May 12, 2020
14 behind torching of rangers’ headquarters identified

Photo Ministry of Environment
Ratanakiri provincial environmental officials have identified 14 people who allegedly incited a crowd to torch two ranger headquarters buildings in Virachey National Park.

Environment Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra said yesterday the incident took place on Sunday when a group of more than 70 people set fire to the two wooden buildings, a newly built one measuring six by nine metres and an older one measuring six by eight metres in Taveng district’s Tabok village. Some equipment was also damaged.

Mr Pheaktra said that before the incident, on Friday and Saturday, park rangers and district police officers went to put signs to ban forest clearing and encroachment of forest land in an area the group had been seen in.

He said they saw some villagers illegally clearing the forest area.

Mr Pheaktra said the enforcement team seized two chainsaws, removed four cottages and asked the villagers to sign a contract promising to stop such activities.

He said the group became angry and on Sunday gathered to protest and burn down the headquarters buildings.

“Those who encroached into forest land and even set fire to the headquarters of the rangers have committed illegal acts,” Mr Pheaktra said. “Such acts will not be tolerated, and the ringleaders who incited to destroy state property and go against the implementation of the law must be held accountable by the law.”

According to Pheaktra, several hectares of forest land illegally occupied by those in the group will be confiscated.

“No one has the right to occupy, buy or sell land in protected areas. The Ministry of the Environment rejects all documents related to illegal land occupation, such as illegal encroachment, transfer, buying and selling of land in protected areas,” he said.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50722009/1 ... dentified/

Is there a crackdown on, there was also this a couple of days ago
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... mpong-speu

it seems like the height of hypocrisy for the govt to be punishing villagers for deforesting protected land

on the other hand it seems to have gotten out of control
people just clearing hectares of forest and then even trying to sell the land on

Those Celtic fans get everywhere !