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Environmental activist, Ma Chettra, mentioned on Monday that he has submitted proof to the Surroundings Ministry following an invite by ministry attorneys to help his findings of unlawful logging in a protected space, which he suspects are allegedly performed by the kinfolk of setting officers.
Eight group members from Preah Vihear additionally accompanied Chettra who gave an analogous testimony to what commented in his video on July 26.
“I can’t reveal some issues, however they’re associated to it [illegal loggers]. They [the ministry] will conduct their investigation. Allow us to hope for justice [to prevail],” Chettra advised reporters after leaving the ministry the place he attended a two-hour dialogue.
The ministry mentioned they’d help and supply authorized help to him to cope with forest crimes, however Chettra voiced issues for his security.
“My concern is my security and safety, with relation to the loggers. The second factor is the authorized challenge tied to court docket,” Chettra mentioned.
Throughout a joint patrol with group members on July 26 night time, he filmed vans loaded with timber taken from the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Cheysen district. Within the video, which he posted on his social media web page, was a truck mentioned to be linked to environmental officers.
Surroundings Ministry spokesperson Kvay Atitya mentioned that the dialogue centered on cooperation and safety of pure assets, following Chettra’s video.
“The assembly offered us data to know [the situation] and cooperate to strengthen regulation enforcement and shield the environment successfully,” he mentioned.
Prey Land group community mentioned unlawful logging has continued as found throughout a four-day patrol. They discovered automobiles carrying over 280 timber planks, and 20 reduce logs on the bottom.
One of many members, Lim Kien, 56, who got here with Chettra, urged the ministry to forestall forest crimes, particularly “loggers and officers who’re concerned within the destruction of the forest”.
“I’m involved about shedding my revenue from the forest as we depend on Prey Lang for our livelihood,” he mentioned.
“We have now seen that authorities have failed to forestall [forest crime] however as an alternative prevented us [from patrolling] to guard the forest,” mentioned Kien, an indigenous Kuy.
A broader crackdown on environmental activists have seen quite a few arrests in recent times, together with 10 Mom Nature Cambodia members who had been convicted of plotting to overthrow the federal government. They had been charged following their arrest in July 2024 once they launched a marketing campaign to guard the setting assets.
