Malaysia questions ramin report<\/p>\n
P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A senior Malaysian diplomat doubted the validity of a joint
\nreport released by local non-governmental organization Telapak
\nand the London-based Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) on
\nthe smuggling of Indonesian ramin wood (Gonystylus bancanus),
\nwhich is classified as endangered, to Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The counselor for the economy and information of the Malaysian
\nEmbassy in Jakarta, Rahimi Harun, told The Jakarta Post on Friday
\nthat Telapak and EIA must be able to produce solid evidence and
\nsubmit it to the embassy.<\/p>\n
"We want valid evidence from the report. If they have proof of
\nthe illegal trading and the involvement of Malaysian citizens,
\nthey could bring the evidence to the embassy," Rahimi said
\nfirmly.<\/p>\n
"If our future examination shows that the report is valid and
\nreliable, we will process the involvement of any parties in the
\ncase through a proper legal way," he Rahimi.<\/p>\n
However, he said that if the report proved to be inaccurate
\nMalaysia would take legal action against Telapak and EIA.<\/p>\n
According to the Telapak-EIA report, some 4,500 cubic meters
\nof ramin is smuggled each month from Indonesia's Jambi province
\nto Malaysia's Johor Baru area.<\/p>\n
The report highlights rampant illegal logging activities in
\nIndonesia, which some experts say destroy around two million
\nhectares of the country's forests each year. The fight against
\nillegal logging and log smuggling have faced difficulties due to
\na number of reasons, such as corrupt officials and weak law
\nenforcement.<\/p>\n
According to Rahimi, Malaysia had set up several meetings with
\nIndonesia concerning the illegal logging and smuggling.<\/p>\n
"We have already brought the discussion to the presidential
\nlevel to prove our seriousness, but there were some interests in
\nthe field which tried to inhibit these efforts," Rahimi said
\nwithout elaborating.<\/p>\n
According to Rahimi, Malaysia has shown its seriousness in
\nhelping Indonesia by banning any illegal logs smuggled from
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Ramin, a blonde tropical hardwood, is listed in the third
\nappendix of the United Convention on International Trade as an
\nEndangered Species (CITES). Therefore, the trade of ramin can
\nonly be done under quotas issued by CITES.<\/p>\n
According to the Ministry of Forestry, the national stockpiles
\nof ramin reached 240,000 cubic meters by January 2002 with the
\nrealization of export of 7,819 cubic meters from a quota of 8,000
\ncubic meters until Feb. 6 this year.<\/p>\n
The price of ramin on the international market is around Rp
\n905,000 ($107) per cubic meter, according to the ministry.<\/p>\n
Head of genetic and species conservation at the Ministry of
\nForestry Kurnia Rauf said the ministry would propose that ramin
\nbe included in the higher level of appendix two, before it could
\nbe placed in the first appendix, to attain greater international
\nleverage for protecting ramin wood.<\/p>\n
"We will fight to put ramin in the second appendix at the 13th
\nConference of Parties of CITES, which will be held in Bangkok in
\nOctober (this year)," said Kurnia.<\/p>\n
Kurnia said that only two companies -- PT Diamond Timber and
\nits subsidiary PT Yunis Raya (both based in Riau) -- were
\nlicensed to locally sell and export ramin wood.<\/p>\n
Kurnia added that the licenses had been given to the companies
\nbecause they had obtained eco-label certification, which requires
\nwell-managed forest areas in terms of ecological, economic and
\nsocial aspects.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-questions-ramin-report-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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