Document Actions
No more teak forest in Shan State
Logging in Shan State has been carried out by many ceasefire and business groups, it has been causing complete ruin to forests on many parts of Shan State, says a report in mongloi.org, a Shan website...
No.09 - 03/2006
7 March 2006
Environment
No more teak forest in Shan State
Reporter: Phu Murng
Logging in Shan State has been carried out by many ceasefire and business groups, it has been causing complete ruin to forests on many parts of Shan State, says a report in mongloi.org, a Shan website.
In fact the authority had banned logging in 2000, but the timber trucks in Shan State are still traveling to Thailand, China and Hlaingdet, north of the new capital Pyinmana, according to a former timber-merchant.
|
Teak piles at Pangshang, Shan State |
Timber-merchants have to give tea money to the authorities every check-point and every regional commander in three parts of Shan State are benefiting from the trade, each getting more or less depending on which part has more timber, he said. “Legal and illegal loggings go half and half”. The timber-merchant called this kind of bribe as Ka Zyzai am moong mawng (contingency expense). |
According to the source, 6 companies have obtained permit for at least 20,000 tons together for the year 2006:
1. Century Dragon (A share holder in Hong pang) 8,000 tons
2. Htun Myat Aung Co. 2,000 tons
3. Nayai militia group 3,500 tons
4. Shan State South Co. (SSS Co.) of Maha Ja 3,500 tons
5. Pa-O National Army of Aung Kham Hti gets 3,500 tons
6. Shan Arka Min Co. 7,500 tons
The companies logging in Kengtawng, a sub-township of Mongnai, are Asia World Company of Law Hsing Han and Shan State South of Mahaja, a former associate of Khun Sa. Both got 10,000 tons within 2002-3.
The teak forest in Mawkmai has already gone and now those in other townships like in Hsipaw and Namlan in northwestern Shan State are almost completely wiped out.
The timberland that still remains is in Kengtawng in Southern Shan State due to the difficulty to log, but even there 50,000 tons have already been destroyed in the north of the neighboring Tasang area.
Northern Thailand imports timber mostly from Kengtawng, Mongton and Panghsang. Before the new bridge in Maesai opened, they smuggled from Mongton to Wan Pung village near the Golden Triangle then transported them through the Mekong River to Chiangsen district, Chiang Rai in Thailand. It was an expensive exercise. But since January 2006, they have been transporting timber across the bridge at night.
| Nowadays the timber trucks stop at Pung Toon village in Tachilek. The logs are covered with plastics sheets and driven across Sanpakhi Bridge (new bridge which was opened on 22 January). About 7-8 trucks cross the bridge in one night. The buyer from Thailand is said to be the Siva Company of Arnond Markmasilp. Grade A timber would cost 40,000 Yuan (about $4,750) per ton, while low-grade timber would cost 8,000-9,000 ($1,000) Yuan per ton. |
Teak piles in Ruili, China |
Besides Tachilek, there are 2-3 boats carrying timber along Salween River from Wan Ing village in Kunhing Township to Ta Woon Nawng village west of Panghsang, including one belong to Pi Sang, who is a native Shan in the UWSA. One boat can carry 34 tons; 1 ton costs 3,000 Yuan ($350) for transport.
The buyer in Panghsang has to pay tax 10,000 Yuan ($1,100) to Wa officers. Transporting timber from Panghsang to Chiangsen, Thailand, cost 2,500 Yuan per ton.
Panghsang the capital of the UWSA shares the border with China. Most of the timber comes to Panghsang from many parts of Shan State such Mongyawng, Kengtawng, Kenglom, Keng Kham, Nam Lan, Kehsi, Hsipaw, Tangyan and Lashio. From there they are exported into China and Thailand.
South Ossetia and Abkhazia: Endorsing rights of self-determination or staging a comeback as superpower?