BKK POST: Chuan wants logging ta

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

February 20, 1998


                                     


              Chuan wants
              logging talks with
              Burma

              Ministry also urged to discuss Karens

              Bhanravee Tansubhapol Temsak Trisophon

              Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has instructed the Foreign
              Ministry to raise illegal logging at the Salween Wildlife Sanctuary
              with the Burmese government, ministry spokesman Kobsak
              Chutikul said yesterday.

              According to Mr Kobsak, the prime minister recently instructed
              the ministry to find out whether Burmese authorities were aware
              the wood from the sanctuary was transported to the Burmese
              side for despatch back into Thailand.

              Mr Chuan also instructed the ministry to negotiate for relocation
              further inside Burma of Karens encamped near the border, who
              are said to have been involved in illegal logging activities, he
              added.

              The ministry is to liaise with foreign non-government
              organisations which are in touch with the Karens to dissuade
              them from such activities.

              Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra is expected to
              raise the issue when he visits Burma next month, the spokesman
              said. To this end, M.R. Sukhumbhand yesterday instructed the
              East Asian Department and the Thai embassy in Rangoon to
              prepare Thailand's position for the discussions.

              Mr Kobsak acknowledged the Salween illegal logging was an
              internal affair of Thailand. However, he said, talks are needed
              with the Burmese government because the incident involved the
              use of Burmese territory and nationals. Karens are encamped at
              five sites near the wildlife sanctuary, he added.

              The prime minister is also trying to prevent a recurrence of the
              incident, he said.

              Meanwhile, logging companies are asking the Interior Ministry to
              open four Thai-Burmese border passes in Mae Hong Son
              province temporarily for them to "import" logs into Thailand, but
              the minister is rejecting them.

              A ministry source identified the firms as B&P Goodrich,
              Phonphana, Songkhroh Sahai Ruamrob, and SKA-B.

              There have been allegations illegal logging in the Salween forests
              are undertaken by dumping Thai logs into the bordering Salween
              River only to be claimed as Burmese wood for "import" back
              into Thailand.

              The four border passes are in Ban Mae Sarm Lab in Sob Moei
              district, Ban Mae Sapaytai in Khun Yuam district, Ban Sao Hin
              in Mae Sariang district, and Ban Nai Soi in Muang district.

              The logging companies claimed to have Burmese authorities'
              documents permitting the delivery of "Burmese" logs, and to have
              already received an agreement from Thailand's National Security
              Council for such imports.

              However, the source said it was strange for those companies to
              receive such Burmese documents because the Burmese
              government had already banned all exports of its logs, and the
              Thai Interior Ministry consequently closed all border passes late
              last year.

              Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said he repeated an
              order yesterday for border officials to strictly close all those
              Thai-Burmese border passes, and for customs officials to block
              all attempts to "import" Burmese logs.

              "All the documents (permitting the delivery of Burmese logs) are
              fake," he said.




                                     




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Last Modified: Fri, Feb 20, 1998