Independent forestry watchdog Global Witness has issued its second apology to Prime Minister Hun Sen, expressing regret for circulating a report in late January “without prior consultation with Cambodian authorities.”
In a letter dated Feb 23 and addressed to Hun Sen, Global Witness director Patrick Alley admitted that “disseminating unverified information” that alleged some government officials were collaborating with illegal loggers was “not appropriate.”
Alley promised that the group will now “check and verify” information with the government before releasing it to the media. The London-based group has acted as the government’s official forestry monitor since 1999.
The report, released to the media just before an important international donor meeting, embarrassed the government and angered Hun Sen, who threatened to expel the group. The prime minister said the government was not given a copy of the report before the media, and accused Global Witness of running a politically motivated campaign to tarnish the government’s image.
In the letter, Alley promised that the group will now work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Forestry and Wildlife and the Ministry of Environment.
The letter—read on various Khmer television stations over the weekend—closes by asking Hun Sen to accept the apology.
Ministry of Agriculture Secretary of State Chan Tong Yves said Sunday the government still has not decided “about the fate of Global Witness.”
Foreign diplomats have been negotiating with the government during the past month to keep Global Witness as forestry monitor. A meeting between Global Witness staff, government officials and donor representatives is scheduled for today.
Global Witness co-director Jon Buckrell apologized Jan 30, saying that a Global Witness representative should have given the report to the government in person.
Alley said Monday that Buckrell has returned to London, where he is based. A new country coordinator for the group is expected to be named this week to replace the previous coordinator, whose contract ended last December.
Om Yentieng, a close adviser to Hun Sen, said Global Witness has an important role to play here.
“The government needs a lot of eyes and Global Witness is one eye for the government,” he said. “This was not the mistake of Global Witness, but only the mistake of an individual.”
