'Govt drive against illegal logging empty rhetoric'<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government's determination to fight illegal logging in the
\ncountry remains largely rhetorical, as seen from the various
\nunsolved cases involving log theft.<\/p>\n
The most recent log theft case is the arduous and time-
\nconsuming effort to solve a large-scale log smuggling link, which
\nwas uncovered in November last year and allegedly involved the
\nparticipation of importers from other countries.<\/p>\n
Hapsoro, coordinator of Telapak environment organization, said
\nhere on Friday that in a dramatic turn of events, it appeared
\nthat 25,000 cubic meters of illegal timber confiscated during the
\nraid and temporarily stored in Tanjung Priok port in North
\nJakarta would be auctioned by the police.<\/p>\n
The auction was said to be planned for Friday apparently due
\nto pressure by the owners of the three foreign ships in which the
\ntimber was carried, he said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa and State Minister of the
\nEnvironment Nabiel Makarim were scheduled to visit the Tanjung
\nPriok port on Friday, reportedly to prevent the auction from
\ntaking place, but inexplicably failed to show up.<\/p>\n
The capture of the three ships carrying the 25,000 cubic
\nmeters of illegal logs, is part of a series of seizures of
\nillegal timber bound for overseas destinations over the last few
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
\"The Indonesian Navy and National Police must be congratulated
\nfor their action in cooperation with the forestry ministry. For
\nthe first time, their action gives real teeth to the government's
\nrepeated commitment to combat illegal logging,\" Hapsoro told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Telapak and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
\nreceived information that there was a concerted lobby to release
\nthe confiscated ships and illegal timber, he said.<\/p>\n
Most recently there has been an attempt to have the case
\ntransferred from Jakarta to Pangkalan Bun in Central Kalimantan,
\nwhere a local timber tycoon is reported to have been behind
\ncommercial illegal logging from world-famous Tanjung Puting
\nNational Park, he added.<\/p>\n
Dave Currey of EIA said, \"It is essential that the government
\nstands firm against such pressure. The world is watching to see
\nif the actions of the Navy and the police will be supported and
\nthe culprits brought to justice.\"<\/p>\n
The timber and ships must be held as evidence in this case or
\nthe government's pledge to halt illegal logging will be seen as
\nan empty promise, he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-drive-against-illegal-logging-empty-rhetoric-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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