Forestry activists allege logging program in Prey Lang

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A combination of photos of logging activities taken by activists at the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Rovieng District of Preah Vihear Province in December. FACEBOOK

Forestry activists from the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) in Preah Vihear Province claim that Macle Logistics Cambodia Co Ltd and PNT Co Ltd are working together to illegally collect logged timber in the central area of ​​Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Preah Vihear Environment Ministry released a statement saying they were investigating the allegations.

Srey Thei, NCP coordinator in Preah Vihear province, told the Post that when NCP members went on patrol looking for evidence of forest and wildlife crimes, they saw more than sixty people engaged in the war. logging and timber transport from the central area of ​​Prey. Lang Wildlife Sanctuary.

They allege that one of those responsible is a member of the National Military Police named Chap Saron and that two policemen from Chrach commune were also involved because, between them, they served as chiefs of staff and chief. of the safety of the two companies transporting deforestation.

“We suspect that the people we saw were hired by the two companies to do the logging and then collected the timber from them,” Thei said.

Thei said the perpetrators were cutting down many ‘luxury’ tree species, some of which were 0.4m to 1.1m in diameter before being cut into timber, and the activity was taking place in multiple locations. of the sanctuary.

“The timber they illegally cut in the central area of ​​the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary was transported by dozens of tractors and trucks and then delivered to PNT Co Ltd’s economic land concession area for fraudulent conversion. wooden legal to transport. for resale in various lumber depots across the country, ”he said.

According to public records, PNT Co Ltd obtained a license from the government to use a 7,900 hectare land concession in Reabroy commune of Rovieng district of Preah Vihear province and the company then transferred the license to Macle Logistics Cambodia Co Ltd so that the two companies to work together to collect non-timber forest products in this concession area.

Preah Vihear Environment Department Deputy Director Meas Nhem admitted criminal deforestation was likely to have taken place in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary area and recently led a group rangers on a secret patrol and found six newly cut logs.

However, he said he does not believe the problem is as big as the NCP claims.

“We recognize that there are instances of logging in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, but not as many as [they] claim, ”he said.

Nhem said his team found clues that logging activity in Prey Lang was linked to certain companies that were granted the right to harvest non-timber forest products from a licensed company in that area.

He said his task force was investigating to uncover the truth in order to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice for prosecution.

Chap Saron, the military police officer that PLCN claims to be involved in the logging project, could not be reached for comment on the allegation.

However, Soy Sophal, director of Macle Logistics Cambodia Co Ltd, released a statement on November 25, 2021, claiming that the loggers were not employees, supervisors, contractors or in any way related to his company or at its sawmill in the municipality of Reabroy de Preah Vihear. the Rovieng district of the province.

Leng Rithy, director of PNT Co Ltd, could not be reached for comment on December 30.

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