Prominent Cambodia environmentalist arrested while investigating illegal logging

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — 

A salient Cambodian environmentalist was arrested on with 5 others portion investigating amerciable logging successful a nationalist park, a rights radical and a authorities authoritative said Sunday.

Ouch Leng, who was awarded a 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize for his activism, was arrested Saturday successful northeastern Stung Treng province, the rights radical Licadho said successful a statement.

The activists person documented an summation successful amerciable deforestation wrong the Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Park, located adjacent an economical onshore concession, it said.

The arrests travel during a broader crackdown connected biology activists successful caller months. In July, 10 members of a Cambodian biology group, Mother Nature Cambodia, who campaigned against destructive infrastructure projects and alleged corruption were each sentenced to six years successful situation connected charges of conspiring against the state.

Stung Treng provincial spokesperson Men Khung confirmed Sunday by telephone that the six were arrested aft they ignored instructions from authorities to permission the forestry country wherever nary entree is allowed. He said authorities were strictly guarding the tract against amerciable logging and onshore grabbing.

Men Khung said respective twelve equipped unit person been sent to the tract to pursuit distant amerciable loggers and onshore grabbers and to guarantee that nary outsiders enter. He said that the six were not biology activists but attempted to sow anarchy and provoke the authorities.

He said that nary charges had been filed against the six arsenic of Sunday.

According to Licadho, the authorities granted an economical onshore concession successful the country successful 2022, adjacent though it contravened a 2012 moratorium connected caller concessions, which person been linked to wide evictions, accelerated deforestation and extraction of resources.

Cambodia's authorities has agelong been accused of utilizing its judiciary to persecute critics and governmental opponents. Prime Minister Hun Manet succeeded his father, Hun Sen, successful August past twelvemonth aft helium ruled the state for astir 4 decades, but determination person been fewer signs of governmental liberalization.