Illegal logging involves 'central govt officials'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The multi-billion illegal logging business in
\nforests across the country involves not only local officials and
\nbusinessmen but also government officials in Jakarta and members
\nof their networks in Singapore and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
This conclusion was revealed on Friday by a seven-month-old
\nteam set by the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations to stop the
\ncrime and probe the untouchable figures behind the seemingly-
\nendless smuggling of the country's timber overseas, particularly
\nto China, Hong Kong and Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"But we can't give out the names (of the suspects) yet because
\nwe're worried that these people will flee,\" the Ministry's
\nSecretary General Suripto told a press conference at his office.<\/p>\n
He also disclosed the alleged role of legislator Abdul Rasyid,
\nthe owner of the Tanjung Lingga Group logging company in Central
\nKalimantan, in the illegal business.<\/p>\n
According to Suripto, the ministry has already sent another
\nteam to probe the possible role of Rasyid in the business.<\/p>\n
\"We recently caught a ship that was attempting to smuggle logs
\nfrom Tanjung Balai in Karimun island, Riau. When we traced it,
\nthe ship came from Waringin Timur, Central Kalimantan and is
\nowned by Rasyid,\" he said.<\/p>\n
If Rasyid -- a member of the People's Consultative Assembly in
\nJakarta from the Golkar party -- is proven guilty, the ministry
\nwould ask President Abdurrahman Wahid to expel him from the
\nAssembly, Suripto said.<\/p>\n
Rasyid, he added, has not only been accused of purchasing
\nstolen logs from Tanjung Puting National Park in Central
\nKalimantan, but of also illegally obtaining logs from logging
\nconcessions.<\/p>\n
The Golkar legislator is also suspected of playing a
\nsignificant role in the abduction and assault of activists from
\nseveral non-governmental organizations, Suripto said..<\/p>\n
Rasyid, however, has strongly denied the accusation and has
\ninstead accused the two environmentalists of trespassing on his
\nproperty, he said.<\/p>\n
On May 5 this year, activists from the local branch of the
\nIndonesian Students Front and a number of other NGOs in
\nPontianak, West Kalimantan, foiled a smuggling attempt involving
\n35 containers of logs without legal documents which were on board
\na vessel heading for Singapore.<\/p>\n
The first ever success story in foiling timber smuggling in
\nthe province was made after the activists had taken top local
\nofficials hostage, including those from the Customs and Excise
\nOffice, provincial forestry office, and the port administration.<\/p>\n
Back in Jakarta, Suripto quoted the Ministry team's findings
\nthat it has so far detained 29 ships carrying 45 containers with
\nsome 210,272 cubic meters of timber and 1,600 trunks, without the
\nproper documents.<\/p>\n
The seizures took place in Jakarta, several spots in West and
\nCentral Java, Surabaya and Gresik in East Java, Riau, Jambi,
\nLampung, West Kalimantan, Sorong in Irian Jaya, and North
\nSulawesi.<\/p>\n
The team also seized several vehicles, including 109 logs and
\nequipment used in illegal logging on the West Kalimantan -
\nMalaysia border.<\/p>\n
\"The Malaysian embassy and the ministry have agreed to
\nestablish a fact-finding commission to fight this illegal
\nlogging. At the end of this month, there will be a first meeting
\nheld in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the cases,\" Suripto said.<\/p>\n
According to Suripto, the most vulnerable area for smuggling
\nactivities is on the north coast of Java, that is the route from
\nBanten to Jakarta, Pasuruan and Surabaya.<\/p>\n
\"The timber mostly comes from Jambi, Riau, West and East
\nKalimantan, and Sorong, Irian Jaya,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Forestry and Plantations has data showing that
\nillegal logging has damaged 1.6 million hectares of forest over
\nthe last seven months and causes some Rp 1.2 billion (US$150,000)
\nin annual tax losses.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, we have suggested in cabinet that the export of
\nlogs be suspended,\" Suripto said. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/illegal-logging-involves-central-govt-officials-1447893297",
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