BKK Post,April 21, 1998. SALWEEN SC

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April 21, 1998. SALWEEN SCANDAL

Plodprasop ousts three top staffers 
Chakrit Ridmontri

The new Forestry chief, in his first day at work yesterday, announced 
the forthcoming removal of three senior forestry officials over the 
Salween National Park and wildlife sanctuary logging scandal.

Thavorn Lamseejan, director of the Natural Resources Conservation 
Office, Jumroon Taschan, director of the National Park Division, and 
Viroj Pimmanrojnagool, director of the Wildlife Conservation Division, 
all face the axe.

Plodprasop Suraswadi said: "This doesn't mean these officials made 
serious mistakes but they have to be held responsible for the scandal 
because they directly oversee the parks and sanctuaries." 

He announced their removal at a meeting with forestry staff on the first 
day in the job but explained that the officials will have a chance to 
redeem themselves by volunteering to tackle major illegal logging cases 
in other protected areas.

"I will give them swords to fight with the illegal logging rings. If 
they succeed, I will return them to their original positions," said Mr 
Plodprasop.

Mr Jumroon said he was ready to face any consequence. The other two were 
unavailable for comment.

At the meeting yesterday, former forestry chief Sathit Sawintara 
officially handed over the job to Mr Plodprasop, who was fisheries chief 
for eight years before becoming secretary-general of the Agricultural 
Land Reform Office for one year.

Mr Sathit was made an inspector general at the Ministry of Agriculture 
after being accused of negligence in the Salween scandal.

Mr Plodprasop praised Mr Sathit for taking the transfer "like a 
gentleman". He also praised deputy forestry chief Prawat Thanadkha, who 
was also present and who ignited the scandal when he attempted to 
deliver a five-million-baht bribe intended for him, to the prime 
minister.

"If Mr Prawat kept the bribe money, no one would have known about the 
Salween scandal. Moreover, I wouldn't be here as the forestry chief," he 
said.

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