Environmentalists receive death threats<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has reported
\nthreats made against its activists investigating illegal logging
\nin Aceh to the National Police and the Ministry of Forestry.<\/p>\n
Walhi chairman Chalid Muhammad said a number of persons
\nunknown had told its Southeast Aceh activists to leave Kutacane
\nin Southeast Aceh or they would "be risking their lives".<\/p>\n
"It is clear that the threats and intimidation directed at the
\nWalhi activists is aimed at preventing them from uncovering who
\nthe masterminds are behind illegal logging in Kutacane and the
\nLeuser National Park," Chalid told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
He also said that the threats had disrupted the investigation
\nbeing conducted by the Walhi team in the regency.<\/p>\n
"Due to the intimidation, Walhi members are no longer able to monitor
\nlogging sites in the area. Therefore, Walhi cannot confirm
\nwhether the level of illegal logging is abating or not," he said.<\/p>\n
The Walhi coordinator for the Southeast Aceh region, Sofyan,
\nsaid the first threats had come after the environmentalists made
\na documentary movie on illegal logging in Kutacane last month.<\/p>\n
"We often received threats, either by phone or text message,"
\nSofyan told the Tempointeraktif news portal. "But recently, the
\nintimidation has been intensified."<\/p>\n
Sofyan said that a group of unidentified people came to the
\nhomes of two Walhi activists on Oct. 29 and told them to leave
\nSoutheast Aceh immediately.<\/p>\n
"The day after, the same people also came to our offices in
\nSoutheast Aceh," he said.<\/p>\n
Sofyan said Walhi had sought protection from the local police.<\/p>\n
Chalid said the threats would not put a halt to Walhi's work
\nuntil the perpetrators of illegal logging were brought to
\njustice.<\/p>\n
"They are working for humanity. They won't stop just because
\nof the threats," he said.<\/p>\n
Walhi has said that illegal logging in Kutacane may involve
\nsenior officials in the region. The deforestation contributed
\nto the recent flooding that claimed 10 lives and left hundreds of
\nothers homeless, it said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban has also blamed
\nrampant illegal logging and widespread felling of a local tree
\nknown as kemiri for the fatal floods.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered a nationwide
\ncrackdown on illegal logging early this year. Jointly conducted
\nby the police, military, prosecutors and the Ministry of
\nForestry, the operation, code named Hutan Lestari, has targeted
\nPapua, Kalimantan and Sumatra.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environmentalists-receive-death-threats-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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