VietNamNet Bridge – Two leaders of the national park of Phong Nha – Ke Bang in the central province of Quang Binh have been dismissed for lack of responsibility in the case in which loggers chopped down three sua trees worth millions of USD in the park.
The authorities of Quang Binh confiscated sua timber in this case.
The two officials were punished are director Mr. Luu Minh Thanh and deputy director Nguyen Van Huyen of the national park. The dismissal was decided by the authorities of Quang Binh Province, which was announced on March 8.
In addition, Mr. Luu Minh Thanh, who is also Deputy Party Secretary, was reprimanded by the Party Standing Committee of Quang Binh province for his irresponsibility in managing the park.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Van Huyen was also dismissed from the Party Standing Committee of Bo Trach district and the Phong Nha – Ke Bang national park.
In April 2012, three ancient sua trees worth millions of US dollars were cut down in the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, a world natural heritage site.
In particular, after the incident, Mr. Nguyen Van Huyen was assigned to head an inspection team to check the scene. Discovering the illegal timber worth millions of US dollars, Huyen did not instructed rangers to protect the wood. The wood, therefore, was taken by loggers.
The incident stirred up the local community. They suspected that the rangers joined hands with loggers to chop down the rare trees.
Most recently, on February 28, with fishing nets on the river of Son, in Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, near the Phong Nha national park–local fishermen picked up 12 pieces of sua timber, worth hundreds of thousands of US dollars.
Le Ha