Hun Sen opposes plan for the Cardamom Mountain Chain (Phnom Krovanh)05 Dec 2007
By Kim Pov Sottan Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
On Wednesday, prime minister Hun Sen opposed the plan to turn the Cardamom Mountain Chain (Phnom Krovanh) region into a world heritage site, as International conservation groups (BirdLife International, Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Alliance, the Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF) and the Cambodian Ministry of Environment (MoE) had planned for in the past three years.
Speaking at a seminar for the launch of a government study on trade strategy, the prime minister rejected the fact that international climate changes is due to natural resource exploitation in Cambodia. Not only that, he also opened the door for exploitation of the Phnom Krovanh area in order to (allegedly) bring benefit to the country’s development.
Hun Sen said: “Between conservation and development, if the underground is filled with valuable gold and diamonds, don’t be too astonished. Some countries cut all their forests for the development of their country, they use it all, now you come to prevent me just because we are doing (extracting natural resources) there, we go here, you prevented us, we go there, you prevented us. This is Cambodian sovereignty, whatever Cambodia does, don’t be too astonished. Therefore, I don’t agree with turning the Phnom Krovanh into a world heritage site. Just the hydroelectricity in the Phnom Krovanh area alone, it constitutes a battery for Cambodia.”
Phnom Krovanh is the sole remaining region in Cambodia which has not been destroyed yet. An anonymous MoE expert claimed that this region is rich in biodiversity, wildlife, natural resources and forest. Therefore, this region plays an important role in maintaining the climate balance in Cambodia, and it prevents flooding, the drying up of the Tonle Sap Lake (due to soil erosion), and it is also an important tourist attraction.
The expert added that he is concerned that developments in this region will destroy the area and bring major negative impacts on Cambodia.
On this issue, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that he does not support the development of the Phnom Krovanh region also: “The way we saw the development in Cambodia is that: Cambodian lost their lands, lost their forest, lost their fishes, they cannot live with these developments, they are developments that destroy the country. This type of investment does not bring in progress to the nation, they only allow the crooked businessmen to prosper, and the corrupt government leaders are taking bribers from these crooked businessmen.”
The plan to turn Phnom Krovanh into a world heritage site to serve the interest of Cambodia was initiated by the MoE and several international organizations. Until now, not only is this plan not moving forward for the past three years due to government opposition, Hun Sen himself declared that he is opening up the region for investment and exploration also.
In the past, Cambodia was accused of allowing natural resources explorations, such as precious stones and woods, that led to an almost complete depletion of our forest resources.
Speaking at a seminar for the launch of a government study on trade strategy, the prime minister rejected the fact that international climate changes is due to natural resource exploitation in Cambodia. Not only that, he also opened the door for exploitation of the Phnom Krovanh area in order to (allegedly) bring benefit to the country’s development.
Hun Sen said: “Between conservation and development, if the underground is filled with valuable gold and diamonds, don’t be too astonished. Some countries cut all their forests for the development of their country, they use it all, now you come to prevent me just because we are doing (extracting natural resources) there, we go here, you prevented us, we go there, you prevented us. This is Cambodian sovereignty, whatever Cambodia does, don’t be too astonished. Therefore, I don’t agree with turning the Phnom Krovanh into a world heritage site. Just the hydroelectricity in the Phnom Krovanh area alone, it constitutes a battery for Cambodia.”
Phnom Krovanh is the sole remaining region in Cambodia which has not been destroyed yet. An anonymous MoE expert claimed that this region is rich in biodiversity, wildlife, natural resources and forest. Therefore, this region plays an important role in maintaining the climate balance in Cambodia, and it prevents flooding, the drying up of the Tonle Sap Lake (due to soil erosion), and it is also an important tourist attraction.
The expert added that he is concerned that developments in this region will destroy the area and bring major negative impacts on Cambodia.
On this issue, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that he does not support the development of the Phnom Krovanh region also: “The way we saw the development in Cambodia is that: Cambodian lost their lands, lost their forest, lost their fishes, they cannot live with these developments, they are developments that destroy the country. This type of investment does not bring in progress to the nation, they only allow the crooked businessmen to prosper, and the corrupt government leaders are taking bribers from these crooked businessmen.”
The plan to turn Phnom Krovanh into a world heritage site to serve the interest of Cambodia was initiated by the MoE and several international organizations. Until now, not only is this plan not moving forward for the past three years due to government opposition, Hun Sen himself declared that he is opening up the region for investment and exploration also.
In the past, Cambodia was accused of allowing natural resources explorations, such as precious stones and woods, that led to an almost complete depletion of our forest resources.
