Now for the action<\/p>\n
It has taken Indonesia many years, and an international
\nscandal, for the country to finally wake up to the immensity of
\nthe looting that has been going on for decades in its lush
\ntropical rain forests.<\/p>\n
But now at least it seems that action may finally be taken to
\ndo something about it.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono summoned on Tuesday the
\nfive high-level government officials most directly concerned with
\nthe country's decades-old problem of illegal logging to a hastily
\nassembled meeting and ordered them to arrest 32 timber barons
\ncurrently on the government's blacklist for allegedly backing the
\ncountry's notorious illegal timber trade.<\/p>\n
Present at Tuesday's meeting were the Minister of Forestry, M.
\nS. Kaban, Home Minister M. Ma'ruf, National Police chief Gen.
\nDa'i Bachtiar, Army Headquarters Assistant of Operations Maj.
\nGen. Adam Damiri and the Director General of Immigration, Iman
\nSantosa. After it was done, Da'i was appointed to lead an
\n\"integrated operation.\"<\/p>\n
The five officials the president handpicked to attend were
\nchosen for good reason. As the president pointed out during the
\ngathering, \"many parties\" were involved in the murky illegal
\ntimber business, among them, personnel from the Navy's Eastern
\nFleet Command, officers from the Army's various regional commands
\nin timber-rich areas, regional police officers, local
\nadministrators, personnel from the Ministry of Forestry,
\nimmigration officials and, last but not least, members of
\ninternational smuggling syndicates.<\/p>\n
\"The president ordered 'shock therapy' ... and a special
\ninvestigation to be initiated, the findings of which are to be
\nreported (to the president) within two weeks,\" Kaban said during
\na news conference given after the meeting.<\/p>\n
And to convince the public that the president meant business,
\npresidential spokesman Andi Malarangeng added that a detailed
\nreport from the non-governmental organization Telapak was already
\nin the president's hands, and \"nobody in this country is above
\nthe law.\"<\/p>\n
So it seems that, for once, the robbers might be able to see
\nthe ominous shadow of the law approaching. On the other hand, it
\nremains to be seen what legal course of action is really open to
\nthe government, what political considerations might have to be
\nweighed, and what the possible consequences of \"shock therapy\"
\nmight be for everyone concerned.<\/p>\n
Be that as it may, it is obvious that the last drop that
\ncaused the bucket to overflow and forced the government into
\naction was the evidence made public by the London-based
\nEnvironmental Investigation Agency (EIA) along with Telapak in
\nJakarta last week. The racket apparently involves the smuggling
\nof an estimated 300,000 cubic meters of timber a month from
\nIndonesia -- mostly Papua province -- to China and beyond, and
\nvalued at more than a billion dollars.<\/p>\n
In a news conference held in Jakarta last week, the
\nenvironmentalists also made the allegation that the racket -- the
\nbiggest case of timber smuggling ever recorded -- was backed and
\nmanaged by high-ranking Indonesian military officers aided and
\nabetted by local government administrators and other law
\nenforcers. The ring reportedly involves a group of international
\ncrime syndicates that are involved in the massive looting of
\ntimber to supply the growing demands worldwide, particularly
\nChina.<\/p>\n
Clearly, the task that Gen. Da'i and his colleagues are facing
\nis formidable indeed. Not only does he have to confront some of
\nthe most hardened criminals in this part of the world, he -- and
\nhis colleagues, too -- will have to conduct a sweeping clean-up
\nof their own houses as well, with all the possible consequences
\nthat implies.<\/p>\n
Not to be left behind in all this, the House of
\nRepresentatives too is busying itself by initiating moves to set
\nup a special commission to \"dismantle\" the illegal logging
\nbusiness which, legislators realize, has reached alarming
\nproportions.<\/p>\n
Whatever may come from all these moves remains to be seen. But
\nthe ball seems to be rolling and there can be no turning back.
\nFrankly though, doubts exist as to the capability of those who
\nhave been put in charge of bringing the operation to a successful
\nend any time soon, let alone coming up with a credible report
\nwithin two weeks. It is going to be a tough job. However, if the
\ndestruction of our environment is to be brought to a halt, now is
\nthe time to act. At stake is the well-being of this entire
\nnation.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/now-for-the-action-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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