Powerful officials back illegal loggers<\/p>\n
Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Balikpapan<\/p>\n
Illegal logging on Borneo along the Indonesia-Malaysia border has
\nincreased in recent years, leading to rapid deforestation, a non-
\ngovernmental organization (NGO) activist has said.<\/p>\n
Illegal logging could not be prevented because government
\nofficials and security personnel were still supporting it,
\nclaimed David Simorangkir, an executive with Tropenbos
\nInternational, an NGO based in East Kalimantan province on the
\nIndonesian side of the border.<\/p>\n
The loggers are well-organized and it has long been alleged
\nthat they have the full backing of a wide range of powerful
\npeople, particularly government officials, businessmen and
\nsecurity personnel.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian-Malaysia border areas provided extra
\nopportunity for illegal logging because of the sheer remoteness.
\nIn addition, after cutting trees in East Kalimantan, the illegal
\nloggers can quickly haul the timber over the border into Sabah
\nand Sarawak states in Malaysia, well away from the Indonesian
\nauthorities that are trying to crack down on the crime. \"It has
\nbeen common practice for Malaysian financiers to organize the
\nillegal logging and bring the logs into their country,\" alleged
\nDavid.<\/p>\n
Illegal logging in East Kalimantan has been on the rise in the
\npast few years, according to police data. While in 2003 only 108
\nillegal logging cases with 126 suspects were found, through
\nOctober this year the police discovered 152 cases of illegal
\nlogging and named 168 suspects.<\/p>\n
Despite the increase in unlawful tree felling, Chief of East
\nKalimantan police Insp. Gen. DPM Sitompul said that illegal
\nlogging had become a top priority. \"The police will tighten
\nsurveillance on the Indonesia borders with Malaysia to curb
\nillegal logging,\" vowed Sitompul.<\/p>\n
There are an estimated 14 million hectares of forested areas
\nin East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
David also urged the government to pay more attention to
\nillegal logging as it was not only happening in production
\nforests, but also taking place on conservation areas and
\nprotected forests, which have a rich diversity of unique animals
\nand plants.<\/p>\n
David also expressed concern that currently, not only were
\ngovernment officials, businessmen and security personnel involved
\nin the forest crimes, but local residents were also involved.<\/p>\n
\"Claiming that the trees are located on their traditional
\nlands, the local residents cut the trees and sell the timber to
\ncompanies for a living,\" said David.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/powerful-officials-back-illegal-loggers-1447893297",
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