"Minister Sam Al calls for probe into illegal Prey Lang logging", 13 October 2019

Environment Minister Say Sam Al has submitted a letter to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries asking to jointly investigate Think BioTech Co Ltd and Angkor Plywood Company for suspected illegal logging in Prey Lang Forest.

The letter … said the Ministry of Environment had received reports by the EU in Cambodia and USAID Cambodia, which said Think BioTech was logging valuable trees in Prey Lang Forest near land concession areas of the company. Angkor Plywood Company was the party that processed the valuable trees.

“The EU and USAID Cambodia requested the royal government to investigate and take measures to ensure the protection and conservation of Prey Lang Forest.

“To be the basis for making a report to the head of the government, the Ministry of Environment would like His Excellency Minister [of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries] to investigate the developmental activities of Think BioTech and Angkor Plywood Company for the Ministry of Environment…

Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Pheaktra said …: “I don’t have information on the latest developments in the issue.”…

Activist Heng Sros said that he was investigating the case of the two companies, where both had carried out their activities in the forest area located in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.

… Sros reiterated that forest activists and residents living near the Prey Lang Forest area had filed several complaints and requested that provincial authorities take measures against the companies.

He claimed that the authorities had not taken any action, instead choosing to help the companies cover-up illegal logging activities…