Police too slow in probing forest fires: Minister<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin
\nNasution criticized the police yesterday for not moving to
\ninvestigate 26 timber and plantation companies allegedly
\nresponsible for some of the country's recent forest fires.<\/p>\n
\"The 26 companies have been reported to the police. But the
\npolice have yet to follow up on the reports,\" he told
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
He said the police should be taking tougher action against
\ncompanies believed to be behind forest fires.<\/p>\n
Nasution said his office had strong evidence that the
\ncompanies had been responsible for some of the fires.<\/p>\n
Large areas of forest in Kalimantan and Sumatra fell to forest
\nfires last year and early this year.<\/p>\n
Director General of Forest Protection and Nature Preservation
\nSoemarsono named plantation company PT London Sumatra Plantations
\nas one of the alleged culprits. He declined to provide other
\nnames.<\/p>\n
But a source at the ministry said two other companies were
\nplantation firm PT Bukit Kapur Reksa and timber company PT
\nSumalindo Lestari Jaya.<\/p>\n
The source said former minister of forestry Djamaludin
\nSuryohadikusumo reported the alleged involvement of PT London
\nSumatra in February.<\/p>\n
The Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) had found
\nthat the company had been illegally burning forest to clear land.<\/p>\n
The police, however, have not taken any action regarding the
\nreport, he said.<\/p>\n
Soemarsono said the ministry would send another letter to the
\npolice to urge an investigation into the allegations and for law
\nofficials to take tougher action against forest burners.<\/p>\n
\"We can't do anything except revoke their wood-use permits.
\nAny further investigation has to be conducted by the police,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
At least 154 wood-use permits held by 23 companies were
\nrevoked over the last several months after the firms failed to
\npresent documents refuting government allegations that they were
\nresponsible for starting fires.<\/p>\n
He said revoking wood-use permits could stop companies from
\ncutting trees but could not stop them from carrying out other
\nactivities in their areas.<\/p>\n
Last year, more than 263,000 hectares of forest and land was
\nrazed by fires, causing Rp 132 billion in estimated financial
\nlosses.<\/p>\n
Early this year, forest and brush fires ravaged 510,206
\nhectares, 508,732 hectares of which were in East Kalimantan.
\nLosses are estimated at Rp 220,032 billion.<\/p>\n
Muslimin called on Indonesian timber and plantation companies
\nto remain alert for a possible recurrence of widespread fires
\nduring the coming dry season which could start in July.<\/p>\n
\"We are often negligent of the dangers of forest fires during
\nthe rainy season. We also need to heighten public awareness on
\nthe matter,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Muslimin said forest fires could damage Indonesia's
\ninternational image should the nation fail to properly handle the
\nrecurring problem.<\/p>\n
\"We'll be under international scrutiny over the problems of
\nforest fires and haze ... especially when the Commonwealth Games
\ncome around this October,\" Muslimin said, referring to the major
\nsporting event which the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur will
\nhost later this year. All Commonwealth nations will be in
\nattendance, including Britain and Australia.<\/p>\n
He said he had instructed all timber and plantation companies
\nto build basins in their areas to store water for the dry season.<\/p>\n
\"We have to benefit from the La Nina weather phenomenon to
\ncollect as much water as we can,\" he said.<\/p>\n
La Nina is the reverse of the El Nio effect and is
\nassociated with colder than normal surface temperatures in the
\neastern Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n
The phenomenon could translate into heavy rainfall for the
\ncountry's regions hit by drought last year.<\/p>\n
Last year's El Nio-related effects were reportedly the most
\nsevere in 50 years, aggravating the forest fires in Sumatra and
\nKalimantan. (gis)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-too-slow-in-probing-forest-fires-minister-1447893297",
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