10 regents in Kalimantan prosecuted for illegal logging
10 regents in Kalimantan prosecuted for illegal logging
The Jakarta Post, Padang
Ten regents in Kalimantan are currently being prosecuted for
alleged involvement in illegal logging and the embezzlement of
government reforestation funds, Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat
Ka'ban said on Saturday.
He declined to disclose the names of the regency chief
executives, but the prosecutions are seen as the first legal
moves to be taken against senior local officials in the current
administration's campaign against illegal logging.
Previous crackdowns have mainly netted low-paid workers hired
to fell trees, the crew members of vessels transporting the logs,
or junior police and military personnel. Even mid-ranking police
and military personnel arrested in such crackdowns are rarely
prosecuted.
"The regents all come from regencies in Kalimantan. Legal
proceedings against them are still ongoing," Ka'ban said as
quoted by Antara on the sidelines of a ceremony held by his
Crescent and Star Party (PBB) here.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in March of this year
launched an aggressive campaign -- called the Sustainable
Forestry Operation -- against illegal logging in a bid to protect
the country's rapidly declining natural forest cover and improve
Indonesia's image in the international arena.
Environmental groups say that so far they are encouraged by
the campaign as it appears to be producing results, although they
say that the authorities still need to go after the masterminds.
Ka'ban said that eradicating illegal logging was difficult as
it not only involved international criminal organizations but
also many corrupt officials in important posts in various state
institutions.
He said that at least 16 institutions, including the police,
military, customs and excise office, local administrations,
prosecution service, local legislative councils, the House of
Representatives and the Ministry of Forestry itself, as being
involved in illegal logging.
"Many officials are involved in the crime, and I admit that
the Ministry of Forestry cannot overcome the complexity of the
illegal logging problem alone," he said.
He added that because of this complexity, the fight against
illegal logging would be a "long-term war" and require "guerrilla
tactics." He did not elaborate.
Elsewhere, Ka'ban said 59.3 hectares of the country's total
120 million hectares of natural forest had disappeared due to
logging over the past 30 years.
He added that illegal logging also took place in
protected forests and national conservation areas.
He said that at the current deforestation rate of 2.8 hectares
per year, Indonesia's natural forests would have completely
disappeared by 2015.
Ka'ban also said that the high deforestation rate was also
defrauding the public purse of some Rp 41 trillion (about US$4
billion) each year.
He added that the fight against illegal logging would be one
of the Susilo government's 36 top priorities over the next four
years.