denied these allegations, stating that they did not chase, attempt to arrest, or fire weapons at the residents. They said they had only provided guidance and instructed them to return home. Following the death of the resident, at around 4:00 p.m., a large number of residents from R'Yea Village reportedly went to attack, destroy, and set fire to the Srae Chrey Sub-Station.