Cambodian Official Agrees Logging Problems Linger
3/3/97
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Headline: Cambodian Official Agrees Logging Problems Linger
Source: Reuters
Date: 3/3/97
Copyright 1997 by Reuters
PHNOM PENH, March 3 (Reuter) - Logging continues unabated in
Cambodia despite a government directive banning all log exports
from December 31, government officials said on Monday.
``Unfortunately, yes,'' said Minister of Finance Keat Chhon when asked
whether charges from a British environmental group earlier on Monday were
true.
Global Witness, in a briefing paper titled ``A Tug of War, the struggle
to preserve Cambodia's forests,'' has criticized the government's
management of ``quasi-legal'' logging concessions.
It alleged continued government involvement in illegal logging and
questioned the administration's commitment to reforming forestry policy.
``We have to work hard so that this government can organize its natural
resources in a proper way,'' Keat Chhon told reporters after opening a
seminar on the ASEAN Free Trade Area.
The criticisms came soon after Minister of Environment Mok Mareth
expressed concern over loggging activities in Cambodian national parks.
They also coincide with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission now
reviewing Cambodia's forestry policy.
The IMF delegation is due to determine the fate of $40 million in loans
due to Cambodia after the fund cancelled a $20 million payment last year
over the logging issue.
Keat Chhon said he remained hopeful about the IMF loan despite continued
logging practices because the government was committed to greater fiscal
discipline, natural resources management and civil service reform.
Co-Premier Hun Sen warned last Tuesday that Cambodia would have to resume
cutting and selling logs if the IMF cut the loan because it needed the
money to pay civil servants.
Keat Chhon, however, said of Hun Sen's comments: ``No such scenario will
happen.''
Global Witness described Hun Sen's comments as an ultimatum that called
into question whether the government's commitment to forestry reform was
slipping.