Forest activists call for seizure of assets from corrupt officials
Civil society and forest protection activists on Monday called for officials in the government and armed forces guilty of corruption and exploiting state property to be removed from their positions and have their assets frozen.
The request came after a government spokesman said Prime Minister Hun Sen remains firmly behind the implementation of the “fifth approach” at a Council of Ministers meeting on Friday.
Last year, Hun Sen added “surgery” – the removal of dishonest officials – as the fifth approach to better governance through sweeping reforms.
The prime minister warned that corrupt government and Military Police officials who used their positions to take part in corruption, seize state land or clear forest to use state land as their personal property would be discharged and have their assets frozen.
Heng Sros, an activist who investigates forest crimes in northern Cambodia, urged the government on Monday to seize the assets of officials who had used their position to commit corruption, clear state land and illegally log forests.
Soth Koemsoeun
