home
cover
1. recommendations
2. introduction
3. the case for positive conditionality & international responsibility
4. the forest policy reform project & the steering committee
5. transparency
6. forest yield & revenue potential
7. concession activity and review
8. dfw–enforcement & jurisdiction
9. situation update–general
special military region
military region 1
military region 2
military region 3
military region 4
military region 5
10. the role of cambodia’s neighbours & other importing countries
thailand
laos
vietnam
japan
11. opportunities
the forest stewardship council (fsc)
protected areas and world heritage status
12. conclusion
Despite attempts by Cambodia’s neighbours to avoid the blame for deforestation in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam are clearly complicit in this destruction.
Thailand
Laos
Vietnam
Japan
Thailand
Since the early 1990’s and until May 1995, and once again in December 1996, Thai companies located mostly opposite KR areas of control were involved in a $10-20 million per month trade. Despite the fact that Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has denied that Thailand was complicit in the genocide committed by the KR during their period of rule, Thailand cannot escape from its responsibility for massive environmental destruction along the Thai/Cambodian border, especially inside national parks, and the fact that the KR were mainly able to continue their war with the RGC due to the revenue provided by this trade. If the Thai’s had genuinely ended their trade with the KR during the UNTAC period, it is clear that the conflict in Cambodia would have ended sooner.
Throughout this period a vast illegal trade of rough processed timber continued to be exported from Koh Kong Province to the Thai fishing village of Kalapandha, near to Klong Yai, Trat Province. For the first time since Global Witness has been documenting this trade in early 1995, the volume of fishing boats arriving in Kalapandha has dropped to only two or three per day, from the normal 40—50. However, this trade appears to have stopped more due to Cambodia’s recent crack-down and the fact that much of Koh Kong Province has now been logged out, than to any effort on behalf of the Thai authorities.
Reliable sources indicate a deal has been recently agreed, possibly at Prime Ministerial level, between Cambodia and Thailand to allow for the export of approximately 200,000 m3 of "old" logs from Cambodia to Thailand. It is likely that the following three checkpoints will be used: Chong An Mah, Prapalai and Chongsa-ngam. It is possible that this deal forms part of the terms for recent KR defections, though why such generous terms were necessary for a vanquished force is not clear.
Any such deal would be in contravention of Cambodia’s 31st December 1996 export ban, and against Thailand’s stated policy of supporting Cambodia’s forestry regulations, not to mention the clear attempt to mislead the international community. Of major concern is that the majority of the logs in these areas were cut in early 1995, with some further cutting during 1996. It seems extremely unlikely that such logs would be worth exporting, suggesting the imminent resumption of fresh-cutting along the northern Thai-Cambodian border, well out of reach of prying eyes.
Such a deal completely undermines the RGC’s stated desire for forest policy reform and potentially leads to yet another independent zone, similar to that on the western Thai/Cambodian border from Samlot to Malai. It seems that Cambodia, having almost escaped from decades of civil war, is now intent on disintegrating into politically and economically independent zones.
Laos
Following the 31st December 1996 log export ban, Laos made some effort to prevent illegal log imports from Cambodia. This effort came to an abrupt end through the signing of an export deal by the Thai Pipat Company, facilitated by Pheapimex in Cambodia, to export 100,000m3 of logs to Thailand via Laos through the Chong Mek border pass to the west of Paxse. Large-scale cutting and exports continued from Stung Treng Province, until Thai Prime Minister Chuan closed the Chong Mek border pass, for which he should be congratulated. However, the companies now plan to export the 16,500m 3 which were already imported into Laos through Vietnam to China, via Hong Kong. If the Vietnamese grant permission to transport the logs across their territory, illegal cutting is expected to resume in Stung Treng Province.
Vietnam
From March 1997 and throughout 1998, Vietnam imported vast quantities of illegally felled logs from Cambodia. These imports peaked from approximately late December 1997 through to the election, and likely paid the majority of costs for the CPP election campaign.
Vietnam continues to claim that it fully respects Cambodia’s 31st December 1996 log export ban, and has even lied to the Danish Foreign Minister by claiming that it had not allowed any log imports from Cambodia since the ban. At the same time, Vietnamese legislation actively encourages the import of foreign logs, with a special emphasis on logs of Cambodian origin, which require the specific permission of the Vietnamese Prime Minister. Until at least December 1998, the Vietnamese Government continued to claim that the 7th November 1997 export permission letter, signed by Hun Sen and Ung Huot was valid.
It is clear that senior officials in all three countries have been complicit and actively involved in encouraging the illegal exports which have taken place. To date, it is clear that, with the exception of Laos, the only reason for the vast reduction in exports to all three countries is due to the Cambodian crackdown. It is therefore vital that the international community recognises the key role these countries have played and takes every effort to pressure the neighbouring countries into respecting Cambodia’s forestry laws.
Japan
Of great concern is mounting evidence of the illegal export of high quality timber species, including logs from Koh Kong and the smuggling of logs in sea containers from Cambodia to Japan. Cambodian logs and illegally exported sawn timber are also being exported to Japan from Vietnam by Mr Sinh’s 30—4 Company from the port of Qui Nhon. Mr Sinh is one of the biggest exporters of illegally cut Cambodian timber from Ratanakiri Province. Given past Japanese breaches of UN Resolution 792, and the fact that Japan is hosting the 1999 CG meeting, this is a very disturbing development.
Mai Voot Tee's logs destined for illegal export, Koh Kong, January 1999.
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