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Cambodian leader threatens log smugglers with rockets

(Associated Press)

Phnom Penh

Mon, March 21, 2016 Published on Feb. 25, 2016 Published on 2016-02-25T22:01:30+07:00

Cambodian Prime Minister and President of Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen (left) and his wife Bun Rany attend an event by his ruling party to mark the 37th anniversary of the 1979 downfall of the Khmer Rouge regime at the party headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jan. 7. (AP/Heng Sinith)

C

ambodia's tough-talking prime minister said Thursday he has authorized helicopters to fire rockets at smugglers of illegally cut timber.

Hun Sen announced the policy at the inauguration of a new Environment Ministry building in the capital, Phnom Penh.

Hun Sen is famous for intimidating his enemies through public threats, but also for tough action. He said no rockets have yet been fired from two helicopters equipped to help stop smugglers, and did not explain how illegal logs might be distinguished from the air.

Cambodia, like many Southeast Asian nations, has suffered from severe deforestation for the past several decades. Hun Sen in January established a special committee led by army Gen. Sao Sokha to crack down on the smuggling of logs to neighboring Vietnam.