Bou Thang's Son-in-Law Is Becoming Protector of Illegal Small-Size Sawmill Operators in Ratanakiri Province
By Pheakdei
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online
Ratanakiri province officials hinted that the son-in-law of Bou Thang, lawmaker from the Cambodian People's Party, is turning himself into a most arrogant protector of illegal small-size sawmills. It is said that just in Ban Lung district alone about 40 sawmills of this type are operating smoothly under the warm protection of Yu Kanvimean, deputy chief of the local forest administration district known to be Bou Thang's son-in-law.
Because of the very great influence of Yu Kanvimean, Bou Thang's son-in-law and nephew of Bou Lam, deputy governor of Ratanakiri province, competent authorities have not dared to do anything to him besides turning a blind eye, allowing this man to break the law as he pleases.
It is known that illegal small-size sawmill operators under the tight protection of Yu Kanvimean are doing business in all districts throughout Ratanakiri province. Because of this proliferation of illegal sawmills, the logging of forests in this province is also on the rise.
Some provincial officials said that because of the backing from Bou Thang's son-in-law, the sawmill operators are not afraid to carry on their illegal activities. Moreover, the owners of these small sawmills are sending their workers to cut trees in a most extensive manner.
The widespread logging business that is being conducted through the good offices of Bou Thang's son-in-law is said to be the second worst forest crime in Ratanakiri province after the one committed by Kham Khoeun, former governor of this province.
The criminal named Kham Khoeun, found guilty for destroying the forests, was last year sentenced in absentia by the Phnom Penh tribunal to 17-year imprisonment. This was after the discovery that nearly 80 percent of the forests in the Vireakchey National Park were logged out.
Based on the lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Environment on 15 November 2004, forests in the O Royeul and Kantuy Neak regions of the Vireakchey National Park were extensively logged and destroyed between 10 March 2003 and May 2004.
According to survey of the destruction, the interests were distributed among several very rich people, including some senior officials in the Interior Ministry. Consequently, Kham Khoeun was sent away and given prison term only in absentia.
As far as Bou Thang's son-in-law Yu Kanvimean is concerned, sources said that he has also set up a similar system by using money to bind the hands and blind the eyes of big officials at the provincial and ministerial levels, permitting his loggers and sawmill operators to act freely like unbridled horses.
According to the local people, some high-quality trees were not only felled but were uprooted, which is a sign of serious danger to the forests in Ratanakiri.
However, the forests in Ratanakiri province are being destroyed not just by the local timber merchants. There are several big companies, both domestic and international, that have received logging concessions from the state. Each of them has been given a permit to massively log tens of thousands of hectares of forests.
It is known that the companies that have received forest concessions with contract to replant trees following the logging do not live up to their commitment. They just log out the forests, sell the timber, and move on.
In this case, in order to prevent all types of forest crimes, the Hun Sen government should clean up the acts of its own people first, or Cambodia would surely become a desert.
By Pheakdei
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online
Ratanakiri province officials hinted that the son-in-law of Bou Thang, lawmaker from the Cambodian People's Party, is turning himself into a most arrogant protector of illegal small-size sawmills. It is said that just in Ban Lung district alone about 40 sawmills of this type are operating smoothly under the warm protection of Yu Kanvimean, deputy chief of the local forest administration district known to be Bou Thang's son-in-law.
Because of the very great influence of Yu Kanvimean, Bou Thang's son-in-law and nephew of Bou Lam, deputy governor of Ratanakiri province, competent authorities have not dared to do anything to him besides turning a blind eye, allowing this man to break the law as he pleases.
It is known that illegal small-size sawmill operators under the tight protection of Yu Kanvimean are doing business in all districts throughout Ratanakiri province. Because of this proliferation of illegal sawmills, the logging of forests in this province is also on the rise.
Some provincial officials said that because of the backing from Bou Thang's son-in-law, the sawmill operators are not afraid to carry on their illegal activities. Moreover, the owners of these small sawmills are sending their workers to cut trees in a most extensive manner.
The widespread logging business that is being conducted through the good offices of Bou Thang's son-in-law is said to be the second worst forest crime in Ratanakiri province after the one committed by Kham Khoeun, former governor of this province.
The criminal named Kham Khoeun, found guilty for destroying the forests, was last year sentenced in absentia by the Phnom Penh tribunal to 17-year imprisonment. This was after the discovery that nearly 80 percent of the forests in the Vireakchey National Park were logged out.
Based on the lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Environment on 15 November 2004, forests in the O Royeul and Kantuy Neak regions of the Vireakchey National Park were extensively logged and destroyed between 10 March 2003 and May 2004.
According to survey of the destruction, the interests were distributed among several very rich people, including some senior officials in the Interior Ministry. Consequently, Kham Khoeun was sent away and given prison term only in absentia.
As far as Bou Thang's son-in-law Yu Kanvimean is concerned, sources said that he has also set up a similar system by using money to bind the hands and blind the eyes of big officials at the provincial and ministerial levels, permitting his loggers and sawmill operators to act freely like unbridled horses.
According to the local people, some high-quality trees were not only felled but were uprooted, which is a sign of serious danger to the forests in Ratanakiri.
However, the forests in Ratanakiri province are being destroyed not just by the local timber merchants. There are several big companies, both domestic and international, that have received logging concessions from the state. Each of them has been given a permit to massively log tens of thousands of hectares of forests.
It is known that the companies that have received forest concessions with contract to replant trees following the logging do not live up to their commitment. They just log out the forests, sell the timber, and move on.
In this case, in order to prevent all types of forest crimes, the Hun Sen government should clean up the acts of its own people first, or Cambodia would surely become a desert.
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