THE NATION: New logging scam reve

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      New logging scam
      revealed

      CHIANG MAI -- Another case of massive
      illegal logging has surfaced in the border
      district of Chiang Dao, with more than
      2,000 rai of teak forests in a national park
      and forest reserve found to have been
      destroyed. 

      According to police, the illicit operation was
      similar to the Salween saga in Mae Hong
      Son province in the way the logs were cut in
      Thailand, transported to Burma to get
      stamped as having a Burmese origin and
      then returned to Thai soil as ''imported''
      logs. 

      The arrest at the logging site in Sri Lanna
      National Park and Chiang Dao National
      Forest Reserve on Thursday was led by
      Chiang Dao District Chief Banluesak
      Thephassadin na Ayutthaya. Banluesak
      said he had received complaints from
      villagers living near the forests for some
      time before gathering evidence to enable
      the raid to take place. 

      Somboon Amornsantikiri or ''Sia Sam'', a
      well-known canvasser of an opposition
      party in the province, was identified by
      district police as masterminding the forest
      encroachment. But Somboon, who rushed
      to clear himself at the district police station
      yesterday, denies the charge. 

      Banluesak said Somboon had been
      suspected because the arrested loggers,
      who were hilltribe villagers, had carried
      ''blue cards'' issued as licences for them to
      live on Somboon's land. The villagers
      pointed at Somboon as the mastermind of
      the illegal operation. 

      ''But Somboon has not yet been arrested,
      because we need to investigate further for
      more concrete evidence. Other names
      might also come to the surface if Somboon
      agrees to cooperate. We hope to conclude
      the investigation in one month's time,''
      Banluesak said. 

      The district chief said there might be
      another influential kamnan in the district
      involved in the logging scheme, but he
      refused to identify the man as evidence had
      not yet been prepared. 

      Banluesak said he had recieved reports
      that logs of ''Burmese origin'' were
      transported back to Thai soil via a border
      checkpoint at Baan Nong Ouk in Chiang
      Dao district. 

      ''We will have to check with customs
      officers with regard to the amount of logs
      and other information concerning
      transportation of the logs,'' he said. 

      A source in the province added that Thai
      Sawad Import & Export Co was apparently
      the only Thai company which had received
      permission to transport logs from Burma
      through the checkpoint. 

      As with the Salween logging scandal,
      Banluesak believes that there is a web of
      local officers and businessmen behind the
      operation in the Chiang Dao forests. He
      pledged to pursue the case until all those
      concerned faced legal action. 

      According to Banluesak, Chiang Mai
      Governor Pravit Srisophon has been
      informed about the encroachment. Pravit
      could not be reached for comment
      yesterday as he was on a field trip to Wiang
      Haeng district. 

      The Nation