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Rape
of the south to reap riches in the north For soldiers and policemen manning the nothern-most check point before entering the LTTE controlled areas in the Wanni, it is a common sight to see truck loads of timber passing through at regular intervals. The lorries that pass this check point at Omanthai are packed with valuable timber that include Satin, Teak and Palu. The trees that are felled are about 40-50 years. To attract more timber sales from the south to the north the LTTE has removed the tax imposed on timber, although it imposes taxes on all other goods from the south, while imposing a total ban on the felling of timber in the Wanni region. The LTTE has even imposed a ban on felling dried trees for firewood in areas that come under its control. Despite the high transport cost including labour charges for unloading and reloading the felled trees at security checkpoints, most southern businessmen find it still profitable to sell the timber in the north than in the south. These trucks carrying timber from the south are armed with permits issued by the Forest Department or the Divisional Secretariat although the manner in which the permits are obtained have been questionable. Most of these loaded trucks originate from Moneragala, Ampara and Badulla districts, while some come from the districts of Anuradhapura and Puttalam. "I can sell a load of timber for about Rs. 600,000 in the north whereas I would not get this price in the south. This is why I transport these loads so far," says R. Mohan from Ampara. We caught up with Mohan at the Omanthai checkpoint. He said he travels to the north almost on a weekly basis with a timber load. He claimed that they collect the timber from state land whose private owners permit them to sell the timber. Another timber trader from Panadura said it was far more profitable to take the timber to the north rather than purchase it and and sell it to timber depots in the south. "Although we have to pass many police check points and make payments to ensure that we are allowed to pass, we still make a bigger profit," he said. The police and army at the Omanthai checkpoint can do little because the businessmen are armed with the necessary documents from the areas from where the timber is being transported. When The Sunday Times went to the deep south from where these truckloads of timber begin to roll, we found large-scale illegal felling of crown land taking place. Lack of forest officials and corruption have been attributed for this rape of the south. At Siyambalanduwa, a forest officer told us over 4000 acres of land including valuable timber had been cleared in the Kotiyagala area. The Forest Department conducts raids in the area only about twice a year due to lack of man power and weapons, that make the raids dangerous for the rangers. "We don't have the resources to conduct continuous raids as we often come under armed attack from the loggers," he said. The police too lack man power and are powerless against armed logging gangs. "The people here strongly oppose the Forest Department's attempts to stop logging," said one ranger whose jeep was attacked during a raid. Environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardena commenting on the sudden spurt of illegal felling said he believed that the demand for timber in the north following the ceasefire agreement had led to an upsurge in this illegal activity. Mr. Gunawardena, who also represents the Centre for Environment Conservation said both the Wildlife and Forest Departments were severely short of manpower, and the Police too were unable to provide the necessary support for the two departments. The Sunday Times was told that much of this illegal felling was conducted by a handful of businessmen helped by local residents. But when we tried to find out who these logging bosses were, no one was willing to give names. The proximity of Kotiyagala to the east coast makes it easy to transport the timber to the north-east. One villager said that the most valuable timber is transported to Jaffna. Most of the villagers said that it was good business to send timber to the north because the LTTE had removed the tax. Some of the timber was also sent to the north via boats from the eastern coastal towns such as Kalmunai and Akkaraipattu. Small scale loggers in the Muthukandiya area of Siyambalanduwa also reportedly supply timber to the north and east. The Forest Department's lack of vigilance in protecting the Muthukandiya tank reserve has led to many valuable trees being felledfrom the forests that surround the tank, residents say. "Even now, I can just go across to the other side of the tank and cut down any tree I want - even something valuable like Satin," boasted a small scale businessman who wished to remain anonymous. "The Forest Department has absolutely no control over what happens in the tank reserve," said another villager who accompanied us around the tank. The Sunday Times, while touring the tank reserve, observed that many Satin trees had been felled within the forest enclosure that surrounded the tank. "Timber is loaded on to carts and then sold to local businessmen, who then slip in the illicitly felled logs with other legal cargos for shipment to the north," said a resident. "Only a few valuable trees are left in the Monaragala area - most of the others have been cut down," said one Forest Department Official. The Sunday Times however was able to spot lorry loads of timber leaving Monaragala on the Pottuvil A4 road. The Sunday Times learns that certain Government officials are also involved in this illegal activity. "Many land officers have been bought over by the loggers themselves," said a local resident. When presented with these allegations, a Forest Department worker admitted that many within the Department were in league with the illegal tree fellers. Illegal logging however is not restricted to the east coast, with several incidents being reported from other parts of the island too. This week a load of 554 Kohomba logs valued at over Rs. one million was seized in Puttalam. The trees had been cut from a state land which had been illegally acquired by a falsified deed. A businessman accused in the case had acquired 13 acres of land illegally. There are also reports of illegal logging taking place within the confines of at least three major national parks. No
felling of trees on crown land He claimed that the Forest Department has not issued licences to cut trees on crown land since the late 1980s. "The Department only allows trees to be cut from forests that have been farmed for that purpose alone," Mr. Ariyapala said. Admitting that Moneragala was a problematic area for forest officers, he said more man power had been deployed in the area to protect the forests. He also said he would look into the situation in Kotiyagala. |
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