21 June 2003
Environment / Drugs
Logger: Salween teak forest goes out in 2005
The Kengtawng teak forest, on the west bank of the Salween, logged since 2000, will perish forever by 2005 if nothing is done to effectively oppose the continued felling in the area, according to a well placed inside source from a logging company.

Refuting the figures given by an NGO worker to S.H.A.N. late last month (Plant awaits power producer from Japan, 2 June 2003), he said some 40,000 tones each year are being destroyed in the area that is located roughly between Loilem-Kunhing road in the north and Loilem-Mongpan road in the south. According to the 2 June report, only 6,000 tons of teak trees are being felled annually.

------ Company ---------------------- Owner
----------------------------------------- Amount permitted (tons) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002 ----------------------- 2003
1. Asia World ------------- Tun Myint Naing a.k.a Stephen Law ----- 18,000 -------------------- 25,000
2. Tun Tun Sein ---------- Tun Tun Sein from Mandalay ----------------- 8,000 ---------------------- 6,000
3. Tun Myat Aung ------- Tun Myat Aung of Kengtawng -------------- 12,000 ---------------------- 7,000
4. Nayai --------------------- Zhou Sang of former Mong Tai Army ------ 3,000 --------------- (yet to reapply)
5. Shan State South --- Maha Ja ----------------------------------------------- 3,000 -------------- (yet to reapply) --------------------------------------
Total ---------------------------------------------- 44,000 --------------------- 38,000

"The rule", he said "is that a company that wishes to reapply must first complete the hauling of the logs (from the previous concession) to Namzarng and then to Thazi. We are paid 68,000 kyat for each ton."

As for Hong Pang, the Wa company, its permit was revoked after China reportedly made an official protest that heroin seized on 5 April in Guangdong Province was hidden in logs exported by the company. (Wa subservient after Rangoon keeps mum on major drug haul, 13 June 2002)

Some 40% of the output, after being processed, were exported to China through the Wa capital Panghsang, according to the source. "We pay 8 million kyat on the average for each truckload (15 tons) to Burmese authorities from Kengtawng to Panghsang," he said. "But we are getting Y 11,000 - 12,000 per ton (Y1 = 100 - 120), we think nothing of the expense."

Kentawng, a sub-township of Mongnai, 92 miles southeast of Taunggyi, is said to be the biggest logging area in Shan State.

Others are Namlan-Tonglao-Mongkerng (loggers include Shan State Army "North") Lawkzawk-Mongpiang (loggers include Tun Myat Aung) and Mawkmai-Gandu-Hsaikhao (loggers include Shan State Nationalities People Liberation Organization, a Pa-O ceasefire group).

"These companies's trucks, as a rule, are not searched," he added. "So if you want to supplement your income by sticking in some drugs, you're welcome to it."

For further information, please contact S.H.A.N. at:
Shan Herald Agency for News.
Phone: 66-1-5312837
e-mail: shan@cm.ksc.co.th
http://www.shanland.org

S.H.A.N. is an independent Shan media group. It is not affiliated to any political or armed organization.