Oddar Meanchey province

Province of Cambodia

Province in Cambodia

Oddar Meanchey (Udon Meechai)

ឧត្ដរមានជ័យ

Province

Oddar Meanchey Province
ខេត្តឧត្ដរមានជ័យ

Seal

Map of Cambodia highlighting Oddar Meanchey

Coordinates: 14°10′N 103°30′E﻿ / ﻿14.167°N 103.500°E﻿ / 14.167; 103.500
Country|  Cambodia
Provincial status| 12 July 1964
Re-established| 27 January 1995
Capital| Samraong
Subdivisions| 1 municipality; 4 districts
Government

• Governor| Pen Kosal (CPP)
• National Assembly|

1 / 125

Area

• Total

| 6,158 km2 (2,378 sq mi)
• Rank| Ranked 13th
Population

(2024)[1]

• Total

|  267,203
• Rank| 17th
• Density| 45/km2 (120/sq mi)
• Rank| 18th
Time zone| UTC+07:00 (ICT)
Dialing code| +855
ISO 3166 code| KH-22

This article contains Khmer text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Khmer script.

Oddar Meanchey (Khmer: ឧត្តរមានជ័យ, UNGEGN: Ŏttâr Méanchoăy, ALA-LC: Uttar Mānjăy [ʔoɗɑː miəncɨj]; lit. 'Victorious North') is a province of Cambodia in the remote northwest. It borders the provinces of Banteay Meanchey to the west, Siem Reap to the south and Preah Vihear to the east. Its long northern boundary demarcates part of Cambodia's international border with Thailand. The capital is Samraong. The final stronghold of Anlong Veng became the jungle headquarters of Pol Pot (Saloth Sâr) and the Khmer Rouge of Democratic Kampuchea once they rebuild their former bases in the jungle on 18 February 1994.

The province was created on 27 April 1999, after being carved from the northern half of Siem Reap province and part of Banteay Meanchey. It existed as a province already from 1962 to 1970 under Norodom Sihanouk's Sangkum regime, but later became an administrative no-man's-land, with its status alternating between a province and a district under successive regimes.[2]

## Etymology

[edit]

Oddar Meanchey means 'victorious North' and the name represents to victory over siam when the province was returned to Cambodia in 1907 .[citation needed] The province's name is of Sanskrit origin through Pali and is derived from the words uttarā (उत्तर), meaning 'north', and jaya (जय) which means 'victory'.[citation needed] Khmer Mean (មាន) means 'to have'.

## Administrative divisions

[edit]

The province is subdivided into 1 municipality (krong) and 4 districts (srok), and further subdivided into 19 communes (khum) and 5 quarters (sangkat).

ISO
code  | Name  | Khmer | Subdivisions

|
|
|

— Municipality —
22-04  | Samraong | សំរោង | 5 sangkat
— District —
22-01  | Anlong Veng | អន្លង់វែង | 5 khum
22-02  | Banteay Ampil | បន្ទាយអំពិល | 4 khum
22-03  | Chong Kal | ចុងកាល | 4 khum
22-05  | Trapeang Prasat | ត្រពាំងប្រាសាទ | 6 khum

## Ecology

[edit]

This province is in the Dângrêk Mountains. There is a serious problem of deforestation in the area.[3] However, the first community-based mosaic REDD+ project in Asia was awarded Verified Carbon Standard and Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard validation for its forest conservation work in the province.[4]

Forest fires are common in the dry forest and there is much illegal logging as a result of economic land concessions and migrant forest encroachment.[5]

## History

[edit]

Grave of Khmer Rouge dictator Pol Pot who died in Anlong Veng in 1998.

The mountainous and forested area that now makes up Oddar Meanchey province was part of Siamese province of Monthon Isan from 1795 to 1907 under the supervision of Sangkha. After the neighboring Thai province of Inner Cambodia and Oddar Meanchey were returned to Cambodia in 1907, King Sisowath split the province into Battambang and Siem Reap (Oddar Meanchey was included with Siem Reap). Following the Franco-Thai War from 1941 to 1946 the province was under Siamese administration as Phibunsongkhram province.[6] The province was returned to Cambodian rule in 1946 following French diplomatic efforts at the end of World War II. The province was officially organized in 1966.[citation needed] During the Cambodian Civil War, the remote area was used as a base by the Khmer Rouge when they fought against the Khmer Republic led by general Lon Nol.[citation needed]

The Khmer Rouge of Democratic Kampuchea led by Pol Pot (Saloth Sâr) and Khieu Samphan rebuilt their former jungle bases in the Dangrek mountain range area, along the border with Thailand and made Anlong Veng their base from 1989 until 1997. Oddar Meanchey province is one of the most landmine-ridden areas in Cambodia.[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2019 – Final Results" (PDF). National Institute of Statistics. Ministry of Planning. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
2. ^ From coup to casinos: the forgotten frontier of Oddar Meanchey . In: The Phnom Penh Post. 6 July 2001.
3. ^ "Cambodia Signs Avoided Deforestation Carbon Agreements for Voluntary Carbon Standard Project". Archived from the original on 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
4. ^ "FIRST COMMUNITY-BASED MOSAIC REDD+ PROJECT IN ASIA AWARDED VCS AND CCB VALIDATION" (PDF).
5. ^ "Community Forestry International - Oddar Meancheay". Archived from the original on 2012-05-24.
6. ^ Thailand's War With Vichy France
7. ^ "The European Union's Projects in Cambodia" (PDF). foodsecurity.gov.kh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22.

Places adjacent to Oddar Meanchey province

| Buriram province, Thailand | Surin province, Thailand | Sisaket province, Thailand

|
|

|  |
Banteay Meanchey province |

Oddar Meanchey province

| Preah Vihear province
|  |
| Siem Reap province |

* v
* t
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Oddar Meanchey province

Capital: Samraong

Districts|

* Anlong Veng
* Banteay Ampil
* Chong Kal
* Samraong Municipality
* city
* Trapeang Prasat

* v
* t
* e

Provinces of Cambodia

Autonomous municipality|

* Phnom Penh

Provinces|

* Banteay Meanchey
* Battambang
* Kampong Cham
* Kampong Chhnang
* Kampong Speu
* Kampong Thom
* Kampot
* Kandal
* Kep
* Koh Kong
* Kratié
* Mondulkiri
* Oddar Meanchey
* Pailin
* Pursat
* Preah Sihanouk
* Preah Vihear
* Prey Veng
* Ratanakiri
* Siem Reap
* Stung Treng
* Svay Rieng
* Takeo
* Tboung Khmum

Portal:

* Cambodia

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
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