An outspoken environmental activist stays resolute in his efforts to raise awareness of environmental issues despite threats of legal action after exposing illegal logging in a protected area in a northern province of Cambodia.
Allegations followed Ma Chettra’s interview with Radio Free Asia regarding his joint patrol with the community where they documented evidence of forest crimes and cut logs in Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary. The authorities have claimed that they were old photos.
Looking at the issue of forest crimes, a good governance analyst felt that there remains a “significant gap” between political will and actual implementation of the law at lower government levels.
In a statement issued by Preah Vihear Environment Department on May 10, environmental activist Chettra and his group were accused of conducting “illegal activities in a protected area without permission”, and “spreading fake news intended to incite and disrupt social order for political gain of individuals living abroad”.
The department said it will take legal action against individuals and groups involved, and called on the media to stop publishing what it described as “false information”.
Speaking to CamboJA News, Chettra said the information he disseminated reflected the “truth on the ground”.
“If government leaders fail to pay attention to the protection of natural resources, particularly to the issue I raised, I am concerned that I may face legal action,” he said.
“I hope the head of the government will thoroughly consider this matter. As I’ve said before, the information I shared is true,” he stressed.
“I will not give up as long as forest crimes continue. I will keep patrolling with the local community to raise awareness. Our only goal is to protect our natural resources,” he added.
Chettra, who joined a three-day patrol with the community in Preah Vihear province on May 5, called on the government and relevant authorities to investigate corruption at the local level, which he believes is contributing to ongoing forest destruction.
“The core issue is corruption. My suspicion is that some officials are colluding with timber traders,” said the 34-year-old, who has protected environmental resources in Areng Valley in Cardamom Mountain since 2014.
Indigenous Kuy community in Prame, which posted a report following their patrol of Preah Rokar Wildlife Sanctuary from May 5 to 7, showed 334 cases of forest crimes, including the chopping of small and large trees, logging camps, chainsaw machines, and cut logs measuring between 25 centimeters and 178 centimeters in diameter.
Kuy Indigenous community resident Kak Phearithmasy, who participated in the patrol, expressed disappointment over the authorities’ rejection of their facts.
“I think the environment officials have denied it because they don’t want to tarnish the reputation of their superiors. When widespread deforestation is exposed, it will reflect badly on the nation too,” he said.
He supported the report made by the community, affirming that they had uncovered some clear evidence of forest crimes.
Ok Serei Sopheak, a good governance expert, urged the government to conduct a proper investigation before drawing conclusions, in reference to Chettra’s case, who he said was “documenting environmental issues in a specific geographic area”.
“In the digital era today, verification of photos, whether they are old or new, is not difficult. If, upon examination, the photos are found to be old, then the person who published them should be held accountable. But if the photos are recent, then an investigation should be conducted by an impartial body,” Sopheak said on his Facebook account.
“Prohibiting the media from reporting this case before a thorough investigation is concluded is a form of intimidation and will only raise public suspicion,” his post read, pointing to Prime Minister Hun Manet’s recent remarks which encouraged citizens to offer constructive criticism and cautioned the spread of false news to incite people.
San Mala, Head of Network and Advocacy at the NGO Partnership for Environment, said relevant authorities should meet environmental activists and local communities who uncovered the forest crimes, instead of issuing statements to “excuse the realities on the ground”.
“We always see the ministry denying these findings, instead of acknowledging the evidence and working together to end deforestation in our country,” he said.
Mala observed that environmental activists are not able to fully exercise their rights and freedoms, while some face the risk of arrest despite their effort to protect natural resources.
Last year, 10 environmental activists were found guilty, with the court ruling their speech or activism as criminal.
Preah Vihear Environment Department director Mouen Sophet called on the community to share the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) points for the 334 cases they reported. The UTM is a coordinate system to locate exact areas on the planet. In this case, he wanted to know the exact locations of the cut logs.
“I want the UTM points to verify it. We need to have an understanding of the procedure,” Sophet said, when a reporter asked to comment about their statement regarding Chettra posting old pictures.
However, he declined to respond to a question on the impending legal action against Chettra. “Please wait for our result first.”
Meanwhile, Environment Ministry spokesperson Kvay Atitya referred to his ministry’s official statement, when contacted for comment. “Minister Eang Sophalleth has urged provincial environment directors to strengthen law enforcement and intensify efforts to prevent natural resource crimes in protected areas,” he said.
Government spokesperson Pen Bona declined to comment, referring questions to the Environment Ministry.
