On the morning of 25 February 2016, in the ceremony to inaugurate the “Morodok Techo” building, and to open the annual review conference of environmental works carried out in 2015 and directives setting for 2016, Samdech Techo Hun Sen hailed HE Say Sam Al, Minister of Environment, for being the first Minister requested for transference of functions and job delegation. Minister Say Sam Al requested to the Royal Government to give and transfer projects relating to economic land concessions for industrial crops to the Ministry of Agriculture to oversee, and the Ministry of Environment demands for return of conservative, protective and reserved zones from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Samdech Techo hopes that other ministers would cease to embrace and fight for areas under their power, which as always, asked for intervention from Prime Minister, when they encountered problem.
In relation for deforestation issue, Samdech Techo continued that while disagreeing with illegal deforestation in general, clearing bushy areas for agricultural purpose or industrial cropping such as rubber, etc. would not be a problematic issue. He stressed that those crops would soon provide forest coverage and economic interest. Urging local officials to continue to suppress forest crimes, Samdech Techo said “it may be difficult to suppress drugs … but forest crimes that involved huge trucks should not … where have all eyes of soldiers, police, military police, forest administration and environment … gone?”./.
Cambodia New Vision
CNV
