[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

BKK Post, March 18, 1998. SALWEEN



March 18, 1998. SALWEEN SCANDAL

Report to PM names 42 state officials 
Sanan has details of border pass request 
Yuwadee Tunyasiri and Temsak Traisophon

As many as 42 state officials have been named in a report into the 
Salween logging scandal handed to the prime minister yesterday.

Outlining the contents, Chuan Leekpai said the 42 were from agencies 
responsible for forest protection and timber imports. They included the 
Interior Ministry, the military, the Customs, Police and Forestry 
departments.

Some officials had violated state regulations and were directly 
responsible in allowing illegal logging while others were not involved 
but were in positions of accountability, said Mr Chuan.

The findings provide the basis for further disciplinary and criminal 
action, he said.

Sanan Kachornprasart, the interior minister, said a number of his 
subordinates had been named, among them a top provincial official. He 
declined to say if he was referring to Phakdi Chompooming, governor of 
Mae Hong Son.

Maj-Gen Sanan said the ministry would take disciplinary action against 
them but criminal proceedings would depend on the results of 
investigations by Pol Lt-Gen Seri Temiyavej, commissioner of the Central 
Investigation Bureau.

An investigatory panel led by Chanasak Yuwaboon, permanent secretary for 
Interior, has concluded that officials at different levels of the same 
agencies were involved.

Most of the officials, including a governor, were found to have been 
negligent at least and had turned a blind eye to the wrongdoings.

The temporary border pass at Ban Mae Samlaeb, in Sop Moei district, Mae 
Hong Son, was the sole conduit for Salween logs with Burmese stamps. A 
recent written request for the pass to be opened, along with related 
documents, is now with Maj-Gen Sanan.

Pongpol Adireksarn, the agriculture minister, has ordered a fresh 
disciplinary investigation into Prawat Thanadkha, the deputy 
director-general of the Forestry Department at the centre of the 
five-million-baht bribe, found by a ministry committee to have colluded 
with loggers.

Mr Prawat said his accusers should not forget that the money he had 
tried to donate had been brought from his home to Government House by 
Noppadol Prueksayawan and Maj-Gen Kittisak Ratprasert. Mr Noppadol was 
an adviser to Mr Chuan, and Maj-Gen Kittisak an aide, and they should 
also take the blame because it was their idea to bring the money to 
Government House.

Charoen Chankomol, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, said Mr 
Pongpol should resign for trying to defend Mr Prawat.

"Mr Pongpol had insisted on Mr Prawat's innocence when the bribe scandal 
emerged. Now Mr Prawat has been investigated for disciplinary action, Mr 
Pongpol should show responsibility by resigning," he added.

------------------------------------------------------------------------