Pursat, March 12, 2024: Gen. Sao Sokha, Chairman of the National Commission for the Prevention and Suppression of Natural Resource Crimes, has deployed more than 300 military police officers to initiate a campaign aimed at preventing and suppressing deforestation and encroachment on state land in Pursat province.

Under the directives of General Tos Sambo Thun, Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie, an intervention force comprising approximately 300 Gendarmerie personnel was dispatched to support the Unity Command in Pursat province on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Their mission: to launch an operation targeting illegal logging activities in Veal Veng district, Pursat province.

The campaign has identified four priority geographical locations for intervention, encompassing four communes and 14 major points. Notable areas include Thmor Da commune, Anlong Reap commune, Krapeu Pi commune, and Bramoy commune, each pinpointed as hotspots for illicit logging and land encroachment.

This month-long mission seeks to bolster protected area management, ensuring the sustainability of ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, and responsible natural resource utilization. Emphasis is placed on effective deforestation prevention and state land protection, particularly within Veal Veng district.

Simultaneously, the military police are tasked with identifying perpetrators involved in encroachment and land grabbing, gathering evidence to facilitate legal proceedings in accordance with Cambodian law.