Srekor commune chief, Siek Mekong of the Sam
Rainsy Party, was recently threatened by government officials after he spoke
to media regarding the extensive deforestation occurring in his local
community. On 31 March 2013, Siek Mekong was interviewed by Radio Free Asia
and mentioned that loggers had been clearing valuable trees for over a week
without notifying local residents or local authorities. Two days later,
officials visited him from the Stung Treng provincial forestry
administration. Siek Mekong was instructed to immediately halt discussions
with the media and to sign a paper admitting to his actions. According to
Siek Mekong, administration chief Sith Samnang informed him, “Your activities
prove that you don’t want to stay in peace; you want trouble.”
Loggers employed by Cambodia’s Royal Group and China’s Hydrolancang
International Energy Co. Ltd. have been clearing the trees around Prey Srong
and are transporting the precious wood to Sre Kor 2 village. These companies
are planning to construct a controversial hydropower dam in the area, which
is predicted to displace over 5,000 residents and significantly impact Se San
River’s fisheries. The trees are being cleared to accommodate the dam’s large
reservoir however residents claim that the loggers are covertly clearing
valuable trees outside of this designated area.
Srekor commune chief Siek Mekong has actively spoken out against the
hydropower dam’s construction, highlighting negative impacts on local ethnic
minorities, since preparation work began at the site in 2011. While
accompanying villagers at a peaceful protest against the dam’s construction
in February 2012, he informed Radio Free Asia that the dam would rob ethnic
minority villagers of their plantations, sacred graveyards, and forests.
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