PHNOM PENH: The Preah Vihear Provincial Court ordered the pre-trial detention of three suspects in connection with illegal forestry activities in the Chheb–Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the O’Skach area of Choam Ksant district on Thursday (April 9).
An April 10 statement from the Ministry of Environment explained that park rangers from the Preah Vihear Provincial Department of Environment had responded to complaints from a local community and investigated natural resource crimes in the O’Skach area (Zone 94) of the sanctuary.
Authorities arrested three suspects, Nut Chea, Khun Sas and San Vy.
The Kuoy indigenous community reported widespread illegal activities in the O’Skach area. Community members found that offenders were felling trees, sawing and transporting timber from the area.
“We discovered 122 pieces of processed timber, 29 pillars and 66 planks, totalling approximately 50 cubic metres of timber in the O’Skach area near the grasslands,” said a statement from the community.
They urged the environment department to take action, with specific calls for corrupt officials who are involved in natural resource crimes to be punished.
Community members claimed that many loggers are operating in the Preah Roka forest and called for additional enforcement measures.
They also requested that confiscated timber be used to build houses for displaced people, schools, pagodas or community in need. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
