Bribes on a monthly basis is shelled out to the military, police and government offices by Chinese timber businessmen in Kachin state in northern Burma controlled by the Burmese junta's Northern Military Command commander Maj-Gen Soe Win, said local sources.
A truck loaded with timber was seen near Nong Dao gate on China-Burma border.From early November, hundreds of Chinese loggers and log trucks from China's northwest Yunnan province have descended in the forests in Bhamo District in Kachin state. They are into rampant logging and transporting both hardwood and softwood without a break to the Sino-Burma border day and night, said residents of Bhamo.
Currently heavy logging is underway in Manje (Mansi) Township in Bhamo. Chinese timber traders have to pay monthly bribes to the township authorities of the junta--- local military bases, police, Township Administrative Office or Township Peace and Development Council (Ma Ya Kha), agriculture, land registry, immigration, special police and military affairs security unit, according to residents of Manje.
Residents of Manje said, logging in Bhamo District is based on a deal between the Northern Command commander Maj-Gen Soe Win and local Chinese-Burmese timber businessman Lee Maw Yung.
Chart of monthly bribes to the junta authorities in Mansi Township
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|
NO |
Name of bribe |
Government sectors |
Amount in Kyat |
|
1 |
Lt-Col. |
Commander |
10,000,000 |
|
2 |
Major |
Military |
10,000,000 |
|
3 |
U |
Chairman |
1,000,000 |
|
4 |
Htun |
Deputy |
600,000 |
|
5 |
U |
Head |
500,000 |
|
6 |
U |
Head |
300,000 |
|
7 |
U |
Head |
300,000 |
|
8 |
Corporal |
Township |
6,000,000 |
|
9 |
Lt-Sergeant |
Township |
6,000,000 |
|
10 |
Head |
Township |
1,000,000 |
|
11 |
Representative |
Special |
2,000,000 |
1 US $ = 1,140 Kyat
Local sources close to the Burmese military said, the Bhamo District Military Strategic Command commander Lt-Col. Khin Maung Maung and Northern Command commander Maj-Gen Soe Win receive the largest amount of bribes from Chinese timber businessmen.
A log truck was stopped by engine problem on the logging road in Manje, Bhamo District, Kachin state in northern Burma.According to villagers around logging sites in Manje, Chinese loggers are also felling trees in forests near villages which are preserved for traditional house construction and firewood over long periods.
On December 15, a villager of Kone Ting in Manje Township was shot dead at night in a logging conflict between the Kone Ting villagers and timber-logger-thieves close to Chinese loggers, said sources close to Kone Ting village.
Commander Maj-Gen Soe Win granted rights to export timber to China through the border checkpoints controlled by the two Kachin ceasefire groups--- Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) in September after he was appointed as the new commander of Northern Command in late June.
China officially stopped importing timber from northern Burma in late 2005 however Chinese timber businessmen continue importing timber from northern Burma, said local timber traders.
