Forestry Activists Find Illegal Timber Haul
Members of the Prey Long People’s Network ended a three-day patrol of the forest yesterday and said they had discovered about 300 cubic meters of illegally logged timber and swathes of state-owned forest being encroached on by private companies. … “Authorities are paying no attention to it…they take no measures to stop these illegal activities,” [Mr. Hoeun Sopheap, a member of the Prey Long people’s Network said]. Mr. Sopheap added that the network has taken photographs of the suspect timber and would file a complaint with the local Forestry Administration. … Am Sam Ath, technical supervisor at rights group Licadho, said the authorities consistently rejected any findings of illegal logging by the Prey Lang People’s network. … “I think some officials are involved in illegal logging activities,” he said. “That’s why they always reject any evidence found by the activists.”
