DPA
Phnom Penh - International campaigners on Tuesday condemned sand exports from Cambodia to Singapore, saying the trade has severely damaged the livelihoods of impoverished Cambodians.
In its report titled Shifting Sands, Global Witness said the sand dredging industry was unregulated, opaque, and environmentally damaging, adding that millions of dollars in revenues remain unaccounted for.
Oliver Courtney, a spokesman for Global Witness, said the damage being done to Cambodia's coastline stood "in stark contrast" to Singapore's position as a leader for sustainable development.
"(Singapore) should suspend all imports of Cambodian sand, undertake an audit of all payments by Singaporean entities for Cambodian sand, and lead by example through taking steps to ensure that sand is sustainably sourced," Courtney said.
Global Witness said in the past 50 years Singapore's surface area has grown by 22 per cent, an ongoing operation that requires large amounts of sand.
But some nations in the region, including Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, have banned sand exports to Singapore citing environmental concerns. It said Singapore had shifted its sourcing to countries like Cambodia.
UN trade figures reveal Singapore imported 3.8 million tons of sand from Cambodia in 2008. Global Witness said that figure has likely increased, and estimated that 796,000 tons of sand are being dredged monthly in Cambodia's Koh Kong province alone.
It added that operations were following the same destructive patterns seen in the exploitation of Cambodia's forests and extractive industries.
The Cambodian government has long disparaged Global Witness's reports on the corruption and nepotism allegedly at the heart of its extractive industries.
Cambodia announced a ban on sand exports last year after criticisms over the damage from the industry. Hundreds of subsistence fishermen complained of reduced catches as a result of the destruction of fish habitats.
However Global Witness claimed the government ban had been ignored, and said boats were even dredging in protected areas.
For its part Singapore denied it imports sand without regard for the laws or environmental impact in Cambodia, and said it had received no official notice that sand exports had been banned.
"We are committed to the protection of the global environment, and we do not condone the illegal export or smuggling of sand, or any extraction of sand that is in breach of the source countries' laws and rules on environmental protection," Singapore's Ministry of National Development said.
Global Witness said donors - who will meet in the coming weeks to determine how much money to give Cambodia this year - must demand accountability of revenues from the exploitation of state assets.
"Global Witness calls on the donors to ensure that funds are only disbursed after the government achieves reforms for transparent and accountable management of natural resources and their revenues."
In its report titled Shifting Sands, Global Witness said the sand dredging industry was unregulated, opaque, and environmentally damaging, adding that millions of dollars in revenues remain unaccounted for.
Oliver Courtney, a spokesman for Global Witness, said the damage being done to Cambodia's coastline stood "in stark contrast" to Singapore's position as a leader for sustainable development.
"(Singapore) should suspend all imports of Cambodian sand, undertake an audit of all payments by Singaporean entities for Cambodian sand, and lead by example through taking steps to ensure that sand is sustainably sourced," Courtney said.
Global Witness said in the past 50 years Singapore's surface area has grown by 22 per cent, an ongoing operation that requires large amounts of sand.
But some nations in the region, including Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, have banned sand exports to Singapore citing environmental concerns. It said Singapore had shifted its sourcing to countries like Cambodia.
UN trade figures reveal Singapore imported 3.8 million tons of sand from Cambodia in 2008. Global Witness said that figure has likely increased, and estimated that 796,000 tons of sand are being dredged monthly in Cambodia's Koh Kong province alone.
It added that operations were following the same destructive patterns seen in the exploitation of Cambodia's forests and extractive industries.
The Cambodian government has long disparaged Global Witness's reports on the corruption and nepotism allegedly at the heart of its extractive industries.
Cambodia announced a ban on sand exports last year after criticisms over the damage from the industry. Hundreds of subsistence fishermen complained of reduced catches as a result of the destruction of fish habitats.
However Global Witness claimed the government ban had been ignored, and said boats were even dredging in protected areas.
For its part Singapore denied it imports sand without regard for the laws or environmental impact in Cambodia, and said it had received no official notice that sand exports had been banned.
"We are committed to the protection of the global environment, and we do not condone the illegal export or smuggling of sand, or any extraction of sand that is in breach of the source countries' laws and rules on environmental protection," Singapore's Ministry of National Development said.
Global Witness said donors - who will meet in the coming weeks to determine how much money to give Cambodia this year - must demand accountability of revenues from the exploitation of state assets.
"Global Witness calls on the donors to ensure that funds are only disbursed after the government achieves reforms for transparent and accountable management of natural resources and their revenues."
9 comments:
Khmers come to my house and beg me to buy their sand, their men, and then they claim on me. What a dirty scum on Earth.
Go fuck your idiot salesmen and government, we did not put the gun on your head to sell, stop fucking around, okey??
Khmers come to my house and beg me to buy their sand, their men, and then they claim on me. What a dirty scum on Earth.
Go fuck your idiot salesmen and government, we did not put the gun on your head to sell, stop fucking around, okey??
To 1:o5PM
Oh really? So you have no incentive to pour more sand into the sea to create more living space for your Singaporean people? Your "Sands War" dealing with Cambodia is no different than that of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam...
The real issue here is the illegal smuggling of sand from Cambodia between corrupted high ranking Cambodian officials and the corrupted Singaporean business people...
Hey! Corrupted Cambodian officials did not put the gun to your head to buy Cambodian sand either and you better stop fucking around! It takes two people to make thing happen and if you don't want to buy sand from Cambodia and go somewhere else! Since your country is so advance in everything and what is stopping you from taking the sand from the bottom of the ocean? Ahahahhahah
Without the British Singapore is nothing!
For more Singapore sand wars!
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/02/singapore-accused-of-launching-sand-wars/
1:o5PM
You people will once again be cursed for the upcoming Water Festeval in Phnom Penh. I'm certain you recall the tragic incident occured to you ignorant people.
Global Witness should be commended for staying on top of sand dredging problem.
1:05pm - whatever amount of sand Singaporean gov't able to bribe the corrupted Cambodian official to make the purchase, it would not be enough so save that little tiny island from becoming inundated if there is a big tsunami. If I'm a saleman trying to sell you stolen Rolexes, does it make it alright for you keep buying?
Your argument is so idiotic and irresponsible.
It is in the Singaporean national interest to buy sand even if it is at the expense of another country.
After all, it is only a little tiny piece of land, and overcrowed. Despite its developed economy and high earnings, the quality of living isn't that great. It is like living in a pond with plenty of food, but can't swim very far. The size of that pond shrinking all the time, perhaps through natural erosion. Is it any wonder the Singaporean will do anything to get out of their delima?
The Cambodian gov't have no effective means to control these money hungry official from destroying national resources.
Thank you Global Witness for exposing it problem.
Officials accused of pillaging villa
Tuesday, 11 May 2010 15:02 Thet Sambath
FORMERLY well-heeled resident of Russey Keo district says that local authorities robbed her of hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewellery and removed US$2 million worth of property last week while serving a Supreme Court warrant to evict her from her villa.
Hang Borey said $60,000 in cash and $260,000 worth of jewellery were removed from her home during the raid on Friday, along with $2 million worth of other property.
“They removed all my property – I’ve lost everything now,” Hang Borey said. “I was not informed in advance about my removal from the villa.”
Hang Borey said her partner, Yors Sokuntheary, purchased the villa in 2007 from the brother of its Chinese owner, who was serving a jail term overseas. She added, however, that she never received a land title or a deed to the property. Hang Borey says that after the original owner returned to Cambodia, he took her to court in 2008 to get his property back, and that the Supreme Court ruled in his favour earlier this year.
The home’s original owner has since transferred his rights to the property to Sok Kong, president of the Sokimex development company, Hang Borey said. She added that she had filed a complaint against Sok Kong to Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Russey Keo deputy Governor Koub Sleh said district officials were simply following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“I have no right to talk about the court’s decision. We were just following the court’s warrant,” he said.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court deputy prosecutor Hing Bunchea said he had not seen any money or jewellery lying around the house when local officials entered to serve the warrant.
Sok Kong could not be reached for comment.
Posted by: War is peace
Hey asshole 1:05pm!
Where the hell on earth are you living on? You have been doing business with Cambodian thieves for more than a year. Now you are found and fucked-up, and not only blaming the partner, but Cambodia as a whole.
Fuck you!
Let make it clear that you've been dealing with the bastards, not with Cambodians in general. So face and deal with it!
You screwed up many countries in the region in the past, not Cambodia alone. Don't be fucking proud with your superior economy, otherwise you will be in catastrophic sometime soon in the future.
Look at yourself! how many square metre of your island? Don't you think tsunami would come to drown you sometime. So be generous Sinkapo!
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime
Members:
Pol Pot
Nuon Chea
Ieng Sary
Ta Mok
Khieu Samphan
Son Sen
Ieng Thearith
Kaing Kek Iev
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...
Committed:
Tortures
Brutality
Executions
Massacres
Mass Murder
Genocide
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Slavery
Force Labour
Overwork to Death
Human Abuses
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime
Members:
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...
Committed:
Attempted Murders
Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
Attempted Assassinations
Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Assassinated over 80 members of Sam Rainsy Party.
"But as of today, over eighty members of my party have been assassinated. Countless others have been injured, arrested, jailed, or forced to go into hiding or into exile."
Sam Rainsy LIC 31 October 2009 - Cairo, Egypt
Executions
Executed over 100 members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders
Murdered 3 Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Murdered Chea Vichea
Murdered Ros Sovannareth
Murdered Hy Vuthy
Murdered Journalists
Murdered Khim Sambo
Murdered Khim Sambo's son
Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Murdered Innocent Men
Murdered Innocent Women
Murdered Innocent Children
Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Brutalities
Police Brutality Against Monks
Police Brutality Against Evictees
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Abuses
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Embezzlement
Treason
Border Encroachment, allow Vietnam to encroaching into Cambodia.
Signed away our territories to Vietnam; Koh Tral, almost half of our ocean territory oil field and others.
Illegal Arrest
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation bomb on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.
Lightning strike many airplanes, but did not fall from the sky. Lightning strike out side of airplane and discharge electricity to ground.
Source: Lightning, Discovery Channel
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Removed Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country.
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Death in custody.
Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.
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