A Change of Guard

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Thursday 15 December 2011

With Loggers Dead, Cambodians Look Where to Place Blame


Wednesday, December 14, 2011
http://hardwoodfloorsmag.com

Since 2008, nearly 30 people have been shot dead after illegally crossing into Thailand from Cambodia—most of them making the crossing to participate in illegal logging operations, according to The Phnom Penh Post.

Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured) thinks the dead loggers have nobody but themselves to blame, labeling them "provokers." Sen also said that his government's Anti-Corruption Unit would investigate army commanders and civilians involved in illegal logging, and that whistleblowers would be granted anonymity.

"Sometimes they are provokers, and when [Thai soldiers] shoot, it is difficult to blame them, because [the victims] have gone to provoke," Sen told The Phnom Penh Post.

However, one opposition leader in Cambodia views the situation quite differently. Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, labeled the dead loggers victims of a failing government.

“[A logger] goes to log because he is poor," Sovann told the Phnom Penh Post. "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. Just because they are guilty of illegal logging, it doesn’t mean they deserve to be shot."

The full story can be read here.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sovann sound desperate. If what he is thinking is true then:

If poor Khmere/American go to rob a convenience store and get killed, do you blame the US Gov. too ? Because the Gov. is making them poor ???

Is this a Cambodian opposition party politician ???

Now, you know why they are lossing election every time !!!!!

Anonymous said...

Here is a leader who loves power too much and blames the poor Khmers for their own death. These people took the risks because they were tricked by the corrupt military leaders that the areas are safe or are inside Cambodia. For Hun Sen to say that they deserve to die because they had crossed to Thaialnd is very cruel and heartless indeed. Hun Sen does not deserve to be prime minister because he himself is a thug.

Anonymous said...

Let's start redirect our efforts to solve problems instead of continuing play blame game OK. Loggers should stop the dangerous activity. PM Hun Sen must find and create job outlets for the poor and unemployed. Let's say if we start project of digging canal from Kampong Chhnang to Koh Kong or Kandal to Kampot to create job and make new irrigation system at the same time,or perhaps it can even lower the flood risks, is it possible? I know the government doesn't want to create it own program but rely on private sector,however it still have the potential of initiate the key project especially the very useful one.

Anonymous said...

Don't use "Cutting Rosewood"as an excuse for a reason of living. The cutters of wood, whatever they are, whoever they are, must accept the punishment, any kinds of punishments. I think that only Death can prevent them from destroying the Country.I don't care about them, because they don't care about the Country.

Anonymous said...

Ah Kwack nis niyeay maor pler mane. He is unfit to be a Cambodian Prime Minister. This Son of Bitch is so heartless to his own people. One day, I hope your fate will end up just like Gadhafi.

Anonymous said...

Those who condemn these loggers to death are heartless and will cry for justice when one of their love ones got killed this way. Or their love ones would never get killed this way because they are one of the corrupt officials who enrich themselves by committing corruption so they do not need to take risks to earn a living in this dangerous way.