Marzuki installed, told to save forests<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid installed Marzuki
\nUsman as the new Minister of Forestry on Saturday replacing
\nNurmahmudi Ismail who was sacked from the Cabinet on Thursday.<\/p>\n
In his statement, Abdurrahman told Marzuki, who was minister
\nfor tourism, arts and culture under former president B.J.
\nHabibie, to save the nation's forests saying they were part of
\nthe country's natural wealth, useful for the national economy.<\/p>\n
\"Forests should be managed well as part of the country's
\nnational resources,\" Abdurrahman said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's vast forests must be preserved so they can
\nfunction as part of the world's lungs and be used for the benefit
\nof the national economy,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The President told the new forestry minister to adjust his
\nministry's policies in order to take account of national economic
\npolicies.<\/p>\n
\"Our forests are part of the country's economy, thus forest
\nmanagement policies should be related to economic policies. This
\nis a must,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman noted that Indonesia's forests are the third
\nlargest in the world after Brazil and Nigeria.<\/p>\n
He maintained that this valuable natural resource must not be
\ndivided into lots, but be preserved and used for the benefit of
\nthe entire nation not just by certain groups.<\/p>\n
\"We can not let our forests be damaged just like that, because
\nit will disturb not only Indonesia as a nation, but the world as
\nwell,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The swearing-in ceremony was led by Coordinating Minister of
\nPolitical, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
There was no official confirmation why Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, who usually takes the oaths of new Cabinet
\nministers or top state officials, was absent from Saturday's
\nceremony. Sources said that she was in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Nurmahmudi, former chairman of the Justice Party (PK), was
\nsacked on Thursday, for having a different vision of forestry
\naffairs to the President and for being unable to control his
\nparty, said defense minister Mahfud M.D.<\/p>\n
Earlier, presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar said the
\nappointment of Marzuki to replace Nurmahmudi had been \"made with
\nthe knowledge and agreement of Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nurmahmudi said that he was dismissed because he
\nhad turned down Abdurrahman's order to replace the ministry's
\nsecretary-general Soeripto, who was accused by Abdurrahman of
\nplotting to oust him.<\/p>\n
Soeripto was reportedly working to collect evidence against
\ntimber tycoon Prajogo Pangestu, one of the three conglomerates
\nwhose legal cases have been suspended by Abdurrahman's
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Marzuki Usman said that he only knew about his
\nappointment after being personally contacted by the President at
\n4 p.m. on Friday.<\/p>\n
Marzuki, 57, who was also investment minister during the last
\nmonths of Habibie's presidency, said he would prioritize efforts
\nto prevent forest fires in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"It's very shameful to be annually blamed by the international
\ncommunity for the forest fires,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, political observer Ichlasul Amal said on Saturday
\nthat there is no guarantee that the appointment of Marzuki Usman,
\nas the new Minister of Forestry, could improve the government's
\nperformance.<\/p>\n
\"The replacement will, on the contrary, worsen the
\ngovernment's image,\" said Amal, who is also rector of the
\nYogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University.<\/p>\n
He said that Nurmahmudi's dismissal would encourage Muslim-
\noriented political parties to act more explicitly against the
\ncurrent government as his appointment as minister was based on
\npolitical compromise.<\/p>\n
\"The decision (to dismiss Nurmahmudi) will only add to the
\nlist of government enemies.<\/p>\n
\"I think Gus Dur is being too confident. How could he do this
\nwhile his government is suffering a political crisis,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Amal said that the appointment of Marzuki Usman, who is
\nconsidered non-partisan, would not benefit the government as the
\nlatter did not have any support from political parties. (44\/imn)<\/p>",
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