BKK Post, March 25, 1998. SALWEEN S

[burma@xxxxxxxxxx]

March 25, 1998. SALWEEN SCANDAL

Ministries told to find to logging
PM wants to wrap up the case quickly

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has ordered four powerful ministries to 
conduct internal investigations to find out if any staff are linked to 
illegal logging in Salween National Park. 

The interior, agriculture, finance and defence ministries have been told 
to set up their own probe panels as soon as possible to make sure 
corrupt officials are brought to justice and to resolve the scandal.

The ministries are together responsible for supervising Mae Hong Son's 
Salween National Park and wildlife sanctuary.

Mr Chuan told yesterday's cabinet meeting that guilty officials must not 
go unpunished, adding that the ministries must keep him informed about 
the progress of their investigations.

He stressed drastic action was needed to stem illegal logging which has 
already extensively damaged the rich forest reserve. 

The premier said he had examined an Interior Ministry report which said 
that up to 42 state officials at all levels were implicated.

"Transfer the officials if you have to. Push them out of the way if they 
are in a position to distort the investigation result," he said, adding 
that corrupt Defence Ministry officials should also be treated in the 
same way.

Yesterday deputy Forestry Department chief Prawat Thanadkha surrendered 
to police to fight a charge that he took a five-million-baht bribe from 
Salween logging tycoon Vinai Panichayanubarn.

Mr Prawat emerged after keeping a low profile for a week. He has been 
suspended from his logging suppression duties and is accused of having 
strong links with influential loggers operating in the park.

Mr Vinai, owner of Saha Wanankij 2499 company, is said to be one of the 
timber "godfathers".

Mr Prawat made headlines when he attempted to donate an alleged bribe of 
five-million-baht to the Thai-Help-Thai fund but it was rejected by the 
prime minister who immediately ordered an investigation to locate the 
source of the money.

Mr Prawat was accused of soliciting the kickback in the first place. 

Escorted by his lawyers, the senior official turned himself in to 
Central Investigation Bureau police after an arrest warrant was issued.

After three hours of questioning, Mr Prawat bailed himself and left the 
CIB headquarters at 10.30 a.m.

Pol Maj-Gen Wanchai Srinualnad, the CIB assistant commissioner, said the 
deputy director-general refused to answer the investigators' questions 
but would give a full account in court.

He has vowed to speed up the case, although he could not say when it 
would be concluded. So far, no further witnesses have been summoned for 
questioning.

Meanwhile, the government might review last April's cabinet resolution 
permitting forest encroachers to remain on national reserves.

The resolution, passed by the Chavalit government during its Wang Nam 
Kiew mobile cabinet meeting in Nakhon Ratchasima, was much criticised 
for allowing villagers and the politicians who might be pulling their 
strings to encroach on the forests.

Newin Chidchob, the agriculture deputy minister, told the cabinet that 
the authorities were powerless to drive out the encroachers who were 
protected by resolution immunity.

Many were slashing and burning land to clear farmland and causing 
uncontrollable bush fires.

Mr Chuan has told the Agriculture Ministry to survey those forests 
affected by widespread encroachment and to come up with measures to deal 
with the problem. The resolution might have to be altered, he said. 

Government spokesman Akrapol Sorasuchart said the resolution would be 
raised for detailed discussion at the April 1 National Forestry 
Committee meeting and the resolution might be reviewed. 

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