Cambodia logging project critizied<\/p>\n
PHNOM PENH (Agencies): Cambodia's most prominent opposition
\nfigure, former finance minister Sam Rainsy, has joined King
\nNorodom Sihanouk in vehemently protesting the government's award
\nof a massive logging contract to an Indonesian timber company.<\/p>\n
The government signed a 50-year contract with the Panin Group
\nto log more than 1.4 million hectares (3.5 million acres)
\nthroughout the northeastern province of Rattankkiri, and parts of
\nthe northeast provinces of Mondulkiri and Stung Treng, officials
\nsaid earlier this week.<\/p>\n
The contract, signed in mid-September, covers about 15 percent
\nof Cambodia's remaining forest land and Sam Rainsy noted that the
\ncontract appears to contravene a ban on the felling of new timber
\nand export of logs imposed by the government earlier this year.<\/p>\n
In addition, the former minister who was expelled from
\nparliament in June, lamented the fact that the deal, like an
\nearlier agreement for 800,000 hectares (1.9 million acres) of
\nforest signed with the Malaysian firm Samling, was negotiated in
\nprivate.<\/p>\n
\"I am greatly disappointed that the government should sign yet
\nanother, even larger contract with serious, long-term
\nimplications for Cambodia's environment, without fulfilling those
\ntwo basic conditions,\" Sam Rainsy said in a statement from Osaka,
\nJapan, where he is now visiting.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cambodia-logging-project-critizied-1447893297",
"image": ""
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