Major land grading operation is taking place inside the Kep mountain national park (Photo: Neay Keb, Koh Santepheap)Tuesday 31 August 2010
By Koh Ekareach
Koh Santepheap (Pro-CPP mouthpiece media)
Translated from Khmer by Soy
Kep province – The Kep mountain national park is currently being razed down to build fences at a large scale and this action starts from the top of the mountain and along the foothill of the mountain. It is not known which department authorized this grading for building lots and turning this national park into a private property like this? This problem does not just affect this mountain national park, it also affects several other mountains as well where land grading for building lots are also taking place. A few years ago, the Kep police force made a confiscation once already, they took away numerous fence posts and brought them over to the police station. At that time, there were protests made by environmental officials [against such grading operation], but in 2010, the land owner, who boasted that he is an Oknha (rich tycoon), now has the right to bring in machinery to raze down the mountain without any worry, and there is no authority to prevent this operation either.
Regarding this mass land grading of the national mountain park, Rao Sokha, the director of the land development and construction for Kep province, commented that the construction in the mountain areas is legal. On the other hand, Panha Rith, the director of the Kep national parks, told us rudely over the phone: “All reporters who want to ask any questions about the Kep national park, must send in their questions in advance”, then he would forward them to his bosses first to decide whether an interview is warranted or not because he is afraid of providing information contradicting the orders from his bosses. Therefore, he cannot speak or reply to the reporters.
Mom Sitha, the Kep city police commissioner, told Koh Santepheap that an extremely poor woman with young children was recently arrested by the Kep national park officials. She was accused of sneaking in to the national park to look for firewood. Currently, this woman is jailed in the Kampot province prison already and the authority is also looking to arrest 5 other people because they were looking for firewood for their cooking needs.
Regarding this sordid affair, the national park officials would not provide any clarification because they are under self-gag order and they cannot provide any information. Furthermore, about the arrest of poor people, they would not provide any information about the cause of the arrest either. Critics indicated that when the rich raze down the national park mountain to make building lots, no officials would stop them, but when poor people came in to look for firewood, the officials hit them hard with the law by arresting them and sending to jail.
Regarding this mass land grading of the national mountain park, Rao Sokha, the director of the land development and construction for Kep province, commented that the construction in the mountain areas is legal. On the other hand, Panha Rith, the director of the Kep national parks, told us rudely over the phone: “All reporters who want to ask any questions about the Kep national park, must send in their questions in advance”, then he would forward them to his bosses first to decide whether an interview is warranted or not because he is afraid of providing information contradicting the orders from his bosses. Therefore, he cannot speak or reply to the reporters.
Mom Sitha, the Kep city police commissioner, told Koh Santepheap that an extremely poor woman with young children was recently arrested by the Kep national park officials. She was accused of sneaking in to the national park to look for firewood. Currently, this woman is jailed in the Kampot province prison already and the authority is also looking to arrest 5 other people because they were looking for firewood for their cooking needs.
Regarding this sordid affair, the national park officials would not provide any clarification because they are under self-gag order and they cannot provide any information. Furthermore, about the arrest of poor people, they would not provide any information about the cause of the arrest either. Critics indicated that when the rich raze down the national park mountain to make building lots, no officials would stop them, but when poor people came in to look for firewood, the officials hit them hard with the law by arresting them and sending to jail.
4 comments:
Da Mighty law of SenVarman is only unhumanly punished the poor and miserable Khmers, because no matter what they normally say or do is always completely wronged!
How can Cambodia be the beautiful and prosperous country when there is no law and order like this? How can you build a nice home when you have fault building code? Why are we still allowing a few of these people to ruin the country? Are we still stupid after decades later?
9:01 AM
when you say we, do you include yourself ? if its yes, you answer to that question. but if its no, who do you mean we ? according to what i have seen , only CPP have the power to build or ruin the country . if you mean we ( the voters ) there is nothing that you can do till the next election.
hey, ever heard of tear down to rebuild? it will look better after all construction is completed, etc... don't be so negative, they are beautifying our country, you know! so, foreigners don't look down on us being third world, poor, etc... we heard this bias remarks all the time, so cambodia will prove them wrong, really! be patient, khmer people are working to make our country attractive, pleasant and enjoyable for all, ok! and don't expect a construction site to look sightly, it's like that all over the world, ok! travel the world to see for yourself, ok! stop being bias on cambodia, ok!
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