Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
Environmental activist, Ma Chettra, said on Monday that he has submitted evidence to the Environment Ministry following an invitation by ministry lawyers to support his findings of illegal logging in a protected area, which he suspects are allegedly conducted by the relatives of environment officials.
Eight community members from Preah Vihear also accompanied Chettra who gave a similar testimony to what commented in his video on July 26.
“I can’t reveal some things, but they are related to it [illegal loggers]. They [the ministry] will conduct their investigation. Let us hope for justice [to prevail],” Chettra told reporters after leaving the ministry where he attended a two-hour discussion.
The ministry said they would support and provide legal assistance to him to deal with forest crimes, but Chettra voiced concerns for his safety.
“My concern is my safety and security, with relation to the loggers. The second thing is the legal issue tied to court,” Chettra said.
During a joint patrol with community members on July 26 night, he filmed trucks loaded with timber taken from the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Cheysen district. In the video, which he posted on his social media page, was a truck said to be linked to environmental officers.
Environment Ministry spokesperson Kvay Atitya said that the discussion focused on cooperation and protection of natural resources, following Chettra’s video.
“The meeting provided us information to understand [the situation] and cooperate to strengthen law enforcement and protect our environment effectively,” he said.
Prey Land community network said illegal logging has continued as discovered during a four-day patrol. They found vehicles carrying over 280 timber planks, and 20 cut logs on the ground.
One of the members, Lim Kien, 56, who came with Chettra, urged the ministry to prevent forest crimes, especially “loggers and officials who are involved in the destruction of the forest”.
“I am concerned about losing my income from the forest as we rely on Prey Lang for our livelihood,” he said.
“We have seen that authorities have failed to prevent [forest crime] but instead prevented us [from patrolling] to protect the forest,” said Kien, an indigenous Kuy.
A broader crackdown on environmental activists have seen numerous arrests in recent years, including 10 Mother Nature Cambodia members who were convicted of plotting to overthrow the government. They were charged following their arrest in July 2024 when they launched a campaign to protect the environment resources.
