In the ICCO consultation conference in Chiang Mai in November, 2006; Odile Ruijs shared a news that a million hectare of forests land in Mondolkiri Cambodia was sold to BHP Billiton for mineral exploration (the area of hundreds of thousands of minority people are living). SPERI took this initiative to do a Brainstorming between Odile Ruijs, Kees de Ruiter, Roger Henk (ICCO coordinator in Cambodia), Christian Erni - IWGIA, and David.

After the consultation meeting, SPERI continued to brainstorm with Margreet (SPERI's lobby advisor), Douglas (an ex-BHP expert but volunteered in SPERI), and others in December 2006; and kept regular contacts with Mr. Roger Henk in Cambodia. In February 19-20, 2007, two SPERI seniors (Tuan and Margreet) flew to Phnompenh together with Mr. Roger to do the 1 st Round-Table Discussion; at this meeting, SPERI also share all covering cost to invite Mr. David to participate this Round – Table meeting.   About 13 participants from concerned organizations were involved and discussing.

Outcome from this was opened up the 2nd Round-Table Discussion with 7 participants from concerned organizations to detail the action plan for the 6 countries in the Mekong region and asked AIPP to help organizing, and calling for volunteer participation of members of the Steering Committee.