13 Thais, 3 Cambodians arrested for illegal logging

Asian Political News, Dec 25, 2000

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 20 Kyodo

At least 13 Thais and three Cambodians were arrested in Cambodia's southwest Koh Kong Province for illegal logging, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday.

The prime minister also criticized the Thai government for falling behind in anti-logging cooperation with Cambodia but added it may be because of the campaign for the Jan. 6 election in Thailand.

''Thailand is busy with election campaign, therefore...they are neglecting the issue and allowing people to buy logs from Cambodia or to enter Cambodia to illegally cut forests,'' he said.

He said a commission set up Tuesday will immediately begin negotiations with Thailand to find out who else may be involved in illegal logging.

Yuth Puthang, the Koh Kong governor, told Kyodo News that more than 100 military police and parachutists, using two helicopters, were sent in to crack down on the illegal cutting of Cambodian forests.

In addition to the arrests, some 1,000 cubic meters of logs were confiscated at the scene along with logging tools and a pickup truck.

Over the last two years, environmental group Global Witness has acknowledged efforts and commitments taken by the Cambodian government to crack down on illegal loggers.

But it has not yet been effective nationwide.

It has been reported illegal logging still is ongoing in provinces of Koh Kong, Pursat, and Battambang provinces, all bordering Thailand.

Cambodian forest cover has been slashed from ranging across about 70% of the country in the 1970s to only 30% to 35% now.

Hun Sen pledged Wednesday to continue forest reform at the least until his term expires in 2003.