Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Activist alleges ranger ‘inaction’

Activist alleges ranger ‘inaction’

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
A truck filled with illegally logged wood in Oral Wildlife Sanctuary. Facebook

Activist alleges ranger ‘inaction’

Forestry crimes are still occurring in the Phnom Oral Wildlife Sanctuary and the National Park in the Cardamom Mountains in Pursat province, a prominent environment activist said.

Chea Hean, director of the environmental watchdog Anti-Corruption, Natural Resource Protection and Civil Rights Protection (ACNCIPO), alleged that environmental officials do not seem concerned about apprehending perpetrators.

Chea said on March 24 that he was investigating natural resource crimes in the sanctuary and the national park and discovered that crimes were still being committed. He saw a truck transporting timber and machinery in the area, but environmental officials did not arrest anyone.

“From my observation, we could hear a sawmill in the forest when we entered the forest in both the Cardamom mountain conservation and sanctuary areas. Rangers didn’t seem interested in preventing crime. They stayed in the air-conditioned room and said there is no forest crime,” he said.

He said perpetrators concealed timber in many places, but he was not clear how many trees have been cut down and how much forest had been cleared.

“They drop 10, 20 or 30 logs in one place. So we do not know how many cubic metres have been cut down yet, because we are still investigating this. We also don’t know how much deforestation has occurred. I am preparing a map and will submit a report at the end of this survey,” he said.

Chea said when rangers went into the forest no crimes happened, because details of their movements could have been revealed to the criminals. They should quietly patrol the forest if they want to gather evidence.

After collecting enough evidence of crimes, Chea would invite rangers and expert officials to examine the information. He requested that the environment ministry be open to civil society organisations as well as the community, associations, monks and people so that they can participate in preventing natural resources crime.

Provincial environment department director Kong Puthyra declined to comment.

Environment ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra said his ministry has always welcomed other partners in the protection and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity in protected areas. But the partners must understand the laws and regulations, he said.

“The first thing we think is about is their safety. This is because the perpetrators also have weapons. That is why it is necessary for them to cooperate with park rangers. Secondly, they are not officially police officers, so if they make an arrest on behalf of the rangers, that is illegal,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • PM urges end to ‘baseless’ international Ream base accusations

    Prime Minister Hun Sen urges an end to “baseless” foreign accusations surrounding the development of the Kingdom’s Ream Naval Base, as the US has consistently suggested that the base is being expanded to accommodate a Chinese military presence. Hun Sen renewed his calls while

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.