"Member organisations of the NGO Forum on Cambodia wish to make known the importance we attach to the successful achievement of the Royal Government of Cambodia's forestry sector reforms, which are necessary to ensure the environmental sustainability of Cambodia's forests and to protect the livelihoods of forest dependent communities.  The Royal Government of Cambodia has been widely praised for being the first government in the world to establish an institutional role for an Independent Monitor for forestry, and we wish to encourage the Royal Government to continue these and other forestry sector reforms.

"We are therefore concerned about reports of plans to remove Global Witness from its position as Independent Monitor.  We believe that continuous independent monitoring is an essential element in achieving the Royal Government's forestry sector reforms and that it will be difficult to achieve effective independent monitoring without the presence of Global Witness.  We call on the Royal Government to resolve the current dispute with Global Witness in a way acceptable to both parties and in a manner that does not threaten the Royal Government's objective of ensuring sustainability and equity in the use of Cambodia's forest resources. 

"We are also concerned about reported plans to bring legal action against the Country Director of Global Witness.  We know of no basis and we believe it is not a good solution to pursue legal action against either Global Witness or any of its staff.  Undue legal action against the Country Director of Global Witness, or against any other NGO director, would send a worrying signal to other organisations working with good intentions in Cambodia.  We therefore respectfully request that the authorities pursue diplomatic rather than legal options to resolve the current dispute with Global Witness.

"We respectfully request that all government institutions, donors, and NGOs assisting the forestry sector in Cambodia keep in mind the primary objective of conserving Cambodia's forests and protecting the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.  We therefore urge the Royal Government to bring the current dispute to a satisfactory resolution and to allow Global Witness to continue its mission in Cambodia."

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