BKK Post, March 26, 1998. LOGGING S

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March 26, 1998. LOGGING SCANDAL

Governor, 3 district chiefs face disciplinary inquiry
PM orders creation of investigation unit
Temsak Traisophon

The Mae Hong Son governor and three district chiefs are to face a 
disciplinary inquiry in connection with the Salween logging scandal.

Chanasak Yuwaboon, interior permanent secretary, said Prime Minister 
Chuan Leekpai yesterday ordered a special investigation team to be 
formed to investigate Pakdi Chompooming, the governor, Narongrit 
Sukathungka, Mae Sariang district chief, Prasert Osathapan, Sob Moei 
district chief, and Somboon Benmart, Muang district chief.

The four officials have direct administrative responsibilities in 
jurisdictions where illegal logging activities have occurred.

An Interior Ministry source said the permanent secretary office was 
drafting a ministry order to officially set up the probe.

The ministry has reportedly considered transferring Mr Pakdi to an 
inactive inspector post. If the ministry decided to go ahead with the 
transfer, it would likely bring the matter to the cabinet's attention 
next Tuesday and provided it was able to make last-minute changes to 
next month's mid-year reshuffle in time.

Mr Chanasak has clarified that the report of the ruling that 42 state 
officials were involved in the illegal logging trade was not released by 
his investigation committee as it has not yet reached a result.

The ruling was in fact made by another committee chaired by Lt-Gen Vijit 
Krachangsin of the Supreme Command headquarters.

Mr Chanasak said his and the Vijit committee might come up with 
different versions of the Salween probe and not necessarily point to the 
same wrongdoers.

Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart has vowed to remove culprits who 
are state officials from their posts.

But before the ministry could proceed with any such action, it must 
determine first if the officials have committed disciplinary wrongdoing 
or criminal offences, he said. 

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