Environmental watchdog Global Witness will appear in Kandal provincial court today to answer a trespassing charge filed by a logging company it was investigating, court officials said Thursday.
The complaint was filed in mid-January by the Everbright CIG Wood Co, Ltd, after authorities from the Ministry of Agriculture’s forestry and wildlife department and Global Witness tried to inspect a Kien Svay district plywood factory, said Chhen Phat, the Kandal court prosecutor.
“The problem was caused by the forestry officials,” he said. “They violated [Everbright’s] rights by entering [their property] without permission.”
Forestry department officials have been summoned to appear in court Jan 30.
“Maybe they want to warn us,” said Ing Ou, legislative director for the department.
Global Witness spokesman Jon Buckrell confirmed that papers had been served to at least one member of the organization, and that two members of the agency were being charged under Article 53 of the Untac law.
The article is designed to prevent “public agents” from violating human rights by entering someone else’s home without permission.
Today’s hearing is a preliminary one. No charges have been filed. At the hearing, the prosecuting judge will determine whether enough evidence exists to warrant a further investigation.
The complaint stems from a Jan 12 inspection of the plywood factory.
Buckrell called the charges “a stall tactic for now and a [warning] shot over the bow for the future.”
On that day, Global Witness was first denied entry into the factory and let in only after officials from the forestry department arrived.
After a few hours of inspection, security asked them to leave, Buckrell said.
