Global Witness reveals...

The Cambodian government on Sunday banned circulation of a report by London-based environmental watchdog Global Witness connecting high-ranking politicians to illegal logging, claiming it was politically motivated.

A statement signed by government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the government had found that the report issued Friday was unfounded, and had been written in retribution for the group being banned from the country in 2005. (Source)

Yes because an NGO like Global Witness has nothing better to do than exact retribution from third world governments. The PM has declared that Global Witness is finished in Cambodia. All hard copies of the report have been banned and one government official is calling for a block of the site. The report is available here for now anyway.

Top officials in Cambodia are involved in illegal logging and helping to strip the nation of its natural assets, an international watchdog has said.

Global Witness claims that legitimate land concessions are being used as a cover for criminal activity.

The London-based organisation has also accused international donors of failing to act to stop the trade.

The Cambodian authorities, as well as officials named in the report, have dismissed the allegations.

Forestry Administration director Ty Sokhun, one of the officials accused, described Global Witness as "insane, unprofessional people" with no knowledge of forestry.

A company director also named in the report described the charges as "unacceptable".

Global Witness accuses ministers, business people and relatives closely linked to Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as the military and police, of involvement in the alleged asset stripping.

"Logging is part of a massive asset stripping for the benefit of a small kleptocratic elite," Simon Taylor, Global Witness director, said.

"The forests of Cambodia have been ransacked over the past decade by this mafia with little or no benefit flowing down to the ordinary people," he added. (Source)

This comes as little surprise to us on the ground. The organisations working in development are in a don't ask, don't tell situation with the government. Everybody knows that the dice are loaded... everybody knows that the fight was fixed, the poor stay poor, the rich get rich, that's how it goes, everybody knows.

It's hard to miss the ravaged former forest in Ratanakiri and the impingement on the rights of ethnic minorities. It's hard to miss the constant and consistent land grabbing. It's hard to miss the bodyguards of the children of the elite in the Heart of Darkness. It's hard to miss the two Lamborghinis that belong the a son of a high ranking politician.

What is amazing are the denials and the need to counter any report or statement originating outside the party. It's probably due to a need to save face. However, the international community finds such denials... dubious.