Villagers nab logging truck

18 February 2014
The Phnom Penh Post
Civil society / Environment and natural resources policy and administration / Environmental and biodiversity protection / Ethnic minorities and indigenous people / Forest policy and administration / Forest products / Forests and forestry / Land / Logging and timber / Protected forest / Social development
Adhoc / Chit Sophal / Keb Kort / Mondulkiri provincial court / Mondulkiri provincial department of environment / Mondulkiri provincial forestry administration

In the latest case involving illegal logging in Mondulkiri’s Sen Monorom district, two indigenous communities filed a lawsuit against three unidentified illegal loggers after confiscating a truck laden with luxury wood on Saturday, a rights monitor and villagers said yesterday. About 50 villagers turned over the truck – piled with 43 pieces of confiscated wood – to officials manning the provincial Department of Environment on Sunday, Sok Ratha, a provincial coordinator for Adhoc, said. “The [confiscated] timber and truck are evidence of forest crime that villagers are cracking down on, and now locals are asking the court to find the suspects and stop the logging to protect their forest,” Ratha said, adding that Adhoc had provided legal assistance and filed the lawsuit with the provincial court yesterday. …

 Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-nab-logging-truck