Kaban plans to generate huge profits from forestry<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Newly appointed Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban plans to
\nturn his institution into a cash cow, raising environmentalists'
\nfears there will be further damage to the nation's already
\ndepleted natural forests.<\/p>\n
Kaban, the secretary general of the Crescent Star Party (PBB),
\nsaid one of the focuses of the ministry would be to contribute as
\nmuch income as possible to the state budget by revitalizing the
\nailing forestry industry.<\/p>\n
\"Now it is time to make the ministry a source of money, and
\ncontribute to the national economy. Remember that Mohamad 'Bob'
\nHasan has once contributed some US$9 billion into the state
\nbudget from the forestry industry,\" Kaban said.<\/p>\n
\"The question is, why can't we do the same thing as Bob Hasan?
\nWe will revive back the industry and earn more (for the country)
\nthan what he did,\" Kaban, who has no background in forestry
\nmanagement, said.<\/p>\n
Bob Hasan, who previously served a six-year jail term for
\ncorruption, was a timber tycoon and a golfing buddy of former
\npresident Soeharto. Under the Soeharto regime, he received
\nspecial facilities from the government to exploit the country's
\nnatural forests in order to reap in foreign exchange revenue for
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
From 1970s until the mid-1990s entrepreneurs started forestry
\nbusinesses, which were given quotas to log selected areas of
\nIndonesian forests.<\/p>\n
The huge discrepancy between the demand for timber and the
\nofficial supply meant the scheme was abused with many companies
\nhaving production capacity three times greater than their
\nallocated quotas.<\/p>\n
According to data from the ministry published last year, about
\n43 million hectares of a total of 120.3 million hectares of
\nforests have become unproductive because of illegal forest
\nexploitation, with an annual forest degradation rate up to over 2
\nmillion hectares.<\/p>\n
Kaban did not provide clear details about his plan, but said
\nthat aside from rehabilitating the forests, the ministry would
\nalso encourage the industry to use modern production machinery to
\nimprove efficiency in the cutting of timber.<\/p>\n
\"The government will support investment in this industry by
\nproviding incentives and erasing the high-cost economy resulting
\nfrom extortion and corruption. We also expect the industry to
\nmodernize its machinery to boost efficiency,\" said Kaban.<\/p>\n
Regarding the government's plan to issue regulations in lieu
\nof laws to deal with illegal logging, Kaban said the ministry
\nwould review the plan and seek other means to combat illegal
\nlogging.<\/p>\n
\"We will review the regulation. I think there are other better
\nways to deal with the issue, such as by improving coordination
\nbetween government institutions, empowering law enforcers and
\nbuilding up a new forest management system,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kaban said he would not resign from his party to avoid
\nconflict of interests and abuse of state facilities, because
\nthere was no direct relationship between his role as a minister
\nand as a party executive.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Longgena Ginting, chairman of the Indonesian Forum
\nfor the Environment (Walhi), said the appointment of a politician
\nas a minister of forestry signaled Susilo's lack of seriousness
\nin combating the illegal exploitation of the country's natural
\nforests.<\/p>\n
\"The appointment of Kaban is a mere \"horse trading\". Susilo
\nstill considers the ministry as a \"gold mine\", a just reward for
\na stout ally. We are afraid that the ministry will become another
\ncash cow -- for politicians,\" said Longgena.<\/p>\n
The PBB is a close supporter of Susilo, and is among the
\nparties grouped in the People's Coalition that will support the
\nPresident in the House of Representatives.<\/p>",
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