Chinese wood smugglers and local corrupt officials are increasing their illicit activities taking advantage of the unsettled political situation in Northern Myanmar, the locals living in Myanmar-China border area said.
“We have witnessed the unpleasant scene
of several piles of logs prevalent in Shweli (Ruili in China). There
seems no more space left there for more woods. We wonder if there is any
more wood left in Myanmar. About 270 to 300 trucks carrying illegal
woods [from Myanmar] are arriving there. The trucks are usually with 12
wheels to 22 wheels. Myanmar should speak out by now. I feel they are
cutting away our flesh,” a local witness said.
Chinese illegal logging became worse
since June 2011, after fighting occurred between the government’s army
and ethnic armed group Kachin Independence Army in Kachin State.
Observers comment the Chinese
traffickers exploit the situation well in which all the attentions of
both Myanmar authorities and ethnic rebels are absorbed in the warfare.
The Chinese opportunists make use of the
situation where there is lacking rule of law. The local people said,
those Chinese bribe the local officials and tend to gain more privileges
than the citizens.
“They come and log trees here with their
own machines and trucks. They first started illegal logging in Momeik
area of Kachin [in northern Myanmar]. Now they have reached Mandalay and
Sagaing Divisions [in central Myanmar]. They do these illegal things in
broad daylight. You can think of how big some trees as their 22-wheeled
trucks can carry 6 of them only. They usually uproot the trees, and use
the trunks for logs and branches for making charcoal. Then, they export
logs to Japan and Korea. They behave with such a shocking audacity,” a
local witness said.
The locals also said that they see
trucks every day carrying logs along the road towards Shweli in
China-Myanmar border. They noted that China strictly regulates illegal
logging in their country, but it does not control wood smuggling from
Myanmar. The Chinese Customs charge 1200Yuan for each tonne of wood to
the smugglers, but the amount does not affect their profits as they do
not need to pay at Myanmar side, the locals added.
“I am not sure why the Chinese are
smuggling to such an extent. I should ask if there will be any woods
left in Myanmar. China is the world’s second largest economy. When they
focused on industrialization, their environment was damaged and they
suffered from climate change. In some cities, fogs hang during the day
and the sun cannot be seen until it rains down. This is their story.
This is their sacrifice for their economic growth. Now their
businessmen, banned to do so in their country, try to make their dreams
come true in Myanmar. They catch the chance. Who will take
responsibility when forests are depleted at mountains in Myanmar? Forest
depletion will damage the environment and Myanmar people will have to
suffer from it,” an environmental expert said.
source: Eleven Myanmar
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