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THE NATION: New logging scam reve
- Subject: THE NATION: New logging scam reve
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 18:30:00
Headlines
New logging scam
revealed
CHIANG MAI -- Another case of massive
illegal logging has surfaced in the border
district of Chiang Dao, with more than
2,000 rai of teak forests in a national park
and forest reserve found to have been
destroyed.
According to police, the illicit operation was
similar to the Salween saga in Mae Hong
Son province in the way the logs were cut in
Thailand, transported to Burma to get
stamped as having a Burmese origin and
then returned to Thai soil as ''imported''
logs.
The arrest at the logging site in Sri Lanna
National Park and Chiang Dao National
Forest Reserve on Thursday was led by
Chiang Dao District Chief Banluesak
Thephassadin na Ayutthaya. Banluesak
said he had received complaints from
villagers living near the forests for some
time before gathering evidence to enable
the raid to take place.
Somboon Amornsantikiri or ''Sia Sam'', a
well-known canvasser of an opposition
party in the province, was identified by
district police as masterminding the forest
encroachment. But Somboon, who rushed
to clear himself at the district police station
yesterday, denies the charge.
Banluesak said Somboon had been
suspected because the arrested loggers,
who were hilltribe villagers, had carried
''blue cards'' issued as licences for them to
live on Somboon's land. The villagers
pointed at Somboon as the mastermind of
the illegal operation.
''But Somboon has not yet been arrested,
because we need to investigate further for
more concrete evidence. Other names
might also come to the surface if Somboon
agrees to cooperate. We hope to conclude
the investigation in one month's time,''
Banluesak said.
The district chief said there might be
another influential kamnan in the district
involved in the logging scheme, but he
refused to identify the man as evidence had
not yet been prepared.
Banluesak said he had recieved reports
that logs of ''Burmese origin'' were
transported back to Thai soil via a border
checkpoint at Baan Nong Ouk in Chiang
Dao district.
''We will have to check with customs
officers with regard to the amount of logs
and other information concerning
transportation of the logs,'' he said.
A source in the province added that Thai
Sawad Import & Export Co was apparently
the only Thai company which had received
permission to transport logs from Burma
through the checkpoint.
As with the Salween logging scandal,
Banluesak believes that there is a web of
local officers and businessmen behind the
operation in the Chiang Dao forests. He
pledged to pursue the case until all those
concerned faced legal action.
According to Banluesak, Chiang Mai
Governor Pravit Srisophon has been
informed about the encroachment. Pravit
could not be reached for comment
yesterday as he was on a field trip to Wiang
Haeng district.
The Nation