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Officials Sacked for Illegal Logging in Xinjiang
Several forest administration officials in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have been sacked and 20 other people have been arrested for alleged illegal logging of virgin forest.
Wang Xinfeng, head of the Gongliu Tree Farm in the Yili Hazak Autonomous Prefecture in northern Xinjiang, and his deputy Ahmujiang Zak were sacked and are expected to face prosecution over the case, involving about 5,000 cubic meters of spruce timber.
Po Lati, vice-director of the Tianshan Forestry Administration and Fang Jianguo, vice-chief of the Resources Section and several other officials were also removed from their positions over the case because of their administrative responsibility as superiors.
A unspecified number of trees were blown down by strong winds on the farm on April 18 this year. Later on, Wang Xinfeng decided to have the fallen trees cleared, and his deputy Ahmujiang Zak was ordered to do the job and take the opportunity to fell other trees.
Several days later, over 5,000 cubic meters of spruce was logged.
The unauthorized logging of virgin forest in west China is strictly banned under the country's laws as China has moved to protect its fragile environment.
The case surprised leaders of the State Council, the Chinese cabinet, and Zhou Shengxian, director of the State Forestry Administration has gone to the spot to supervise the handling of the case with regional leading officials.
To date, over 100 people involved have been punished over the incident.
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