Koh Kong Administration: Dara Sakor Airport is not for military service

• 12 June 2020
• Local News
• 5675 Views

Photo Source: The New York Times

Due to the scepticism of numerous analysts who have questioned the role of Dara Sakor Airport, on 11 June 2020, HE Ms Mithona Phouthong, Koh Kong Provincial Governor recently rejected any claim of use for military service saying that the area was only built for tourism.

Analysts continue to be sceptical about the intention of the Dara Sakor Airport citing evidence such as the scope of the airport’s runway which is larger than for civilian aircraft, a 99-year land concession which experts believe China will use to permanently occupy the land, and the actual size of the land is three times larger than the maximum size of the concession law based on the Cambodian constitution. This and other evidence were used in an article by the renowned media outlet, South China Morning Post (SCMP) in 2019. (Read More)

In response to the claim, the Koh Kong governor said, “As for the Dara Sakor Airport project with information saying that the airport is for the military, I would like to confirm that this is not true because the area has been upgraded into vocational tourism. Normally, a military zone is a prohibited area, a national security area, which forbids all tourists, and commercial purposes.”

She also emphasised that the area is only prepared for tourism, trade and transport. Currently, the project is 50% complete and scheduled for completion by the end of 2020 or early 2021.

The airport was built by Union Development Group (UDG) with a total investment of US$200 million, including a 60m-wide, 3,200-metre runway and a new terminal.

Another airport project located near Koh Kong capital is also in the process of study as the old location was considered too close to the capital and causing negative impacts.

• Urbanization and Architect
• Policy and Strategy