Protesters March in Cambodia to Protest Illegal Logging
11/3/96
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Headline: Protesters March in Cambodia to Protest Illegal Logging
Source: The Associated Press
Date: 11/3/96
Author: Robin McDowell
Copyright 1996 The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- Hundreds of rifle-toting military police
stood back and watched as demonstrators defied city officials
and marched peacefully through the capital's streets Sunday to protest
illegal logging.
The brief march by about 40 people was led by Sam Rainsy, head of the
banned opposition Khmer Nation Party.
"This is a big step for democracy," Sam Rainsy said. "The opposition
for the first time in 26 years has been allowed to hold a public rally
with written, official authorization from the government."
Last week, the Interior Ministry had given the opposition group
permission to stage the march. But Phnom Penh city officials attempted
to override that decision Saturday by issuing an order banning any
procession through the streets.
Sam Rainsy and his followers were free to protest, Phnom Penh Mayor
Chhim Seak Leng said, as long as they did it inside their party
headquarters.
Sam Rainsy began the demonstration at party headquarters, addressing
several hundred supporters. Then, with hundreds of military policemen
stationed on the road outside, he lead a group of about 40 defiant
demonstrators into the streets.
They marched waving banners condemning the destruction of Cambodia's
forests through lucrative but illegal deals between the government and
Thai logging firms.
The restraint shown by police contrasted sharply with an opposition
demonstration last month protesting the visit of Burmese junta leader
Gen. Than Shwe. That demonstration was marred by tense confrontations,
with police firing at least six warning shots and arresting two
people.
Cambodia's logging policy has been sharply criticized by King Norodom
Sihanouk, international donors and environmentalists, who charge it is
unsustainable and riddled with corruption.
The British-based environmental group Global Witness last week accused
the Cambodian government of signing at least two secret deals with
Thai timber companies in May to cut and export wood valued at $57
million.
Much of the wood is freshly cut, not already felled timber, according
to Global Witness, and violates a self-imposed timber cutting and
exporting ban in effect since June 1995.
"Hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars are being diverted from the
state coffers into private pockets," said Sam Rainsy, urging those
providing Cambodia international aid, which accounts for 40 percent of
the national budget, to hold the government accountable.
Without proper forestry management, "the Cambodian people will always
suffer from natural disasters, they will always suffer from food
shortage, and will always have to beg for your help," he said.
Sunday's demonstration ended before representatives from the
International Monetary Fund and the World Bank arrived in Phnom Penh
to review the government's economic program.
The IMF last month threatened to cut off $60 million in loans if steps
were not taken to improve Cambodia's logging policy.