EU Asks for New Road to Be Stopped

[geovalin]

The government will reconsider the route of a planned road it wants to build through protected forest in Mondulkiri province after the European Union’s ambassador raised concerns yesterday over the negative environmental impact it will have. According to the National Police website yesterday, Interior Minister Sar Kheng met with EU Ambassador George Edgar at the ministry in Phnom Penh to discuss environmental issues.
 

It notes Mr. Edgar was stressing that the proposed road, intended to link the new Kbal Bamrey border checkpoint with Vietnam, will be disastrous for the local environment. “The proposed road will affect the core of the last remaining resource and risk losing the natural resources – including endangered wildlife.”
 

Por Pheak, chief of the Interior Ministry’s international relations department, told Khmer Times that the project is now suspended after receiving information relating to its environmental impact. “Samdech Kralahom Sar Kheng will form a joint committee, consisting of national and local government level officials, to study the effects of the road on the environment, and how it is specifically effecting the environment,” he said.

 

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/28338/eu-asks-for-new---road-to-be-stopped/

[eliotness]

The EU should be helping Cambodia to minimise the impacts rather than opposing the development.  Alternatively the Cambodian Government should tell them to " mind their own business".  I've seen major road improvements in UK national parks that have been undertaken with care and consideration for landscape and wildlife, which were originally strongly opposed by "green pressure groups", but once completed actually added to the park.

[fatyank]

when did cambodia join the EU?

 

 

[Sheryl]

Obviously, it did not, but it does receive development aid from the EU.

 

Per the article, the EU was not opposing having the road, just the currently planned routing of it - i.e., urged that it be built such that the route does not go through protected forest land.

 

 

[jacko45k]

What is the matter, ordering around 15% of the world's economy isn't enough for their egos.