By Meas Sokchea
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
The Phnom Penh Post
Photo by: Pha Lina
Prime Minister Hun Sen. Nearly 30 Cambodians have been shot dead while illegally crossing the Thai border since 2008, with many headed there for the purpose of illegal logging. Yesterday, Prime Minister Hun Sen said they have only themselves to blame.
Speaking at the opening of national road 62 in Preah Vihear province yesterday, Hun Sen called those crossing the border to illegally log “provokers” and said it was difficult to blame the soldiers who shot them. He also warned armed forces commanders and civilians involved in illegal logging, both in Cambodia and across the border, that the Anti-Corruption Unit would investigate them if they didn’t cease their activities.
“They have not only cut Khmer timber, [they] have also entered to cut Thai timber until [Thai soldiers] have shot and killed them. We must dare to admit that our Khmer entered to cut Thai timber,” Hun Sen said.
“Sometimes they are provokers, and when [Thai soldiers] shoot, it is difficult to blame them, because [the victims] have gone to provoke".
Hun Sen said the loggers, especially the armed force commanders involved, had advanced skills when it came to felling trees and operating the heavy trucks required to move timber.
He said some loggers had even used Red Cross, RCAF and petroleum vehicles to transport luxury timber.
In a bid to crack down on Cambodian commanders involved in illegal logging, Hun Sen called on soldiers to give him the name of any commanders they knew to be logging, adding they could do so under the guaranteed safety of anonymity.
“Regarding these officials, the Anti-Corruption Unit must investigate, or they can request that I investigate,” he said.
Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said those who resort to crossing into Thailand to log are often unemployed and living in poverty, and it was the responsibility of Cambodia’s leaders to find justice for the victims.
“[A logger] goes to log because he is poor. He is poor because the leader makes him poor. The leader does not have the possibility to find a job for him, nor can he provide him with the farmland he needs to live,” Yim Sovann said.
“Just because they are guilty of illegal logging, it doesn’t mean they deserve to be shot. But the [Thai] soldiers have done this because they look down on Khmer and Khmer leaders.”
Chan Saveth, chief investigator at human rights group Adhoc, said the government had a duty to create more jobs for Cambodians to prevent them from risking their lives to log.
Speaking at the opening of national road 62 in Preah Vihear province yesterday, Hun Sen called those crossing the border to illegally log “provokers” and said it was difficult to blame the soldiers who shot them. He also warned armed forces commanders and civilians involved in illegal logging, both in Cambodia and across the border, that the Anti-Corruption Unit would investigate them if they didn’t cease their activities.
“They have not only cut Khmer timber, [they] have also entered to cut Thai timber until [Thai soldiers] have shot and killed them. We must dare to admit that our Khmer entered to cut Thai timber,” Hun Sen said.
“Sometimes they are provokers, and when [Thai soldiers] shoot, it is difficult to blame them, because [the victims] have gone to provoke".
Hun Sen said the loggers, especially the armed force commanders involved, had advanced skills when it came to felling trees and operating the heavy trucks required to move timber.
He said some loggers had even used Red Cross, RCAF and petroleum vehicles to transport luxury timber.
In a bid to crack down on Cambodian commanders involved in illegal logging, Hun Sen called on soldiers to give him the name of any commanders they knew to be logging, adding they could do so under the guaranteed safety of anonymity.
“Regarding these officials, the Anti-Corruption Unit must investigate, or they can request that I investigate,” he said.
Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said those who resort to crossing into Thailand to log are often unemployed and living in poverty, and it was the responsibility of Cambodia’s leaders to find justice for the victims.
“[A logger] goes to log because he is poor. He is poor because the leader makes him poor. The leader does not have the possibility to find a job for him, nor can he provide him with the farmland he needs to live,” Yim Sovann said.
“Just because they are guilty of illegal logging, it doesn’t mean they deserve to be shot. But the [Thai] soldiers have done this because they look down on Khmer and Khmer leaders.”
Chan Saveth, chief investigator at human rights group Adhoc, said the government had a duty to create more jobs for Cambodians to prevent them from risking their lives to log.
8 comments:
Hun Sen should not blame the loggers but take a responsibility of his own people. As a leader, he should consider why his own people are so poor and dare to put their life in front of pistol for a little money. It`s a shame of him for his poor leadership.
This government put blame on Khmer as illegal logging for their own good by let their own people and nation down.
Khmer went to Thailand without do any logging activities but Thai soldiers shot Khmer and said ‘illegal logger’.
The Thai trees can recover but the Khmer life perishes forever. This government statement has encouraged Thai soldiers to continue to shoot innocent Khmer for the future to come.
Viet stole Khmer job and push Khmer to find job at overseas because of this puppet government.
This government never show respect to their own people and never ever protect their own people.
This government transform Khmer people to be slave to serve for others country. Our constitution state that ‘no one shall sentence to death’ but our leader condemn our people to die by encouraging Thai soldier to shoot and kill in the speech.
For thousand of years Khmer never was slave of others nation but now Khmer became unwanted slave (cheaper than normal slave) and be slave of others nation. Khmer have to find job elsewhere but Khmer natural resource for a few leaders and Oknha.
The nation around the world especially our neighbours never comment to their people to die like this ever but this government did because these government leaders have no Khmer blood, example look at real biography of those leader and their crony, from Khmer rough on trial to present Khmer rough in power.
(The Thai trees can recover but the Khmer life perishes forever. This government statement has encouraged Thai soldiers to continue to shoot innocent Khmer for the future to come).
You're right, I agree with you 100% ( 15 December 2011 12:30AM ) I loved it this phrase.
THIS IS TRULY A SECOND-HAND LEADER. IN THE WORLD, ONLY CAMBODIAN'S LEADER. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND VERY UNFORTUNATE FOR OUR CAMBODIAN PEOPLE.
Just imagine the scenario of a family that has both parents household and a few children, and your child(ren) involved in a fight with other child(ren), and your child(ren) was/were severely hurt, and you as parent(s), instead of come to a rescue and defending your child(ren), you compound the problems to your child(ren) by blaming them and ended up hurting them more.
USUALLY, THESE TYPE OF PARENT(S) END-UP IN PRISON FOR CHILD ABUSE.
12:30 AM, well put. Only a corrupt and irresponsible leader like Hun Sen blames the victims by giving the perpetrators more reasons to shoot Khmers. A responsible leader would just send condolences to the victims' families and, on top, makes a request to the Thai government to stop the shooting or even lodge a protest with the Thai government for shooting unarmed civilians. Like 12:30 AM said "The Thai trees can recover but the Khmer life perishes forever. This government statement has encouraged Thai soldiers to continue to shoot innocent Khmer for the future to come".
Hun Sen must know the reason why these loggers take the risks to cross the border to cut timbers in Thailand. It is because of his poor and corrupt leadership that makes them and Cambodia poor and this is the reason why they dare to risks their life. Another thing is, people must know that the Khmer-Thai border is not properly marked. In some areas, no one knows where the border line lies. The areas where they logged could be Khmer territory, but Khmer soldiers have no ability to protect them and the Thai soldiers moved in. This has happened in many areas along the Khmer-Thai and Khmer-Viet border. Also, in many cases it was the corrupt military leaders along the border who hired the poor villagers to cut the trees for them, telling them that the areas are inside Cambodia and it is safe to go there.
It is sad and embarrassing for Hun Sen to make this sort of statement. I condemn him in the strongest term.
8:22 AM-
"the Khmer-Thai border is not properly marked. In some areas, no one knows where the border line lies. The areas where they logged could be Khmer territory, but Khmer soldiers have no ability to protect them and the Thai soldiers moved in. "
Wow, this was never heard around the world. Mass media is making it look bad on the Cambodia side that violated. We must clarify that misunderstanding.
Only Ah Pler CPP Khmer leader would protect and serve the foreigners. What a shame to have a dumb ass leader like this in charge Cambodia. That is so sad for the people of Cambodia to go through this and put up with this moron...
2011 8:33 AM, The Khmer-Thai and the Khmer-Viet borders, in most areas, were never marked properly, that's why there were fighting near Preah Vihear many times recently. As a result of unmarked borders, Thai and Viet soldiers took advantage of Cambodia's weakness in the past and encroached. This was why there was a war between the KR and the Viets. Also during the 1970s, 1977 to be exact, the KR had briefly fought with Thai soldiers due to border dispute. These days, Thai troops had encroached in many parts of Khmer borders that's why there are still fighting near Preah v/ihear, Ta Moan, Ta Krabey, Koh Kong, Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey etc. Also this happened on the Viet side as well and that's why villagers cried every day due to Viet encroachments.
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