For each truck load of teak transported to the China border, timber traders in Burma's northern Kachin State, have to bribe over 8 million kyat equivalent to US $ 8,122, said local timber businessmen.
The Chinese trucks are now transporting mainly teak from the reserved teak forests in Shwego, Sin Khan and Mansi (Manje) townships in Bhamo district in Kachin State to Nong Dao gate on the Sino-Burma border. Each truck can carry five to seven tons of timber, said local log traders.
The bribe has to be paid to the locally-based Burmese Army battalions, operating Burmese Army columns in the logging fields, military intelligence called Military Affair Security Unit (Sa Ya Pha), police and the special branch of the police for smooth transportation between the logging fields and the border, said log traders in Bhamo.
A Chinese log-truck was crossing Nbapa, the KIO controlled village near Nong Dao gate on the border in December, last year.
A Chinese log-truck was crossing Nbapa, the KIO controlled village near Nong Dao gate on the border in December, last year.
At the moment, the highest amount of bribe is taken by Burmese Army battalions in the logging route between Shwego and Nong Dao. They are Infantry Battalion (IB) No. 121, IB No. 236, IB No. 144, IB No. 136, Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 319 and LIB No. 601, said border log businessmen.
The bribe has also to be paid to government immigration officers, forestry officers, the junta's administrative offices from villages to towns in the logging fields and multi-government departments except education and health, according to local timber traders.
Besides, big timber businessmen have to bribe a reasonable amount of money to the Burmese ruling junta's Northern Command (Ma Pa Kha) or Kachin State commander Brig-Gen Soe Win and Bhamo District strategic command commander Lt-Col. Khin Maung Maung for permission to log, added border log businessmen.
Unlike in the past, Chinese trucks loaded with timber directly transport timber to Ruili or Shweli the largest border trade town in China's Yunnan province bordering Burma without any stop at the timber camps in Nong Dao border gate, said eyewitnesses.
In Ruili, timber from Burma's northern Kachin State are stoked and shaped in different types for export as well as domestic markets, said Burmese traders in Ruili.
On the other hand, Rangoon based Htoo Trading Company and Yuzana Company, which are close to the ruling junta are also transporting teak and hardwood from western regions of Kachin State to Rangoon, former capital of the country, said local people.
According to the Thailand-based Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG), Tay Za or Teza owned Htoo Company is the major company which fells teak and hardwood from the reserved forests around Indawgyi Lake, a tourist attraction site in Mohnyin district, Burma for export.
On the other hand, Yuzana Company chaired by U Htay Myint, who is close to the junta's No.2 Vice senior-general Maung Aye, is transporting mainly hardwood from Hukawng (Hugawng) Valley to Rangoon for export. The company bought over 200,000 acres of land in the valley from the junta for crop plantation in 2006.
Hardwood in the Triangle Areas controlled by Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), a major Kachin ceasefire group in the state is transported to Tengchong in China's southwest Yunnan province since late last year.
The KDNG chairman Awng Wa on Sino-Burma border said logging activities are now gradually increasing once again in Kachin State. However, it will not solve the current economic hardships of people in the state.
Only Chinese timber businessmen and the Burmese military will earn money from logging but civilians will face the impact of deforestation in the future, he added.
