Authorities in Yei River County of Central Equatoria State have been urged to help resolve misunderstandings between timber traders and security operatives.
Security operatives on Monday last week impounded 21 trucks loaded with teak poles over alleged failure to pay taxes to the government.
A local trader, who requested anonymity, said the teak poles belong to several individuals who directly bought their teak from out-growers, not from government-owned reserves.
He said traders usually pay all the necessary taxes and obtain clearances before cutting trees and transporting poles.
“There were allegations by some of the security officials that traders dealing in poles support rebels. The Secretary-General of the [defunct] Yei River State and governor of Central Equatoria State have been informed of what happened and all trucks destined for Juba were only transporting fence and building poles. All security clearances and payments were made at revenue offices,” he said.
According to the trader, all poles have been offloaded at Yei Freedom Square pending a meeting between security operatives, traders and government officials to amicably resolve the matter.
Julius Monyega, the Director-General for the Agriculture ministry in the defunct Yei River State confirmed the confiscation of the poles.
He said a forestry management committee is scheduled to meet security operatives and traders to resolve their misunderstandings.
“Those dealers who collected teak have legal documents and they harvested the teak poles from out-growers. Central Equatoria State government is not concerned about this,” said Monyega.
Last year, authorities in the now-defunct Yei River State issued local orders banning the logging of timber in the area.