Pyithu Hluttaw calls for stepping up measures against illegal logging

July 28, 2017

A motion was passed for the Union Government to handle illegal logging and illegal timber trade with the full force of the law at the Pyithu Hluttaw yesterday.

U Maung Myint from Minkin Constituency said there is not enough cooperation between forestry officers and department officials to combat illegal logging across the border. He said members of political parties and high ranking officials should stay away from cases of illegal logging. He also said the public knows who are behind the illegal logging business in the country but they will be hesitant to report these cases if officials are involved in this.
U Ohn Win, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, said a penalty of Ks 3 million is being included along with a prison sentence of 5 to 15 years in the amendment of the Forestry Law. He said officials at forestry departments are penalized according to the law if they are found to be slacking on the logging administration as this is viewed as abetting in illegal logging. During the financial years 2011-2012 to 2017-2018, around 1,111 forestry officials were charged with lawsuits. The Hluttaw approved the motion.
Finally, a motion for the draft bill for the Children (Guardianship and Custody) Act and a motion for the draft bill for the Burma Divorce Act were read and MPs interested in discussing the two motions registered their names.

Kyaw Thu Htet, Mhwae Kyu Zin/Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar