A forest logging watchdog organization Societe Surveillance Generale (SGS) issues a report on Monday alleging that the Defense Ministry and the merchants hire armed men to cut down trees to clear the land for use in Preah Vihear province.
This report is the third quarter 2005 report on the activities of SGS as independent monitor, forest crime monitoring, and said the men in military uniforms cut trees in Dangrek mountain area used to be dominated by former Khmer Rouge.
They said they received orders from military high ranking officials and some merchants. The report was about logging crimes committed in areas under the control of the Ministry of Environment such as the zoo, that are down.
SGS' project director said that this is the first time that SGS is able to take pictures of military personnels logging and that it can include these photos in its report.
Opposition Sam Rainsy party lawmaker Son Chhay said that SGS is revealing the truth after trying to hide these activities for awhile for fear of having the same fate as Global Witness which lost its contract.