M’kiri villagers petition over illegal logging

Nearly 200 people from 25 different communities converged on the Mondolkiri Provincial Hall Monday to file complaints and petitions calling for an end to illegal logging and environmental degradation. The action comes two days after armed commune police blocked 16 rights workers and journalists from visiting disputed land in Keo Seima’s Sre Preah commune. The authorities claimed the group had no permission to proceed along the public road, and that they were afraid the press​​ coverage would lead to further incursions by timber-hungry logging companies. Sreunh Mach, a representative of the ethnic Banong minority community of Sre Preah commune, said he was hoping that they would have more luck in reaching a solution by bringing the provincial government’s attention to their plight. …

Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/mkiri-villagers-petition-over-illegal-logging-57612/