In April, Mr Chhut Wutty, a 43-year-old forest protection activist, was shot dead in Koh Kong province south-western Cambodia, as he accompanied local journalists to observe illegal logging activities. A military police officer was also found dead at the scene.
Mr Chhut Wutty was the director of the Natural Resources Protection Group and was known for his active role in protecting Prey Lang forest within the Cardamom Mountain in Koh Kong. Mr Wutty brought passion, commitment and a strong sense of justice to his work. His unnecessary death is a great loss to his family, to the environment and to Cambodia itself. He was a man with a vision. He had a vision where the environment was a fundamental part of what made Cambodia great and that it should be protected for the good of all Cambodians. His death was the result of entrenched interests by individuals totally lacking in vision beyond that of personal gain.
WWF call on the government to renew their commitment to the protection of Cambodia’s forests, to stamp out illegal activities no matter where they occur and who is behind it and to make sure that Chhut Wutty did not die in vain.
