Cambodia Cancels Concessions Threatening Forests

                                                  Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen

Phnom Penh, Aug 12, 2012 (Prensa Latina) Cambodia annulled licenses to four private firms whose concession of 40,000 hectares threatens Prey Lang, one of the richest national forests.

A letter from the Council of Ministers to the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Mining, in charge of managing the forests and the natural resources, bans felling in several provinces through contracts to several firms and just Aphiwat Kaosou Co Ltd, a rubber producer, appears as contractor.

The media hints the name on the contract may be showcase to help a large foreign company circumvent the legal 10,000 hectare limit for legal economic purposes.

In addition, the annulled tender is in the middle of a unique forest of perennial green leaves considered the largest valley in South East Asia with special protection, and the fake tender will sure be subject of a legal battle.

The destruction of some 360,000 h in the woods has been contested by some 350,000 residents, the majority from the Kuy minority, who live on other fruits and inhabit four provinces.

rma/emw/rc/hr

Modificado el ( domingo, 12 de agosto de 2012 )