Simon Taylor, Global Witness co-founderBrian Calvert, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
06/06/2007
The head of the forest monitor group Global Witness called physical threats to his staff by the prime minister's brother unacceptable Wednesday and appealed to donors and officials to investigate the crimes and high-level corruption stripping Cambodia's forests.
"I can only take that as a direct threat, which I think is completely unacceptable," Simon Taylor, director of Global Witness, said, referring to a comment by Hun Sen's brother, Hun Neng, who is governor of Kampong Cham province.
Hun Neng told the Cambodia Daily on Tuesday that if Global Witness staff came to Cambodia again he would "hit them until their heads are broken," in response to a report the group issued last week.
The report links illegal logging to Hun Sen, his wife, a cousin, the Minister of Agriculture and the director of the Forestry Administration. Government members have denied wrongdoing, and on Sunday the Cambodian government banned the report.
Taylor said Hun Neng's threats were typical, but they highlighted the kind of danger Cambodians near valuable forests continually face.
"These kinds of threats illustrate to my mind very clearly what most Cambodians have to deal with, if they are on the ground and face a situation that is very threatening to their livelihoods," he said. "So I think it's something the donors should wake up and take note and deal with."
The report, "Cambodia's Family Trees," was highly critical of donor countries, which, the group said, contribute more than $600 million in aid each year without using the money's political leverage to stop forest crimes or corruption.
Taylor said the lack of progress made over the years pointed to donor "spinelessness" and fear of tough stances.
"I can only take that as a direct threat, which I think is completely unacceptable," Simon Taylor, director of Global Witness, said, referring to a comment by Hun Sen's brother, Hun Neng, who is governor of Kampong Cham province.
Hun Neng told the Cambodia Daily on Tuesday that if Global Witness staff came to Cambodia again he would "hit them until their heads are broken," in response to a report the group issued last week.
The report links illegal logging to Hun Sen, his wife, a cousin, the Minister of Agriculture and the director of the Forestry Administration. Government members have denied wrongdoing, and on Sunday the Cambodian government banned the report.
Taylor said Hun Neng's threats were typical, but they highlighted the kind of danger Cambodians near valuable forests continually face.
"These kinds of threats illustrate to my mind very clearly what most Cambodians have to deal with, if they are on the ground and face a situation that is very threatening to their livelihoods," he said. "So I think it's something the donors should wake up and take note and deal with."
The report, "Cambodia's Family Trees," was highly critical of donor countries, which, the group said, contribute more than $600 million in aid each year without using the money's political leverage to stop forest crimes or corruption.
Taylor said the lack of progress made over the years pointed to donor "spinelessness" and fear of tough stances.
"It gets difficult, what happens? They collectively duck," he said. "And so to my mind this document is a real wake-up call. We want to see some serious collective action."
Taylor said Global Witness will next push the donor governments at home to investigate the use of aid money and scrutinize their development goals for Cambodia.
10 comments:
I'm a Khmer Blood , but I realy want Mr.Simon Talor to SUE Hun Neng.Prohok Khmer.
what Somon can sue for? Just word? is Simon = Hun Sen? NO!!!
But as Simon said : - What poor Cambodian face in their country if they do any thing that make Strong man family unhappy, they get beat up, shot, blowup, or maime!
UN do not lie to yourself wake up you promise to give Cambodian democracy in 1993!
Simon Taylor should consider himself lucky that Hun Neng only said he would "beat GW staff up until their heads split". Hun Neng could have said "prepare your coffins".
Dear Mr. Simon Taylor,
Khmer people thank you a lot for the courage and foresight of you and your team.
We wish you to succeed to open the eyes of the international donors which are so far blind.
Kick Ah Chkout's (Global Witness')
ass; know out their teet; leave no
bone unbroken, then send them to
Prey Sor. That is if they ever
step on our holly soil again.
7:39AM Chea Monous Ah Chol Mar Shit, Kan Cherng Pouk Ah CPP Bom Plainh Cheat, Min Deng Chea Ah Kwak Oy LUY Pon Marn Dong Te???
Now what are you gonna do, you violent thuggish Hun criminals when the big man himself Simon Taylor speaks on YOU!
The GW reports are TOO SHORT. There are many more criminal actities committed by this family and fiends, Tycoons, Oknha, Phay Chor or Junk Stars, Judges.....Let Histoy tell all the truth.
PLEASE ANY ORGANIZATION RESEARCH THAT CASE ABOUT AH HUN SEN CORRUPTION IN DRUG AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN CAMBODIA
Kick Ah Chkout's (ah Hun Sen)
ass; know out his tooth; leave no
bone unbroken, then send them to
hang to dead. That is if they ever
step out his Takhmau fort again.
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