Don't know why our government let these traders get all the $$$$ by selling timbers to Vietnam... I am from Savanakhet and the rain forest now became like a desert ... officials are bribed by traders to get more export quota.
The Vietnamese have STRICTLY prohibited cutting trees in their own country to preserve their forests. The Thai do the samme thing. So, the Viet despearately need trees to feed their very fast country development. What do they have to do? They bribed the corrupted Lao leaders to let them cut Lao trees where ever they want. Even within the few protected areas, there are empty spots due to illegal tree logging deep inside to hide from people to see and protest. No other countries in Asia would let their forests be raped by greedy forigners like in Laos.
