MON STATE – The junta Prison Department in Paung Township is involved in illegal logging and using prisoners as forced labour in those activities, according to sources close to the logging businesses based in the township.
Although teak lumber has been stored at the Prison Department Office near Khalautinn Ward in Zinkyaik, Paung Township since the end of last December, claiming it is to repair the monastery, sources close to the logging businesses said that those lumber are products of illegal logging.
It is said that the logs were stored in the compound of the Prison Department Office after telling the abbot of Shwedingar Monastery in Paung Township with nearly 200 years of history was told that the lumber will be used to repair the leaking roofs but that is merely a front for illegal logging.
Although the prison warden has ordered to quickly move the logs in the compound to the monastery, the smugglers are instead focused on selling them to saw mills and are making enquiries.
“The owner of the lumber is reportedly Ye Thiha from the Department of Electricity, also known as the town chief. There are several agents behind him. The abbot and the warden are being used. They are exploiting the fact that the monastery is under repair. None of those logs were delivered to the monastery but are they are instead making deals with Bikin Saw Mill in Paung and other businesses, even crossing into Hpa-an,” said a source close to the logging industry.
Currently, as none of the logging businesses dare to touch those lumber, they are still stored inside the Prison Department Office.
In addition, it is reported that illegal loggers are colluding with the junta council to smuggle logs at 144 mile in Taungoo and are transporting those illegal logs to Yangon on January 19 night.
