Minister of Forestry THEIN Aung of Burma

But five days ago, Aung Moe Lwins brother in Kyaukpadaung received a telephone call from an unnamed person who informed him that Aung Moe Lwin and another person from Meikhtila had died from an over-zealous hand during interrogation.

Aung Moe Lwins father U Thein Aung said he was determined to find out what happened to his son.

U Thein Aung said he had told his wife that their son was missing and wants his case to be treated as a missing person, feared dead, until the facts are established.

Brigadier-General Thein Aung said that stopping the illegal timber trade would not only have economic benefits but also help conserve the environment.

Union member Ko Ko Aung said 30 percent of the reported cases involved murder.