Processed wood from Burma suspended

No.07 - 8/2007
15 August 2007
Thai-Burma Relations
 
Processed wood from Burma suspended
 
Converted teak products coming from across Maehongson from Shan and Kayah states came to a stop yesterday following a signed directive from Governor Direk Konkleep.
 

_{Direk Konkleep}

The governor had alluded his decision to the royal address delivered by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on the eve of her 75th birthday on 11 August, when she expressed her concern about environmental problems, including deforestation and pollution. She also blamed greedy people for cutting down forests, leading to mudslides that kill people and devastate property, according to Bangkok Post.
 
Inside sources cited two other reasons for the issuance of the directive:

• The scrambling over each other among timber traders for official favor that had caused bad blood between different state agencies
• Reports of involvement in drugs by some logging companies

 
One provincial official had openly voiced his concern on 9 August, said a source.
 
Two border passes: Nampiangdin with Burma Kayah State and Huey Pheung with Shan State was officially opened for importing of processed teak on 18 July. "We had been able to import only 8 shipments since," complained a businessman who denied he had anything to do with the drug trade. "Two from Kayah and 6 from Homong (Shan State)."
 
Another key import item to Maehongson from Burma is cattle. Mr Direk's predecessor Supoj Laowansiri had worked hard during his tour of duty to open up the border in order to draw more income for the province which has been ignominiously tucked away in the remote northwest corner of the kingdom. "His efforts are yet to bear much fruit," said an official source.