Cambodia denies reports of large scale illegal logging
CAMBODIA had denied reports by Amnesty International and the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) that large scale illegal logging has increased in the Prey Lang wildlife sanctuary.
The Ministry of Environment has rejected reports by the two groups, saying it was an attempt to cause conflict in the area.
The PLCN, a non-governmental organisation committed to protecting the Prey Lang forest from illegal logging and industrial agriculture, said since it was banned from patrolling the area, more illegal loggings have taken place.
The Prey Lang forest is a 3,600 sq km nature reserve forest located in Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Kratie and Stung Treng provinces in northern Cambodia.
Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra told The Phnom Penh Post that the groups’ reports amounted to an organised campaign with malicious intent to subvert the government on the management and conservation of natural resources.
“They think that their group is the only natural resources protector. In fact, they just want to cause conflict, create anarchy and continue to encourage law abuses,” he said.
New Straits Times
