Villagers in Prey Long Forest seize load of illegal timber

Faced with continued illegal logging in Prey Long forest, villagers in Kompong Thom province’s Sandan district once again took the initiative to seize a large haul of illegal timber from local loggers. Villagers, however, said that local officials are complicit in the logging ring and are now pressuring them to return the confiscated wood. On Monday, villagers in Mean Rith commune spotted a truck transporting a haul of luxury wood and – together with the Prey Long People’s Network, a local community group – about 40 villagers decided to stop the truck and seize its load, said Moeun Chhun, a local member of the network…