[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
updated VOA news on Thai-Burma Logg
- Subject: updated VOA news on Thai-Burma Logg
- From: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 14:04:00
Dear Netters,
Please redistribute the following text. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Julien Moe
-----------------
DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227142
TITLE=THAI / BURMA / LOGGING / L-O
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THAI MILITARY FORCES MONDAY BEGAN RELOCATING THOUSANDS OF
ETHNIC KAREN REFUGEES TO NEW CAMPS IN THAILAND. THE REFUGEES --
WHO FLED FROM BURMA -- ARE BELIEVED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE ILLEGAL
LOGGING TRADE. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM
BANGKOK, THE TRADE HAS SPARKED A POLITICAL SCANDAL IN THAILAND.
TEXT: THAI TROOPS MOVED IN MONDAY TO RELOCATE MORE THAN 10
THOUSAND KAREN AWAY FROM THE SALWEEN NATIONAL PARK -- SITE OF
ILLEGAL LOGGING AND THE BIRTHPLACE OF A DOMESTIC POLITICAL
SCANDAL.
THAI AUTHORITIES SAY THEY DECIDED TO RELOCATE THE KAREN BECAUSE
THEY BELIEVE SOME OF THEM ARE INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL LOGGING.
THE KAREN HAVE TAKEN REFUGE IN THAILAND FROM THE BURMESE MILITARY
GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS ATTEMPTED TO QUELL THE ETHNIC KAREN
INSURGENCY. THAI AUTHORITIES HAD PLANNED TO FORCIBLY REPATRIATE
THE REFUGEES BACK TO BURMA, AFTER THEY RESISTED ORIGINAL ATTEMPTS
TO MOVE THEM AWAY FROM THE PARK -- AN ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. FORCED WITH A CHOICE OF RELOCATION OR
REPATRIATION, THEY CHOSE RELOCATION.
THAILAND HAS BANNED HARDWOOD LOGGING SINCE 1989. BUT -- DESPITE
SPORADIC ATTEMPTS TO END IT -- ILLEGAL LOGGING CONTINUES IN
THAILAND TO MEET A DEMAND FOR THE TREASURED TEAKWOOD. IN WHAT
MIGHT BE TERMED "LOG LAUNDERING," TEAK TREES ARE CUT DOWN IN
THAILAND; FLOATED THEM DOWN THE SALWEEN RIVER TO THE BURMESE
SIDE; THEN BROUGHT BACK ACROSS THE BORDER WITH FALSE PAPERS
SHOWING THAT THEY CAME FROM BURMA. THE LOGS SELL FOR PREMIUM
PRICES.
THE PRACTICE HAS SPARKED A POLITICAL SCANDAL IN THAILAND.
PRAWAT THANADKHA -- DEPUTY-DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE THAI FORESTRY
DEPARTMENT -- SAYS HE WAS STARTLED WHEN SOMEONE RECENTLY DROPPED
A BAG IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE CONTAINING FIVE MILLION BAHT -- ABOUT
116 THOUSAND DOLLARS. HE SAYS HE SUSPECTED IT WAS A BRIBE AND
TRIED TO TURN IT OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT. BUT PRIME MINISTER
CHUAN LEEKAPI TURNED THE MONEY DOWN AND ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION
TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE MONEY.
SIX FORESTRY DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE ALREADY
BEEN TRANSFERRED AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION. SOME REPORTS IN
THE THAI MEDIA ALLEGE MILITARY OFFICIALS IN THE SENSITIVE BORDER
AREA ARE INVOLVED. THE OPPOSITION IS THREATENING TO BRING A
CENSURE MOTION AGAINST MR. CHUAN'S GOVERNMENT OVER THE MATTER.
THAI AUTHORITIES SAY A GROUP OF OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING THE
LOGGING WAS FIRED ON SUNDAY FROM THE BURMESE SIDE, AS THEY WERE
SAILING DOWN THE SALWEEN RIVER. NO ONE WAS INJURED. (SIGNED).
NEB / WED / WD
23-Feb-98 5:10 AM EST (1010 UTC)