10 regents in Kalimantan prosecuted for illegal logging<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Padang<\/p>\n
Ten regents in Kalimantan are currently being prosecuted for
\nalleged involvement in illegal logging and the embezzlement of
\ngovernment reforestation funds, Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat
\nKa'ban said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He declined to disclose the names of the regency chief
\nexecutives, but the prosecutions are seen as the first legal
\nmoves to be taken against senior local officials in the current
\nadministration's campaign against illegal logging.<\/p>\n
Previous crackdowns have mainly netted low-paid workers hired
\nto fell trees, the crew members of vessels transporting the logs,
\nor junior police and military personnel. Even mid-ranking police
\nand military personnel arrested in such crackdowns are rarely
\nprosecuted.<\/p>\n
\"The regents all come from regencies in Kalimantan. Legal
\nproceedings against them are still ongoing,\" Ka'ban said as
\nquoted by Antara on the sidelines of a ceremony held by his
\nCrescent and Star Party (PBB) here.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in March of this year
\nlaunched an aggressive campaign -- called the Sustainable
\nForestry Operation -- against illegal logging in a bid to protect
\nthe country's rapidly declining natural forest cover and improve
\nIndonesia's image in the international arena.<\/p>\n
Environmental groups say that so far they are encouraged by
\nthe campaign as it appears to be producing results, although they
\nsay that the authorities still need to go after the masterminds.<\/p>\n
Ka'ban said that eradicating illegal logging was difficult as
\nit not only involved international criminal organizations but
\nalso many corrupt officials in important posts in various state
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
He said that at least 16 institutions, including the police,
\nmilitary, customs and excise office, local administrations,
\nprosecution service, local legislative councils, the House of
\nRepresentatives and the Ministry of Forestry itself, as being
\ninvolved in illegal logging.<\/p>\n
\"Many officials are involved in the crime, and I admit that
\nthe Ministry of Forestry cannot overcome the complexity of the
\nillegal logging problem alone,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that because of this complexity, the fight against
\nillegal logging would be a \"long-term war\" and require \"guerrilla
\ntactics.\" He did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Ka'ban said 59.3 hectares of the country's total
\n120 million hectares of natural forest had disappeared due to
\nlogging over the past 30 years.<\/p>\n
He added that illegal logging also took place in
\nprotected forests and national conservation areas.<\/p>\n
He said that at the current deforestation rate of 2.8 hectares
\nper year, Indonesia's natural forests would have completely
\ndisappeared by 2015.<\/p>\n
Ka'ban also said that the high deforestation rate was also
\ndefrauding the public purse of some Rp 41 trillion (about US$4
\nbillion) each year.<\/p>\n
He added that the fight against illegal logging would be one
\nof the Susilo government's 36 top priorities over the next four
\nyears.<\/p>",
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