Navy denies logging allegations
A colonel in the Royal Cambodian Navy yesterday denied accusations by the NGO Wildlife Alliance that naval officers opened fire on patrolling rangers on the Tatai River in Koh Kong province as they tried seizing an allegedly illegal shipment of rosewood.
Colonel Tep Vuthy instead accused military police of colluding with the Southern Cardamom Forest Protection Unit of Tatai Station, claiming they were on duty the night of October 10 in Mondul Seima district’s Bak Khlang commune. …
“I conducted an investigation and found that my [naval] subordinates did not transport the timber or open fire,” Vuthy said yesterday, adding that his officials could not have opened fire anyway, as they were unarmed. …
Despite saying naval officials had no involvement in the incident, Vuthy said an officer charged with monitoring the area had been temporarily suspended, but refused to reveal the officer’s identity as the matter was being dealt with internally. …
Phak Seangly and Amelia Woodside
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/navy-denies-logging-allegations
