A government crackdown in Cambodia has failed to deter illegal loggers according to the UK-based environmental group Global Witness.
In fact, said spokesperson Mike Davis, illegal logging is expanding in rubber plantations in central Cambodia.
Global Witness had monitored logging activities in the country since 1999 but was “sacked” in April this year after accusing the police of using violence to break up a peaceful protest against government logging policies.
No new independent monitoring organisation has yet been appointed in its place and Mr Davis said illegal logging had now developed into a fully fledged commerical operation.
