Cambodia passes long-awaited law to curb logging

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http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/07/07312002/reu_48004.asp

 

Cambodia passes long-awaited law to curb logging

 

Wednesday, July 31, 2002

By Reuters

 

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia & #12539;Cambodia's parliament on

Tuesday set a penalty for illegal logging of up to 10

years in jail, but critics expressed doubts that it

will save the country's forests from further

destruction.

Violaters of the new antilogging legislation can also

be fined up to 100 million riel (US$25,600).

 

The law makes it a crime to cut trees outside

concession areas, in national parks, in wildlife

sanctuaries, or other designated areas. It also

requires newlyweds to plant two trees before getting

their marriage certificate.

 

It is " an important instrument for guaranteeing

sustainability of valuable natural heritage, "

Agriculture Minister Chan Sarun said.

 

The law was passed in the decision-making 122-seat

National Assembly by an 83-12 vote. The remaining 27

members were absent. The law will now have to be

approved by the Senate, which is considered a

formality.

 

The 12 lawmakers who voted against the law belong to

the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, which warned that it

will be ineffective and accused the government of

giving dubious logging concessions to cronies and

bribe-payers. " Instead of canceling all the bad, very

doubtful contracts, on the contrary the law gives the

government (power) to renew any contract with full

discretion, " party leader Sam Rainsy said.

 

According to government's statistics, forest cover in

Cambodia has been reduced from 74 percent before 1970

to 58 percent now. Much of the deforestation has been

attributed to the civil war during the last three

decades when warring factions felled timber to finance

the fighting.

 

But in recent years, corruption and logging have

emerged as major contributors, provoking heavy

criticism by international donors who fund nearly half

of the government's expenditure. The donors pledged

US$635 million aid to Cambodia in June for the next

year but demanded sterner measures from the government

to curb corruption, reform the judiciary, and

safeguard the environment.

 

Eva Galabru, a coordinator of the London-based

environmental group, Global Witness, criticized the

new law for not being adequately transparent or having

" checks and balances. "

 

Copyright 2002, Reuters

 

 

 

 

 

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