New MPI must be fully independent: Minister<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin
\nNasution met with the Indonesian Forestry Society for Reform (MPI
\nReformasi), a grouping established by businesspeople in the
\nforestry sector to replace the old MPI, an organization once
\ncontrolled by Soeharto's old crony Mohamad \"Bob\" Hasan.<\/p>\n
The new organization, chaired by Sofyan Siambaton, pledged to
\nhelp the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations manage the
\ncountry's forests in an environmentally sustainable manner and in
\na way which would benefit local people in forested areas. They
\nalso called for the abolition of several levies imposed by
\nHasan's MPI which they said burdened timber companies.<\/p>\n
Muslimin said he hoped the new organization would be fully
\nindependent and practice bottom-up decision making.<\/p>\n
\"The MPI Reformasi should be fully independent,\" Muslimin
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, the organization named the ministry's inspector
\ngeneral, Hariadi Dharmawan, and former director generals
\nHendarsun S. Sanusiputra and Titus Sarijanto as advisors.
\nForestry experts and the presidents of state timber companies PT
\nInhutani I to V have been listed as members of the executive
\nboard.<\/p>\n
Sofyan said the organization planned to meet the existing MPI
\nnext week to discuss a thorough reorganization and attempt to
\nestablish a united MPI free from corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism.<\/p>\n
\"If they refuse to acquiesce and set up a reformed MPI we will
\ngo our separate ways,\" added Sofyan, who was accompanied by MPI
\nsecretary general Zain Masyhur.<\/p>\n
The MPI is a holding (umbrella) organization for all forestry-
\nrelated organizations, including the Association of Indonesian
\nWood Panel Producers (Apkindo), the Association of Indonesian
\nConcessionaires (APHI) and the Indonesian Saw Millers Association
\n(ISA).<\/p>\n
MPI and its subsidiaries, which for more than 12 years were
\ncontrolled by Hasan, have been criticized for their crony-
\ncapitalism and rent-seeking practices.<\/p>\n
Hasan trial<\/p>\n
Earlier yesterday, 50 environmentalists staged a demonstration
\nat the ministry to demand that Hasan be brought to court for
\nallegedly destroying millions of hectares of forest over the past
\n15 years.<\/p>\n
They urged Muslimin to set up an independent committee
\ninvolving ministry officials, the Attorney General's Office and
\nenvironmental organizations to conduct a comprehensive probe into
\nmalpractice and corruption in the forestry sector.<\/p>\n
They also demanded that Bob Hasan be tried for the misuse of
\nreforestation funds and the destruction of forest resources.<\/p>\n
The protesters, members of the Indonesian Environmental
\nDevelopment Organization (BLHI) and the Independent Committee for
\nUpholding Society's Rights (KIPMAS) chanted slogans and waved
\nbanners calling on the government to use proceeds from the
\ncountry's forest resources to the benefit of the whole nation,
\nnot just a small group of individuals.<\/p>\n
\"Excessive exploitation by several giant concessionaires has
\nled to an economic and ecological crises,\" BLHI chairman Agus
\nMiftach said.<\/p>\n
He said the country's productive forests had decreased from
\nover 140 million hectares in the early 1970s to around 45 million
\nhectares today as a result of overexploitation by timber tycoons,
\nincluding Hasan, Prajogo Pangestu and Eka Tjipta Wijaya.<\/p>\n
Private concessions -- which cover more than 61 million
\nhectares of forest -- are controlled by 50 leading groups,
\nincluding the Kalimanis Group owned by Hasan, Barito Pacific
\nTimber owned by Prajogo Pangestu, PT Alas Kesuma owned by
\nHandjaja and Nana Suparna, and the Mercu Buana Group owned by
\nProbosutedjo, Soeharto's half-brother.<\/p>\n
Muslimin asked the protesters to give him a complete list and
\nevidence of malpractice and corruption in the forestry sector.
\n(gis)<\/p>",
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