Thai political party files complaint against China's imports of Siamese Rosewood

BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) - A Thai political party has filed a complaint with the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, urging China to stop importing or supporting sales of Siamese Rosewood from Thailand to help end illegal logging of the depleting tree. Members of the newly-set up Tuang Kuen Puen Pa (Thai Forest Land Reclamation) Party), led by Damrong Pidej, former director-general of the Department of Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, submitted the complaint letter to Chinese Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Chin Hua Huang, whose deputy director for political affairs received the letter on his behalf. Damrong said that Siamese Rosewood is protected under Thailand's forest bill, but illegal logging of the depleting Thai wood for timber exports to China has been increasing due its attractive price of 400,000 baht per cue, compared with 28,000 baht per cue of Thai teak wood. Damrong said he believes if the Chinese government positively responded to his party's petition, the problem of illegal logging in Thailand should generally ease. (TNA)