As China Builds, Cambodia's Forests Fall
China's demand for natural resources is being felt in a big way in Cambodia.
Illegal logging and economic land concessions are threatening Cambodia's dwindling forests, which now echo the sound of chainsaws.
Prey Long forest — an eight-hour journey north and east of the capital Phnom Penh – is one of the forests where illegal loggers see money signs on its trees.
Supply And Demand
"It's just like in the United States in the 1960s, when every single redwood tree was a target for illegal logger[s]," Suwanna Gauntlett, head of the Phnom Penh office of Wildlife Alliance, says. "It's the same thing in Cambodia. It's a natural resource worth a lot of money."
And many people with money – particularly China's growing middle class - are eager to spend it on luxury hardwood furniture, says Conservation International's Tracy Farrell.
"You also have the fact that other countries have been culling or reducing the extraction of their own luxury wood," Farrell says. "Thailand has been becoming much more strict about illegal wood leaking out of their country, so that puts the pressure on the countries that are less strict... Laos and Cambodia are really, really struggling."
Both Conservation International and Wildlife Alliance have been working with Cambodia's government to protect some forests. Thhose efforts have been hugely successful in slowing the rate of forest decline there, but without this protection, Gauntlett says, it would be a different case.
"Six months. Six to eight months," she says. "It'd all be gone. It would be wiped out, believe me."
But Prey Long forest doesn't have the same kind of protection. And the forests are not just threatened by illegal loggers, but by so-called economic concessions — large tracts of land awarded by the government to agribusinesses on the forests' borders. It has become land often used to launder wood taken out of the forest illegally.
'We All Depend On It To Live'
Eoun Sopapheap, a local activist in Sandan, says he's tired of watching the forest disappear. He and few others journey into the forest to catch illegal loggers in the act.
"The forest is our rice bowl," he says with the help of a translator. "We all depend on it to live. We tap the resin trees there and sell the sap in the market. And we use the money to buy rice. And to pay for our children's school fees. If we lose those trees, we lose everything — so it's up to us."
He fires up his motorcycle and starts the trek into the forest. In less than an hour, the group spots the first of many newly fallen trees not far from the road. They hear a chainsaw humming in the distance.
It's a resin tree, one of the men explains — its trunk still oozing sap. It's worth about $750 to a logger, he says. But for those who live here, a source of sustainable income has now been eliminated forever. The chainsaw draws the group deeper into the forest.
The Hunt For Illegal Loggers
The underbrush is thick and rips at the flesh. It takes about 30 minutes to go 100 yards, then, a clearing — and a glum-looking logger.
He says he's not from around here. His boss offered him $10 to cut this tree.
"I know it's illegal," he says, "but what can I do? I don't have any other work and I have to support my family."
The activists let him go, but keep his chainsaw. They're after bigger fish and find one on the road a few miles further in.
It's a tractor pulling a large stack of freshly cut timber. And the man who owns it, the driver claims, is the district deputy police chief, who shows up not long after, looking annoyed.
The activists tell him they're burning the wood and reporting him to the Interior Ministry. The policemen protests, claiming the wood was legally cut and belongs — not to him — but to the owner of a land concession in the district.
Chimm Savuth, with the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, doesn't believe any of it. First, he says, that land concession is some 30 miles from here and the license expired a year ago.
Exasperated, the police chief whips out his phone and says he's calling his boss. But he's not talking about his police superior. He's talking about the owner of the company — the man paying him to protect the illegal shipment. He walks away a bit, but is still within earshot.
The human rights activist listens in and says he overhears the boss telling the cop to offer the activists money to make the problem go away. But it doesn't come to that.
Just then, several hard-looking men on motorbikes pull up — gun thugs serving as reinforcements. The activists are suddenly outnumbered in the middle of the forest and it's getting dark. They decide to retreat.
Stopping The Practice
Back in the capital, Oo Virak, who heads the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, says that was a good call — especially with the police involved.
"In any of these situations — in the middle of nowhere, with so much money and so many interests at stake — they willing to do quite a lot," he says. "So it could turn ugly pretty quickly. And if anything happened, they could just blame anybody."
Virak says the incident perfectly illustrates the extent of the collusion between local officials and the illegal logging trade in many parts of the country, and how difficult it will be to stop the practice.
Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.
Activists call on government to adopt forest law
Last Updated on 23 January 2013 By May Titthara From Phnom Penh Post
Members of communities that depend on Prey Lang forest for their livelihoods have frequently voiced concerns about illegal logging and the granting of economic land concessions in the forest. Photograph: Photograph supplied/Phnom Penh Post
Members of the Prey Lang Community Network yesterday called on the government to approve a forest preservation sub-decree that has been in draft form since 2011.
Hoeun Sopheap, representative of the Kampong Thom provincial Prey Lang community, said the sub-decree would help protect the biodiversity of the forest – which stretches across four provinces – and reduce criminal activity in the area by encouraging cooperative patrols.
“As far as crime goes, it’s become like anarchy in Prey Lang,” he said at a press conference held at the offices of the NGO Forum on Cambodia in the capital yesterday.
“I insist the authorities cooperate with the Prey Lang Community Network to prevent illegal logging.”
Svay Phoeun, a representative of Preah Vihear provincial ethnic villagers, said the sub-decree would help preserve the forest, which holds an important place in the customs and culture of people who live in and around it.
“We want the authorities to cooperate with us in order to have one voice,” he said, adding that communities wanted to be more involved in discussions with the government.
Phoeun, however, said the villagers were concerned about one article in the sub-decree that would outlaw types of foraging in the forest that they depend on for their livelihoods.
“We ask [authorities] to please delete this point... it will have an effect on our daily lives.”
The sub-decree, established in 2011, is designed to limit logging, burning and any development that affects forest wildlife.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment had the responsibility of composing laws related to the forest.
The Council of Ministers was the “last institution” when it came to approving such sub-decrees, Siphan added, before declining to comment further.
Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment could not be reached yesterday.
The Prey Lang communities also called for the government to reveal the details of economic land concessions, recognise the community network and delete various business licences issued in the area.
Victory claimed in land dispute with Vietnamese company
Phak Seangly, Phnom Penh Post, Jan. 9 2013
An Adhoc employee points to a structure built on land cleared by
the Chea Chanrith Development company in Ratanakkiri province’s O’Yadav
district in November 2012. Photograph supplied
Sav Nak, a village chief in the province’s O’Yadav district, which is home to ethnic Jarai minorities, said that the Chea Chanrith Development Company withdrew four items of machinery in late December after residents filed a complaint with local authorities.
Nak said only 30 of 481 hectares of community forest were cleared, and that he is requesting that the company plant trees in the empty space.
“We preserved 481 hectares for our young generation, and the authority also recognises it,” he said.
But the claims were met with doubts by Chan Mab, representative of the Chea Chanrith company, who said the issue has not been settled yet.
“It is not clear that our company has given the 30 hectares to the community. Our director has not made a decision yet,” he said, and added that the company is considering all requests.
Sav Hvan, Lumchor commune chief, said he and community leaders met with company representatives and the agreement was given “verbally”, but without a contract.
Chea Chanrith received permission from the Ministry of Agriculture in October to plant rubber trees on a 659-hectare concession in O’Yadav and Bokeo districts.
The Jarai protested once the clearing started, saying they depend on the forest for income, firewood, shelter and sanctuary for wildlife.
According to rights group Adhoc, the community, company, forestry administration officials and local authorities held a meeting in early December about the disputed property, where the Jarai asked for the 30 hectares back and requested new trees and compensation.
Recommendations were also made to demarcate an area establishing boundaries between land belonging to the company and land belonging to the community.
Nab Bunheng, provincial governor, said that he was not aware of the case.
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Monday, 24 December 2012 ប៊ុត រស្មីគង្គា Phnom Penh Post
គំនបឈើ ដែលក្រុមហ៊ុនវៀតណាមកាប់ នៅក្នុងព្រៃសហគមន៍ខេត្តរតនគិរី។ រូបថត អង្គការអាដហុក រតនគិរីៈ ជនជាតិវៀតណាម៧នាក់ ត្រូវបានបញ្ជូនទៅឃុំខ្លួននៅពន្ធនាគារខេត្តរតនគិរី កាលពីថ្ងៃសៅរ៍ បន្ទាប់ពីតុលាការ បានចោទប្រកាន់ពីបទលួចចូលមកកាប់ឈើ នៅក្នុងទឹកដីកម្ពុជាខុសច្បាប់។ នេះបើតាម លោក ម៉ា វិចិត្រ អភិបាលស្រុកអូរយ៉ាដាវ។
បុរសជនជាតិវៀតណាមទាំង៧នាក់នោះ មានឈ្មោះ ហ្វង មឹករ៉ុង អាយុ ៣២ ឆ្នាំ លឿង ង៉ុកយឹក អាយុ ៣៥ ឆ្នាំ ម៉ាយ ប៊ុនហា អាយុ ២៩ ឆ្នាំ ង្វៀង យ៉ីកាន់ អាយុ ៣៥ ឆ្នាំ ង្វៀង វ៉ាន់ ជុង អាយុ ២៧ ឆ្នាំ ង្វៀង វ៉ាងហ៊ីហុង អាយុ ២០ ឆ្នាំ និង ង្វៀង វ៉ាន់ក្វាង អាយុ ២៤ ឆ្នាំ។ ជនទាំងនេះ ត្រូវបាននគរបាលកម្ពុជា ចាប់ខ្លួន ក្រោមកិច្ចសហការជាមួយកងរាជអាវុធហត្ថ និងរដ្ឋបាលព្រៃឈើ ក្នុងស្រុកអូរយ៉ាដាវកាលពីថ្ងៃទី២០ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០១២។
លោកម៉ា វិចិត្រ បានប្រាប់ភ្នំពេញ ប៉ុស្តិ៍ កាលពីម្សិលមិញថា៖ «ពួកគេបានចូលមកទឹកដីកម្ពុជាដោយខុសច្បាប់ដើម្បីកាប់ឈើប្រណីត នៅក្នុងតំបន់ព្រៃហាមឃាត់ និងព្រៃសហគមន៍ នៅក្នុងស្រុកអូរយ៉ាដាវ។ ពួកគេត្រូវបានចាប់ខ្លួនខណៈពួកគេកំពុងកាប់ឈើ»។ លោកបន្ថែមថា បន្ទាប់ពីចាប់ខ្លួនពួកគេ នគរបាល បានរឹបអូសយកម៉ាស៊ីនអារឈើចំនួន៤គ្រឿង និងសម្ភារពាក់ព័ន្ធមួយចំនួនទៀត។
លោក ឆាយ ធី អ្នកសម្របសម្រួលអង្គការសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអាដហុក ប្រចាំនៅខេត្តរតនគិរី បានថ្លែងថា បទល្មើសព្រៃឈើដែលនៅតែបន្តកើតឡើងយ៉ាងខ្លាំង នៅក្នុងខេត្តរតនគិរី គឺដោយសារតែសមត្ថកិច្ច មានការធូររលុងក្នុងការបង្ក្រាបបទល្មើស។ ជាពិសេសនៅពេលចុះបង្ក្រាបអំពើកាប់ឈើ ឬក៏ការដឹកឈើខុសច្បាប់ម្ដងៗ អាជ្ញាធរមិនដែលចាប់ខ្លួន ឬក៏នាំខ្លួនឈ្មួញឈើ ក៏ដូចជា អ្នកកាប់ឈើខុសច្បាប់មកកាត់ទោសនោះទេ ក្រៅតែពីការរឹបអូសបានឈើ និងសម្ភារផ្សេងទៀត និងស្វែងរកចាប់ខ្លួនពួកគេប៉ុណ្ណោះ។
លោកបញ្ជាក់ថា៖ «ខ្ញុំបានកត់សម្គាល់ថា ថ្មីៗនេះ បទល្មើសព្រៃឈើ បានកើតឡើងយ៉ាងខ្លាំង ព្រោះអាជ្ញាធរ ខ្វះវិធានការ និងសកម្មភាពតឹងរ៉ឹងក្នុងការប្រយុទ្ធប្រឆាំងបទល្មើសនេះ»។
លោក ឆាយ ធី ដែលតែងតែរួមសហការ ជាមួយជនជាតិដើមភាគតិច ចុះល្បាតព្រៃឈើបន្ថែមថា៖«ដើម្បីទប់ស្កាត់សកម្មភាពកាប់ឈើ ឬក៏ដឹកឈើខុសច្បាប់ ខ្ញុំគិតថា អាជ្ញាធរ គួរតែចាប់ខ្លួន និងនាំខ្លួនជនសង្ស័យ មកកាត់ទោស និងផ្តន្ទាទោសឲ្យបានធ្ងន់ធ្ងរតាមច្បាប់...មិនត្រូវគ្រាន់តែ ពិន័យពួកគេនោះទេ»៕ PN
Protected forest reclassified as private land
Freshly harvested timber is stockpiled on land granted to a rubber company in Prey Lang forest earlier this year. Photograph: May Titthara/Phnom Penh Post
The entirety of three protected forests are now classified as private land, an investigation from rights group Adhoc has found, along with tens of thousands of additional hectares of what has once been state public land.
In total, an area slightly smaller than the size of Jakarta has been reclassified since the beginning of this year.
In three cases, Adhoc’s findings show that entire protected forests – Snoul Wildlife Santuary, Preah Vihear Protected Area and Peam Krasob Wildlife Sanctuary – have now been reclassified.
Reclassifying land is the penultimate step before granting economic land concessions to companies; once completed, it is generally considered a near-certainty that a firm will be granted the ELC.
On May 7, Prime Minister Hun Sen placed a moratorium on granting new ELCs amidst a furore over forced evictions and environmental destruction.
The ban contained what rights groups have termed a loophole that allows the go-ahead for ELCs already in the pipeline at the time of the ban.
Adhoc’s findings, compiled by investigator Chan Soveth, who in August was charged with the vague offence of “assisting specific perpetrators”, show 253,506 hectares were reclassified through October.
“How does the government choose the right way if he announces to stop granting [land] as economic land concessions but still there is one point to allow the company receive it,” Soveth said.
Soveth said his findings were based on official government documents which show that 156,618 hectares had been reclassified as private land in protected forests this year, while 12 ELCs covering 132,887 hectares had been granted since the moratorium.
Full ELCs had been granted to 32 private companies totalling 210,907 hectares in 2012, Soveth said.
He called on the government, which has never clearly explained exactly how far along the path of negotiation an ELC had to be to receive an exemption from the moratorium or how many such deals were under consideration, to clarify the details.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan yesterday said he had not seen the Adhoc report and directed questions to the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction and Ministry of Agriculture.
Officials at those ministries either declined to comment or could not be reached and Leang Se, deputy chief of the prime minister’s cabinet, had his phone switched off yesterday.
Last month, Agriculture Minister Chan Sarun told the Post he also was not sure how many more ELCs could still be granted under the moratorium.
In June, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced a sweeping national land-titling program to measure about 1.2 million hectares for some 350,000 families in a period of six to eight months.
He has previously angrily reacted to accusations that ELCs continue to be awarded despite the moratorium, pointing to point four of his order that provides the exemption to the ban.
Mathieu Pellerin, a technical consultant with the rights group Licadho and expert on land concessions, said yesterday he could not immediately confirm the figures provided by Soveth but that they sounded about on the mark.
“This once again highlights the need for a meaningful moratorium, for works surrounding ELC granting to be stopped until a meaningful moratorium with the removal of the loophole…and a systematic review of all the ELCs in the protected areas takes place,” he said.
Adhoc found that of Cambodia’s 23 protected areas totalling 3,402,200 hectares, more than 10 per cent had now been reclassified as state private land to companies or granted as ELCs.
Sarah Milne, a research fellow at the Australian National University with extensive conservation experience in Cambodia, said such vast grabbing of protected land had massive impacts on human rights and the environment as well.
“It’s a clear evidence of a predatory state, and really blatant processes of accumulation by dispossessions, because people live in protected areas, and although it is classified as state land, it’s not for the state to privatize and commodify without consultation and due process,” she said.
“Of course, there is the narrative of Cambodia having to develop, but it’s the question of development for whom and at what cost. This is about the accrual of wealth by elites and foreign private interests.”
In total, an area slightly smaller than the size of Jakarta has been reclassified since the beginning of this year.
In three cases, Adhoc’s findings show that entire protected forests – Snoul Wildlife Santuary, Preah Vihear Protected Area and Peam Krasob Wildlife Sanctuary – have now been reclassified.
Reclassifying land is the penultimate step before granting economic land concessions to companies; once completed, it is generally considered a near-certainty that a firm will be granted the ELC.
On May 7, Prime Minister Hun Sen placed a moratorium on granting new ELCs amidst a furore over forced evictions and environmental destruction.
The ban contained what rights groups have termed a loophole that allows the go-ahead for ELCs already in the pipeline at the time of the ban.
Adhoc’s findings, compiled by investigator Chan Soveth, who in August was charged with the vague offence of “assisting specific perpetrators”, show 253,506 hectares were reclassified through October.
“How does the government choose the right way if he announces to stop granting [land] as economic land concessions but still there is one point to allow the company receive it,” Soveth said.
Soveth said his findings were based on official government documents which show that 156,618 hectares had been reclassified as private land in protected forests this year, while 12 ELCs covering 132,887 hectares had been granted since the moratorium.
Full ELCs had been granted to 32 private companies totalling 210,907 hectares in 2012, Soveth said.
He called on the government, which has never clearly explained exactly how far along the path of negotiation an ELC had to be to receive an exemption from the moratorium or how many such deals were under consideration, to clarify the details.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan yesterday said he had not seen the Adhoc report and directed questions to the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction and Ministry of Agriculture.
Officials at those ministries either declined to comment or could not be reached and Leang Se, deputy chief of the prime minister’s cabinet, had his phone switched off yesterday.
Last month, Agriculture Minister Chan Sarun told the Post he also was not sure how many more ELCs could still be granted under the moratorium.
In June, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced a sweeping national land-titling program to measure about 1.2 million hectares for some 350,000 families in a period of six to eight months.
He has previously angrily reacted to accusations that ELCs continue to be awarded despite the moratorium, pointing to point four of his order that provides the exemption to the ban.
Mathieu Pellerin, a technical consultant with the rights group Licadho and expert on land concessions, said yesterday he could not immediately confirm the figures provided by Soveth but that they sounded about on the mark.
“This once again highlights the need for a meaningful moratorium, for works surrounding ELC granting to be stopped until a meaningful moratorium with the removal of the loophole…and a systematic review of all the ELCs in the protected areas takes place,” he said.
Adhoc found that of Cambodia’s 23 protected areas totalling 3,402,200 hectares, more than 10 per cent had now been reclassified as state private land to companies or granted as ELCs.
Sarah Milne, a research fellow at the Australian National University with extensive conservation experience in Cambodia, said such vast grabbing of protected land had massive impacts on human rights and the environment as well.
“It’s a clear evidence of a predatory state, and really blatant processes of accumulation by dispossessions, because people live in protected areas, and although it is classified as state land, it’s not for the state to privatize and commodify without consultation and due process,” she said.
“Of course, there is the narrative of Cambodia having to develop, but it’s the question of development for whom and at what cost. This is about the accrual of wealth by elites and foreign private interests.”
Local TV to air film on Prey Lang
A screen shot from the documentary ''Cambodia: Forests, Water, Life''. Photograph: Allan Michaud
In a surprising move, a news station has agreed to broadcast a film that presents some difficult truths about the impacts of deforestation on Cambodia’s water table, particularly in the controversial Prey Lang forest area.
On Sunday, the fledgling Cambodian News Channel is scheduled to air conservationist filmmaker Allan Michaud’s Cambodia: Forests, Water, Life – a film he says is intended to explain the dire consequences of deforestation in Prey Lang to the government and public without being confrontational.
“It was a pleasant surprise that they said yes. It was the plan all along, but we could never actually be sure that they were going to do it,” said Michaud.
“This is just unbelievable, what we are seeing in Prey Lang. It is going so fast,” he said.
Generally, the programming of government-affiliated networks excludes items that might run against the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party ideology, or that could paint the government in a poor light, pointed out Chhay Sophal, editor-in-chief of the Cambodian News website and a journalism trainer.
“As I have mentioned, the main thing is to look at the vision of the television. If the television owner is close to the government, I think news content produced by the TV, they don’t want to [conflict] with the government policy,” he said.
Like most of Cambodia’s broadcasters, CNC squarely fits the bill. Launched in July as the nation’s first 24-hour news network, it is chaired by Royal Group CEO Kith Meng, a powerful tycoon who has close ties to the CPP.
In clear, simple language, Michaud’s film explains how mass deforestation of the Stung Sen and Stung Chinit watersheds in Prey Lang will have myriad impacts on economic development, environmental resources and social harmony by reducing water flow into aquifers.
It argues impacts will be felt in fisheries, through increased saltation; agro-industry, by decreasing nutrients in the soil; and by a planned $486 million investment in irrigation infrastructure, because the silt will clog dams and channels, decreasing their lifespan.
Villagers will have to dig deeper and deeper to find potable water, the film illustrates through the example of previous deforestation in Battambang province. There, interview subjects tell the audience, they have to drill 30 or 40 metres just to hit water, too deep for traditional ring wells.
The natural regulation the catchments provide to mitigate seasonal weather variations would be destroyed by deforestation, with water escaping as run-off rather than sinking into the water table to provide a slow-release reservoir during drought and an absorbent sink during floods, the film shows using 3D animation.
Finally, it tackles the sticky issue of social unrest from villagers in the area who are seeing the natural resources they live off destroyed and their trees bought up or simply stolen, resulting in large-scale demonstrations such as the famous avatar protests staged in recent years.
Michaud, a veteran conservationist with about 12 years experience in forests all over Cambodia, said he is in no way out to rile anyone.
But he said he was deeply shocked by the rate of deforestation he had seen in Prey Lang and other forests in recent years and was keen to communicate these concerns to higher powers.
“They’re massive areas. Kulen Promtep [Protected Wildlife Sanctuary]… most of Kulen Promtep has now been sold,” he said.
“Ninety-five per cent of Snoul Wildlife Sanctuary has now been sold. Ninety five per cent.”
The most controversial economic land concession in the greater Prey Lang area is the 6,044-hectare ELC granted to Vietnamese firm CRCK, a company which villagers have accused of intimidation and mass illegal logging.
A protected zone in Prey Lang has been touted by the government, but any talk of those plans has grown hushed recently, with Forestry Administration officials refusing to discuss the topic.
Keo Omaliss, deputy chief of the Forestry Administration’s Wildlife Department and a focal point for negotiations over setting up carbon sinks, flatly refused to speak yesterday on whether any progress had been made in establishing the protected area.
Huy Vannak, business news director at the Cambodian Broadcasting Service, which is the umbrella company in charge of CNC, said yesterday he had yet to see the film and so could not comment.
“Before, we used to do the story about the Prey Lang community that staged the protest in Freedom park, but I don’t know any information about this [film],” he said.
In August, the Post revealed that ELCs totalling more than 40,000 hectares in the core area of Prey Lang forest had been cancelled by the government, though questions have since been raised as to whether those concessions ever actually existed in the first place.
Court drops Wutty case
Chut Wutty pictured in Prey Lang forest earlier in 2012. Photograph: Mathieu Young/Phnom Penh Post
Five months after the fatal shooting of forestry activist Chut Wutty, Koh Kong Provincial Court dropped his case yesterday morning, saying they would only be looking into the shooting of the man who allegedly killed Wutty – a trial that wound up lasting less than two hours.
Speaking at the start of the long-awaited hearing, deputy provincial prosecutor Srey Makny announced that the court had split the case into two parts and that there would be no hearing on the first: that of the murder of Wutty.
“We will not take any legal procedure on the murder case of Chut Wutty, because the murderer was also shot to death. Thus, the complaint is annulled,” he told the court.
Instead, yesterday’s speedy trial covered only the case of Ran Boroth, who stands accused of the unintentional murder of Wutty’s killer.
Wutty, an outspoken environmental campaigner, was gunned down on April 26 at Veal Bei point in Mondul Seima’s Bak Khlang commune, while leading two journalists on an investigation of logging firm Timbergreen. A military police officer, In Rattana, was also shot to death.
Over the course of several days, authorities offered a series of bizarre and shifting explanations, eventually settling on a scenario in which Rattana shot Wutty following a heated argument and Boroth – hoping to protect the journalists with whom Wutty was travelling – accidentally shot Rattana while trying to disarm him.
During a trial that lasted just one and a half hours, witnesses, lawyers and the defendant himself yesterday offered statements that hewed perfectly to that story.
Boroth, who worked as a security guard for Timbergreen, told the court that when Wutty refused to stop taking photos of a company building, he called for assistance from Rattana and two other military police officers – So Sopheap and Bun Chhorn.
The men began arguing with Wutty, telling him to hand over the camera’s memory card. When he refused and tried to drive away, Rattana shot at him. Boroth, in turn, went to grab at the rifle and “accidentally touched the trigger and two bullets were accidentally shot at In Rattana. I just tried to intervene because of the outburst of Rattana’s furiousness and didn’t want the situation to get worse”.
“I plead for the court to reduce the weight of punishment, because I unintentionally killed him,” added Boroth.
Police Lieutenant General Mok Chito, who headed the joint investigation committee appointed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, echoed Boroth’s statement, testifying that his investigation determined Boroth’s actions had been purely altruistic.
“I was very regretful, but at least we found that In Rattana is the killer. I strongly support the court acquitting Ran Boroth, because if he hadn’t intervened with In Rattana, the two female journalists would have been injured,” he said.
But while Boroth’s actions appeared widely agreed upon, little light was shed on those of Rattana. Military police officer Sopheap testified there was a fight over Wutty’s memory card, but said he hadn’t seen the shooting.
“I think that the firing was to threaten him not to go ahead, but I don’t know who actually opened fire,” he said.
And though prosecutors made it clear from the start that the Wutty case was closed as far as the court was concerned, the lack of revelations concerning his murder struck his family and court monitors as suspect.
“We still have doubt and cannot accept [the outcome], because this case was likely to be obstructed since the beginning,” said Am Sam Ath, a senior investigator at rights group Licadho.
Koh Kong provincial coordinator for Adhoc, Neang Boratino, noted that key eyewitnesses didn’t participate in the case, while the court appeared to avoid including other relevant players, such as the superiors of those involved.
“Both dead people didn’t receive complete justice. We call for more investigation to find out who was giving the orders, because there is a boss at the workplace, and we cannot do everything on our own,” he said.
For Wutty’s wife, Sam Chanthy, the trial proved deeply dispiriting.
“I don’t want my husband to have passed away without seeing justice,” she said, adding that it was highly convenient for the court to appoint all blame on a dead man and urged further investigation.
“I insist that the court seeks justice for my husband.”
The verdict is due on Monday.
ស៊ូប៊ែរឌី៖ ការប្រគល់ដីសម្បទាន មិនត្រឹមត្រូវនាំឲ្យរាំងស្ទះការអភិវឌ្ឍ
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 Abby Seiff, From The Phnom Penh Post
ភ្នំពេញៈ គោលនយោបាយសម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ច របស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា កំពុងរារាំងដល់ការអភិវឌ្ឍ ច្រើនជាងការជួយអភិវឌ្ឍ ហើយកំពុងធ្វើឲ្យមានភាពមិនច្បាស់ដល់ស្ថិរភាពរបស់ប្រទេស។
នេះបើយោងតាមអ្នករាយការណ៍ពិសេសរបស់អង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិប្រចាំកម្ពុជា ដែលបានព្រមានកាលពីម្សិលមិញ។
លោក សូរិយា ស៊ូប៊ែរឌី បានប្រាប់ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិកាល ពីយប់ម្សិលមិញថា៖ «ដូចដែលខ្ញុំបានកត់សម្គាល់ ពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹងបញ្ហាដទៃៗ ក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ការបង្កើតក្របខ័ណ្ឌច្បាប់ នៅលើក្រដាស គឺជារឿងមួយ រីឯការអនុវត្តច្បាប់គឺជារឿងផ្សេងមួយទៀត។ ខ្ញុំត្រូវបានគេជម្រាបជាដដែលៗថា ក្របខ័ណ្ឌផ្លូវការពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹងសម្បទានដី គឺមិនត្រូវបានអនុវត្តត្រឹមត្រូវទេ»។
ថ្លែងទៅកាន់ ស្ថាប័នអន្តររដ្ឋាភិបាលនេះ នៅទីក្រុងហ្សឺណែវ លោក ស៊ូប៊ែរឌី ក៏បានបង្ហាញផងដែរ អំពីឧបសម្ព័ន្ធចំនួន ១៣០ ទំព័រ នៃរបាយការណ៍ប្រចាំឆ្នាំ របស់លោក ដែលចេញកាលពីខែមុន ដែលលើកឡើងអំពីការមិនបានពិនិត្យត្រឹមត្រូវ អំពីបញ្ហាសម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ច។ នៅក្នុងរបាយការណ៍នោះ ដែលចេញជាសាធារណៈកាលពីម្សិលមិញ លោក ស៊ូប៊ែរឌី បានគូសបញ្ជាក់ អំពីច្បាប់រឹងមាំមួយចំនួន ដែលមានបំណងដើម្បីគ្រប់គ្រងដីសម្បទានទាំងនោះ ប៉ុន្តែមិនត្រូវបានអនុវត្ត និងមិនអើពើ ហើយផ្តល់អត្ថប្រយោជន៍ទៅឲ្យក្រុមហ៊ុនឯកជន និងរដ្ឋាភិបាល។
លោក ស៊ូប៊ែរឌី បានសរសេរថា ៖«តាមការវិភាគរបស់ខ្ញុំ ខ្ញុំបានខិតខំព្យាយាមស្វែងយល់ឲ្យបានពេញលេញអំពីអត្ថប្រយោជន៍ នៃសម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ច ដែលរដ្ឋាភិបាលបានផ្តល់។ ជាទូទៅ វាមិនច្បាស់ថា តើអត្ថប្រយោជន៍កម្រិតណា ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជាទទួលបានពីសម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ច»។ លោកគូសបញ្ជាក់ថា៖«សេចក្តីសន្និដ្ឋាន ដែលទាញចេញពីញត្តិ លិខិតផ្សេងៗ ការសិក្សាផ្សេងៗ និងការតវ៉ាដោយសន្តិវិធី បាតុកម្មហិង្សា ប្តឹងផ្លូវច្បាប់ ស្ថិតិជម្លោះដីធ្លី និងការសង្កេតឃើញផ្ទាល់របស់ខ្ញុំ គឺថា សម្បទានដីគឺផ្តល់អត្ថប្រយោជន៍ដល់តែមនុស្សមួយក្រុមតូច ប៉ុណ្ណោះ»។ ដោយមានការបង្ហាញអំពីផែនទី និងព័ត៌មានលម្អិត អំពីសម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ចរបាយការណ៍នោះ បានទាញចំណាប់អារម្មណ៍ពិសេសទៅលើករណីមិនអនុវត្តច្បាប់ ចំណុចពាក់ព័ន្ធច្បាប់សម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ច ទីមួយគឺការផ្តល់សម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ចនៅលើតំបន់អភិរក្ស និងការផ្តល់សម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ចច្រើនជាង១០០០០ ហិកតាលើសពីចំនួនដែលបានកំណត់នៅក្នុងច្បាប់។ ជាមួយការមិនគោរពច្បាប់ ព្រមទាំងការខ្វះចន្លោះនៃច្បាប់ រដ្ឋាភិបាលបានធ្វើឲ្យមានចំនួនសម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ចយ៉ាងច្រើន ។ ចំពោះការផ្តល់សម្បទានក្នុងតំបន់អភិរក្ស គឺធ្វើឡើងតាមរយៈការដាក់ចំណាត់ថ្នាក់ដីឡើងវិញ ដើម្បីបើកផ្លូវដល់ការផ្តល់សម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ចទាំងនោះ និងបានកើតមានក្នុងចំនួនច្រើន នៅតំបន់ឧទ្យានជាតិនិងតំបន់អភិរក្សសត្វព្រៃ។
លោក ស៊ូប៊ែរឌី បានសរសេរដោយចង្អុលបង្ហាញអំពីដីចំនួនជិត២០ ភាគរយនៃផ្ទៃដីតំបន់អភិរក្សទាំងអស់របស់ប្រទេស ដែលត្រូវបានផ្តល់ចំណាត់ថ្នាក់ជាថ្មី ដើម្បីផ្តល់សម្បទានដី សម្រាប់ក្រុមហ៊ុនដាំកៅស៊ូ ឧស្សាហកម្ម កសិឧស្សាហកម្ម ឧស្សាហកម្មរុករករ៉ែ និងគម្រោងវារីអគ្គិសនី ថា៖ «មានក្តីបារម្ភដែលអនុក្រឹត្យកំពុងត្រូវបានប្រើជាឱកាស និងមធ្យោបាយ សម្រាប់រដ្ឋាភិបាលដើម្បីដាក់ចំណាត់ថ្នាក់ដី ក្នុងតំបន់អភិរក្សឡើងវិញ ហើយផ្តល់ទៅជាសម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ចទៅដល់ក្រុមហ៊ុន»។ ទន្ទឹមនេះ ក្រុមហ៊ុនដែលទទួលបានសម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ច រំលោភយកដីបន្ថែមទៀតលើសពីចំនួនកំណត់ស្របច្បាប់របស់ខ្លួន តាមរយៈការវាតទីយកដីនៅតំបន់ជិតខាងនោះ។
មន្រ្តី នៅក្រសួងបរិស្ថាន ក្រសួងកសិកម្ម និងក្រសួងគ្រប់គ្រងដែនដី មិនអាចទាក់ទងសុំការធ្វើអត្ថាធិប្បាយបានទេ កាលពីម្សិលមិញ។
ពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹងអត្ថប្រយោជន៍ដែលរដ្ឋាភិបាលទទួលបានពីសម្បទាន ដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ចទាំងនោះ លោក ស៊ូប៊ែរឌី បានព្រមានថា អត្ថប្រយោជន៍នោះ គឺជាអត្ថប្រយោជន៍ប្រភេទខ្លីប៉ុណ្ណោះ។
លោកបានសរសេរថា៖ «ពិតណាស់ ប្រហែលជាមានផលប៉ះពាល់ដ៏ធំធេង ដែលអាចកើតចេញពីភាពមិនប្រក្រតីនៃការគ្រប់គ្រង និងការផ្តល់សម្បទានដីសេដ្ឋកិច្ច និងសម្បទានដទៃៗទៀតមកលើប្រទេសនេះ គឺ បញ្ហាស្ថិរភាពក្នុងប្រទេស»។ លោកបន្តទៀតថា៖«ជាងនេះទៀតអាជីវកម្មដែលមិនមានលិខិតស្នាម និងនីតិវិធីត្រឹមត្រូវដើម្បីការពារហានិភ័យនៅតំបន់មូលដ្ឋាន អាចធ្វើឲ្យប៉ះពាល់ដល់ភាពលូតលាស់សេដ្ឋកិច្ចរបស់កម្ពុជា»។
ក្រៅពីលោក ស៊ូប៊ែរឌី អគ្គរាជទូតរបស់កម្ពុជា ប្រចាំអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ លោក ស៊ុន សួន នឹងត្រូវឡើងថ្លែងសេចក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍មួយ ប៉ុន្តែហួសពេលដែលកាសែត ភ្នំពេញ ប៉ុស្តិ៍ត្រូវរង់ចាំ កាលពីយប់មិញ។
អង្គការចំនួន ៥ រួមទាំង អង្គការសហព័ន្ធសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអន្តរជាតិ និងអង្គការគំនិតផ្តួចផើ្តមយុត្តិធម៌សង្គមបើកទូលាយ ក៏នឹងត្រូវឡើងថ្លែងសេចក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍ខ្លីៗរបស់ខ្លួនផង ដែរ កាលពីយប់មិញ ពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹងបញ្ហាអំពើពុករលួយក្នុងប្រព័ន្ធតុលាការ ការបំភិតបំភ័យរបស់រដ្ឋាភិបាល ទៅលើក្រុមអ្នករិះគន់ និងការជ្រៀតជ្រែកនយោបាយនៅ អ.វ.ត.ក។ នេះបើយោងតាមក្រុមដែលមានវត្តមាននៅទីនោះ៕ PS
UN report slams Cambodia’s land abuses
Abby Seiff, Phnom Penh Post, Sep. 26 2012
Blackened tree stumps smoulder on deforested land in the Prey Lang forest in March. Photograph: May Titthara/Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia’s economic land concession (ELC) policies are hindering development far more than helping it and beginning to erode the country’s hard-won stability, Cambodia’s special rapporteur warned yesterday.
“As I have noted in relation to other sectors in Cambodia, the existence of the legal framework on paper is one thing, the implementation of the law is another,” rights envoy Surya Subedi told the UN Human Rights Council last night.
“I have been consistently informed that the formal framework relating to land concessions is not being applied properly in many, if not most, cases.”
Addressing the inter-governmental body in Geneva, Subedi also delivered a 130-page addendum to his annual report printed last month, which offers an unsparing look at ELCs.
In the report, released to the public yesterday, Subedi underscores how a solid set of laws intended to govern concessions is flouted and ignored to provide companies and the government with gains that are temporary at best.
The government declared a moratorium on ELCs in May, but dozens in the pipeline at the time of the announcement have continued to go through.
“Throughout my analysis, I struggled to fully comprehend the benefits of many land concessions that the government has granted. In general, it is not clear to what extent the people of Cambodia have actually benefited from land concessions,” Subedi writes.
“The overwhelming conclusion drawn from petitions, letters, studies, peaceful protests, violent demonstrations, legal complaints, land-dispute statistics and my own direct observations is that land concessions are only benefiting a minority.”
Backed by dozens of pages of maps and concessionaire details, the report draws special attention to two rampant misuses of the ELC laws: concessions granted in protected areas and those over the permissible 10,000 hectares.
Both are ostensibly illegal, but loopholes and government compliance have resulted in a surge of such concessions.
In the case of granting land in protected areas, a seemingly ad hoc system of reclassifying the land as a “sustainable use zone” has allowed concessions to proliferate in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
“There is concern that sub-decrees are being used opportunistically as a means for the government to designate land within protected areas and grant it to concession companies,” Subedi writes, pointing out that nearly 20 per cent of the country’s protected areas have been re-purposed for rubber plantations, agro-industrial complexes, exploratory mining and hydropower projects.
Meanwhile, concessionaires have been able to collect parcels of land far larger than the legal limit “by obtaining separate but contiguous concessions and using them for the same purpose”.
Officials at the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, and Land Management could not be reached for comment.
Accusing the government of allowing concessionaires to “operate behind a veil of secrecy,” Subedi cautions that whatever benefits the government may reap from such allowances will probably be short-lived.
“Perhaps the greatest impact that the irregular granting and mismanagement of economic and other land concessions has on the country is to its stability,” he writes. “Businesses without proper legal and procedural safeguards run significant risks that could affect their reputations, legal status, and profits, and in turn could hamper Cambodia‘s economic growth.”
Speaking at the council last night, Cambodia’s ambassador to the UN, Sun Suon, addressed few of Subedi’s points head-on, instead focusing on progress — highlighting the ELC moratorium as one such success.
“The political stability and peace over the past decade has brought prosperity and peace to Cambodia,” he said.
Tags: Cambodia, Development, Land Concession
Illegal loggers threaten Prey Lang patrol
May Titthara, Phnom Penh Post, Sep. 20 2012
Villagers are pictured close to the timber they discovered while on a patrol in Prey Lang forest earlier this week. Photograph: Vanessa De Smet/Phnom Penh Post
The Prey Lang community patrol network faced threats from illegal loggers after reporting the loggers’ names to authorities, along with the discovery of more than 120 cubic metres of illegally felled timber and seven chainsaws, a patrol representative said yesterday.
Chheang Vuthy, a community representative from Kampong Thom, said that at the end of the network’s forest patrol, he was forced to flee for his own safety after receiving several phone threats.
“They asked me many times to write a letter saying that my report is wrong, but I cannot do it,” he said. “I dare not stay at my home. I am afraid they will do something to me.”
During the five-day patrol, which ended on Monday, about 280 Prey Long villagers combed through Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng and Kratie provinces for evidence of illegal logging, but they had been unable to meet as planned on Tuesday because heavy rain had prevented travel, Preah Vihear province community representative Phouk Hong said.
She said that after the patrol, her group had incinerated 15 cubic metres of timber and a chainsaw. She added that the chainsaw’s owner wanted it back, but no amount of bribery would convince the community to return it.
“Previously, we have always sent illegal machinery to local authorities, but it was always lost. So this time, we burned it,” she said.
Kampong Thom provincial governor Uth Sam Orn said he had not yet received the villagers’ report, but authorities were taking measures to prevent illegal logging.
“I have not received news about illegal loggers threatening villagers, so they should file a complaint to the authorities,” he said.
Tags: Cambodia, Development, Land Concession
Activists fear Cambodia’s rising rights abuses
May Titthara, Phnom Penh Post, Sep. 19 2012
Chut Wutty burns illegal timber in Prey Lang forest. Photograph: Mathieu Young/Phnom Penh Post
Threats, intimidation and, in extreme cases, even murder were endangering freedom of expression in Cambodia and leaving human rights at the crossroads, activists and NGO representatives said during a round-table meeting yesterday.
The slaying of environmental activist Chut Wutty, the arrest of Beehive radio director Mam Sonando on secessionist charges and the imprisonment of the “Boeung Kak 13” were among the worst examples of a system becoming increasingly intolerant of those questioning it, participants at the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights hosted forum said.
“The police force and courts are being exploited as a way of instilling fear and intimidation into the political dissidents,” CCHR president Ou Virak said.
“Having personally attended the trial of Mam Sonando, I found that there really is no case against him,” he said.
In contrast, rights abuses at the hands of officials were being brushed aside and rarely made it to court, Virak said.
According to analysis provided by the forum’s organisers, 15 human rights activists, land activists, politicians and policy reformers have been killed in suspicious circumstances since 1990, and 1,440 have been charged with a crime.
Am Sam Ath, senior investigator for the rights group Licadho, said the murders of Wutty andRatanakkiri journalist Hang Serei Oudom, among other incidents, had not been properly dealt with by authorities.“The government should consider these incidents hugely important,” he said. “Especially because Cambodia is now chair of ASEAN, and a democratic country where freedom of expression should be wide open for everyone.”
Yi Sok San, deputy director in charge of land affairs at the rights group Adhoc, said freedom of expression was also being stifled in the media – where it was of vital importance.
“We have an abundance of media such as newspapers, radios and TV, but how many of them reveal what’s really going on?” he said.
Boeung Kak representative Tep Vanny, one of 13 women sentenced to two and a half years in prison in May over a land protest but released in June, said residents fighting against eviction were considered thorns in the authorities’ side rather than being seen as having rights.
“Having inadequate freedom of expression is serious punishment for people like us,” she said. “But I will struggle till the last second of my life.”
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the organisers were trying to link separate issues as a way of attacking the government.
“The cases of Chut Wutty, the Boeung Kak women and Mam Sonando are individual issues. They can’t represent the freedom of expression as a whole nationwide,” he said.
Om Yentieng, the senior minister in charge of human rights affairs, could not be reached for comment.
Tags: Cambodia, Development, Human Rights, Land Concession, Land Dispute, Phnom Penh
ឈើជាង៦គូបត្រូវរឹបអូសនៅភ្នំពេញថ្មី
Monday, 10 September 2012 គឹម សារុំ From The Phnom Penh Post
ភ្នំពេញៈ ប្រភេទឈើកែច្នៃប្រមាណ៦,៦៤៤ ម៉ែត្រគូប ត្រូវបានកម្លាំងសមត្ថកិច្ចចម្រុះ ធ្វើការចុះបង្ក្រាបរឹបអូសកាលពីថ្ងៃទី៨ ខែកញ្ញាកន្លងទៅ ក្រោមការដឹកនាំបង្ក្រាបពីនាយខណ្ឌរដ្ឋបាលព្រៃឈើរាជធានីនិងមន្ត្រី នគរបាលការិយាល័យប្រឆាំងបទល្មើសសេដ្ឋកិច្ចរាជធានីភ្នំពេញអាជ្ញាធរមូលដ្ឋាន និងមានការចូលរួមពីព្រះរាជអាជ្ញារង លោក សុខ រឿន ផង។
លោក កែវ សុន្ធោ មេប៉ុស្តិ៍នគរបាលសង្កាត់ភ្នំពេញថ្មីប្រាប់ឲ្យដឹង កាលពីម្សិលមិញថា ប្រតិបត្តិការបង្រ្កាបនោះធ្វើនៅសិប្បកម្មកែច្នៃឈើ ជាដីឡូត៍ និងមានតែកូនផ្ទះតូចមួយប៉ុណ្ណោះហើយថា ម្ចាស់សិប្បកម្មបានគេចខ្លួនបាត់ នៅមុនពេលកម្លាំងសមត្ថកិច្ចចម្រុះចុះទៅដល់ម្ល៉េះ។
លោកមេប៉ុស្តិ៍ អះអាងថា៖ «កម្លាំងសមត្ថកិច្ចបានឆែកឆេរនិងរឹបអូសបានប្រភេទឈើកែច្នៃប្រមាណ ៦,៦៤៤ ម៉ែត្រគូប ដែលគេទម្លាក់ក្នុងអាងទឹកតូចមួយក្នុងបរិវេណដីឡូត៍នោះ»។
លោក កែវ សុន្ធោ ប្រាប់ដែរ ថា៖ «កាលពីថ្ងៃម្សិលមិញខាងម្ចាស់ដីឡូត៍នោះបានមកពីខេត្តព្រះសីហនុ គាត់បានទៅរាយការណ៍ឲ្យសមត្ថកិច្ចលោកបានដឹងពីរឿងនេះ ប៉ុន្តែ គាត់មិនទាន់ បានប្រាប់ឈ្មោះអ្នកជួលដីគាត់ទេ»។ លោកប្រាប់ថា ឈើដែលរឹបអូសបានត្រូវខាងសង្កាត់រដ្ឋបាលព្រៃឈើរាជធានីភ្នំពេញដឹកយកទៅរក្សាទុកហើយ។
ផ្ទះសិប្បកម្មនោះ ស្ថិតនៅក្នុងដីឡូត៍លេខ៩ នៅតាមបណ្តោយផ្លូវ១០៧៨ ក្នុងភូមិភ្នំពេញថ្មីសង្កាត់ភ្នំពេញថ្មី ខណ្ឌសែនសុខ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ។
មន្រ្តីកងរាជអាវុធហត្ថខណ្ឌសែនសុខម្នាក់ដែលចូលរួមប្រតិបត្តិការនេះបានឲ្យដឹងថា ក្នុងប្រតិបត្តិការចុះបង្រា្កបឈើនេះមានទាំងនាយរងរដ្ឋបាលព្រៃឈើរាជធានីភ្នំពេញលោក អ៊ុន វណ្ណរិទ្ធ លោកព្រះរាជអាជ្ញារង សុខ រឿន និងកងរាជអាវុធហត្ថខណ្ឌសែនសុខ ប្រធានការិយាល័យនគរបាលប្រឆាំងបទល្មើសសេដ្ឋកិច្ចរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ រួមនឹងអាជ្ញាធរមូលដ្ឋានផងដែរ។
ប៉ុន្តែ មន្ត្រីដឹកនាំការបង្ក្រាបទាំងនេះផ្ទាល់ លោក អ៊ុន វណ្ណរិទ្ធ និងលោកព្រះរាជអាជ្ញារងសុខ រឿន នៅពេលទាក់ទងបានកាលពីម្សិលមិញ បានបដិសេធមិនព្រមធ្វើការបញ្ជាក់ព័ត៌មាននេះលម្អិតនោះទេ៕
សហគមន៍ការពារព្រៃឈើបារម្ភពីការកាប់ឈើខុសច្បាប់នៅឧត្ដរមានជ័យ
ដោយ ហង្ស សាវយុត 2012-09-04, From RFA
ព្រៃស្អាក ដែលស្ថិតនៅឃុំអន្លង់វែង គឺជាតំបន់ឧទ្យានជាតិជម្រកសត្វព្រៃដ៏ធំមួយ ដែលតភ្ជាប់ពីតំបន់ឧទ្យានជាតិគូលែនព្រហ្មទេព ខេត្តព្រះវិហារ ទៅដល់តំបន់ព្រៃសហគមន៍សង្ឃរុក្ខវ័ន្ត នៃទឹកដីក្រុងសំរោង ខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យ កំពុងបាត់បង់ព្រៃឈើជាច្រើន គួរឲ្យព្រួយបារម្ភ ដោយសារតែមានការលួចចូលទៅកាប់ដើមឈើធំៗ ដើម្បីធ្វើជំនួញខុសច្បាប់។ សហគមន៍សង្គ្រោះព្រៃឈើភូមិអូរតាម៉េង របស់ឃុំអន្លង់វែង បានឱ្យដឹងថា ពួកគេនឹងមិនអាចការពារព្រៃឈើជាច្រើនពាន់ហិកតារ នៅតំបន់ព្រៃស្អាក ចម្ងាយប្រមាណ៣០គីឡូម៉ែត្រភាគខាងកើតពីទីរួមស្រុកអន្លង់វែង បានទៀតឡើយ ប្រសិនបើមន្ត្រីរដ្ឋាភិបាលដែលពាក់ព័ន្ធ មិនបានចាត់វិធានការជួយជ្រោមជ្រែងពួកគេឱ្យមានប្រសិទ្ធភាពលើកិច្ចការពារទេនោះ។
លោក ឡេវ សែត ជាប្រធានសហគមន៍សង្គ្រោះព្រៃឈើ ភូមិអូរតាម៉េង នៃឃុំអន្លង់វែង លោកបានមានប្រសាសន៍កាលពីរសៀលថ្ងៃចន្ទ ទី៣ ខែកញ្ញា ថា ពេលបច្ចុប្បន្ននេះ ព្រៃសហគមន៍របស់លោកនៅក្នុងតំបន់ព្រៃស្អាក កំពុងទទួលរងការលួចកាប់ ហើយក្រុមឈ្មួញបានដឹកជញ្ជូនយកចេញទៅធ្វើអាជីវកម្មខុសច្បាប់ស្ទើរតែរៀងរាល់ថ្ងៃ។ ប្រធានសហគមន៍ការពារព្រៃឈើដដែល បានបញ្ជាក់ថា មានក្រុមហ៊ុនខ្លះ និងឧកញ៉ាខ្លះ គឺជាអ្នកចាំទទួលទិញឈើដែលគេលួចកាប់ចេញពីតំបន់ព្រៃស្អាក នោះ។
លោក ឡេវ សែត៖ «អារដឹកចេញទៅខាងក្រុមហ៊ុនសំរោងរ៉ាប់ប័រ ហើយខ្លះមួយចំនួននោះ ដឹកចេញមកក្នុងវត្ត ឱ្យឧកញ៉ាឯណានោះ។ ប្រភេទឈើដើមគគីរ ដើមឈើទាល ដើមត្រាច ដើមពពេល។ ឥឡូវនេះ វាអស់អា១២០-១៣០ ហើយមុខ២០ មុខ៣០ ក៏អារដែរ។ ខ្ញុំព្រួយណាស់ តែមិនដឹងថាគិតយ៉ាងម៉េច បើកម្លាំងសមាជិកសហគមន៍ចេះតែទៅការពារ ទៅហាមឃាត់ដេញគេ។ ពេលដេញគេចេញ ដល់ពេលយប់គេចូលទៅធ្វើទៀត»។
ទោះយ៉ាងណា លោក ហួ គន្ធា ជានាយសង្កាត់រដ្ឋបាលព្រៃឈើស្រុកអន្លង់វែង បានបដិសេធមិនធ្វើការអធិប្បាយលើបញ្ហានេះថាយ៉ាងណាឡើយ ដោយលោកមានប្រសាសន៍ថា លោកមិនអាចនិយាយឆ្លើយឆ្លងគ្នាតាមរយៈទូរស័ព្ទបានទេ ប្រសិនបើចង់ដឹងរឿងផ្សេងៗ ទាល់តែទៅជួបផ្ទាល់នៅកន្លែងរបស់លោក។
សមាជិកសហគមន៍សង្គ្រោះព្រៃឈើ ភូមិអូរតាម៉េង ខ្លះ បានរិះគន់ទៅលើមន្ត្រីរដ្ឋបាលព្រៃឈើប្រចាំតំបន់នោះថា មានកិច្ចសហការតិចតួច នៅពេលដែលពួកគេត្រូវការជំនួយពីរដ្ឋបាលព្រៃឈើ ដើម្បីបង្ក្រាបការកាប់ឈើខុសច្បាប់ ដែលកំពុងតែកើតឡើងនោះ។
សមាជិកសហគមន៍សង្គ្រោះព្រៃឈើ ភូមិអូរតាម៉េង ម្នាក់ ដែលសុំមិនបញ្ចេញឈ្មោះ បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា អ្នកកាប់ឈើខុសច្បាប់នៅព្រៃស្អាក ខ្លះ ជាប្រជាពលរដ្ឋចំណាកស្រុក និងខ្លះពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹងកម្លាំងប្រដាប់អាវុធ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែ គេឃើញមន្ត្រីរដ្ឋបាលព្រៃឈើមានការចុះបង្ក្រាបតិចតួច៖ «ពេញតែព្រៃហ្នឹងឯង ត្រង់ណាក៏កាប់ដែរ។ ខ្ញុំដើរទៅមើលថ្ងៃមុន ឃើញកាប់ទាំងអស់ ឃើញម៉ាស៊ីនង៉ោងកាត់ឡើងពេញទាំងហ្នឹង។ ដូចអត់ឃើញមានសមត្ថកិច្ចចុះទៅស៊ើបទៅសួរទៅចាប់ទៅចងអីទេ។ ខាងពួកខ្ញុំ មិនដឹងជួយបង្ក្រាបយ៉ាងម៉េចបាន ព្រោះអីយើងបង្ក្រាបទៅមានទាហានអីគេទៅសម្លុត គំរាម ពួកខ្ញុំក៏ខ្លាចគេ ព្រោះគេមានអាវុធ»។
សហគមន៍សង្គ្រោះព្រៃឈើ ភូមិអូរតាម៉េង បានឱ្យដឹងថា គេបានចុះកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងជាមួយរដ្ឋាភិបាល ដោយទទួលការពារព្រៃស្អាក ទំហំជាង៤.១៥០ហិកតារ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែ បច្ចុប្បន្ននេះ គេប៉ាន់ប្រមាណថា ព្រៃឈើនៅក្នុងសហគមន៍របស់គេប្រមាណ១០០ហិកតារ បានបាត់បង់ ដោយសារតែក្រុមជនខិលខូចតែងតែលួចចូលកាប់យកទៅធ្វើអាជីវកម្មខុសច្បាប់៕
កំណត់ចំណាំចំពោះអ្នកបញ្ចូលមតិនៅក្នុងអត្ថបទនេះ៖ ដើម្បីរក្សាសេចក្ដីថ្លៃថ្នូរ យើងខ្ញុំនឹងផ្សាយតែមតិណា ដែលមិនជេរប្រមាថដល់អ្នកដទៃប៉ុណ្ណោះ។
សំណុំរឿងឃាតកម្ម លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី ពន្យាពេលកាត់ទោសជនល្មើស
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