Thailand and Burmese Teak ...........

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About 60 timber vehicles cross check-point paying bribe
Tue 13 May 2008
IMNA

About 60 vehicles carrying timber from Three Pagodas Pass (TPP) Township, on the Thai-Burma border town, entered Thailand crossing the check-point at 5 a.m. today, even though the border gate has been closed on both sides since May 2005.

Most of the timber are teak, the gum-kino tree, a kind of ironwood tree from Thapyu area, Zemi River in the the Karen National Union (KNU) area.

According to timber businessman in TPP, “All the timber vehicles passed the check-point gate directly by making part payments in advance as taxes to the Lieutenant- Colonel Hla Min in TPP”.

The timber businessman said all vehicles paid the taxes for crossing the check-point. The charges are about 30,000 Kyat per vehicle. Most of them were six wheel and ten wheel vehicles. At least 1.2 million Baht were paid to the Lieutenant- Colonel.

“The timber owners directly paid Daw Saw Khin, a business woman in TPP. They paid her yesterday to get permission for today,” he added. She collected about 30,000 Baht from six wheel vehicles and 50,000 Baht from ten wheel vehicles. She is a trusted person of Lieutenant-Colonel. She has influence over businessmen.

A lumber machine owner said “Most businessmen were unhappy with such high taxes. The businessmen paid only 10,000 Baht earlier.

According to another businessman, the number of timber vehicles entering Thailand is more than before because about 10 vehicles went into Thailand in the past.

Due to vehicles carrying timber, a bridge in quarter (1) in TPP was damaged. The timber carried by the trucks could be well over 100 tons.

“The timber would go to Bangkok directly. Thai businessmen invest in trading in timber,” the timber businessman said.

The Thai border committee, the Lieutenant-Colonel, and the TPP chairman have a nexus and are involved in allowing vehicles carrying timber passing into Thailand, said the businessman.

He added that the Lieutenant-Colonel Hla Min will go back soon from TPP township because a new military officer who will take charge has arrived in TPP.

Since both authorities closed the border, residents use the way beside the main road. The border was closed after the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) abducted Thai border two policemen on May 22 in Sangkhlaburi District Kanchanburi Province. They were released on May 26.

monnews-imna.com

Burma's lush jungled hills are currently being shaved clean by Chinese timber concerns, and much of the unique, undocumented and ancient life within them, never touched by an ice age, will be lost forever, leaving rockpiles reminiscent of present-day Haiti. I have a link with pictures but it's so depressing I really don't feel like finding it again right now :(

HOOTAD and MID ,You are so correct , Who wants to buy such exotic timber ? The Yachties , Architects and "Designers " , who have much more "fashion " than "brain" in their money -making careers .

I'm not surprised that the price of tinber is rising and I'm not surprised that China is behind the deforrestation of Burma. As China is not known for it's fair policies, regarding life, I don't suppose it cares too much for trees either.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hootad Binky

I have a link with pictures but it's so depressing I really don't feel like finding it again right now

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Don't need the link. Evident what can happen for anyone living in central Isaan now. Amazing to talk to the old timers and have them tell about all the great amount of Teak there was here. Now most of Isaan looks like one big flat rice farm with a few trees for decoration.

Junta to expand logging fields in Northern Burma
Thursday, 15 May 2008

There is nothing better that the Burmese military junta understands than raking in moolah, even if it means deforestation and massive damage to the ecology and environment. To the generals of the junta money is sweeter than honey.

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The regime has worked out a scheme to bring in more revenue and has ordered the expansion of logging fields in northern Burma. The Burmese junta plans to construct a road from the Danai (Tanai) Township to Shingbwi Yang. The new logging fields will be located on the other side of Hkalung village which is near Shingbwi Yang, a source said.

The Burmese military authorities have asked Jadeland Myanmar Co., Ltd. to construct the road. Chinese road builders have arrived for construction work in Danai Township, a source added.

There are about 600 people living in the village. Last month, Chinese loggers arrived on the river bank of Hkalung Hka (Hkalung River) near Hkalung village, a villager in Hkalung said.

They were overseeing the logging fields and mapping the area. Sutdu Yup Zau Hkawng, Kachin business tycoon and owner of Jadeland Myanmar Co., Ltd. has also been allowed to log officially on 2,000 acres, a villager added.

The Forest Minister is expected to arrive in Hkalung village soon to monitor the expansion move and the Burmese Army is taking care of security around Hkalung village, a villager added.

All this when over 100,000 lives have been lost and two million have been rendered homeless after Cyclone Nargis lashed the country between May 1 and 2.

kachinnews.com