Illegal logging escalating: Police<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Illegal logging cases investigated by police in the first quarter
\nof 2004 almost doubled compared to the same period of 2003,
\npolice said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
National Police director of special crimes Brig. Gen. Suharto
\nsaid his officers investigated 246 cases involving 169 suspects
\nin the first quarter of the year, up from 125 cases involving 80
\nsuspects in the same period of 2003.<\/p>\n
According to Suharto, most of the illegal logs were smuggled
\nout of the country, particularly to Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"The cases are occurring more frequently this year. We have
\nlaunched several operations and managed to capture many
\nsmugglers. We have also confiscated 100,000 cubic meters of logs,
\nworth Rp 75 million, since January 2004,\" said Suharto.<\/p>\n
He said the police had confiscated 36,500 cubic meters of logs
\nworth around Rp 32 million in the first three months of 2003.<\/p>\n
Aside from the logs, they had confiscated heavy equipment
\nworth millions of rupiah, as well as trucks and boats.<\/p>\n
Police data shows that East Kalimantan had the highest number
\nof illegal logging cases at 27 cases involving 29 suspects,
\nfollowed by Central Kalimantan, with 15 cases and 12 suspects.
\nOther provinces, such as South Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara and
\nNorth Sumatra also had a high number of cases.<\/p>\n
Suharto said the increase in illegal logging cases showed that
\npolice efforts were not enough without support from local
\nagencies, such as customs and excise, forestry, the military and
\nlocal administrations.<\/p>\n
\"We apprehend many suspects everyday. But, if the cases keep
\ncoming we won't have enough personnel to handle them. I think
\nother agencies should prevent illegal logging from happening in
\nthe first place,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Suharto said that on many occasions his officers had seized
\nlogs worth billions of rupiah, and handed them over to local
\nagencies so that they could be sold to recover state losses.
\nHowever, the agencies had not sold the logs.<\/p>\n
\"The logs could disappear and nobody would take
\nresponsibility. Our hard effort would be a waste of time. We wish
\nthat others would follow our example,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Suharto acknowledged the increase in illegal logging was also
\ndue to the fact that some police officers were helping the
\nperpetrators.<\/p>\n
\"We know that several police officers are involved in illegal
\nlogging activities, we have taken harsh action against them. We
\nare committed to punishing any police personnel involved in
\nillegal logging -- now, or in the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Illegal logging has become a primary concern for both the
\ngovernment and many non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
\nrecently. It is claimed that state losses from the illegal
\nactivity have reached Rp 30 trillion per year.<\/p>\n
The NGOs have said illegal logging causes the deforestation of
\nmillions of hectares of land each year.<\/p>\n
However, analysts underline that the problem is becoming more
\ncomplex as the industry, government officials, and others benefit
\nfrom the practice.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/illegal-logging-escalating-police-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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