Anti-logging operations extended

Anti-logging operations extended

JAYAPURA: Massive anti-illegal logging operations in Papua, which
were earlier set to wind down on May 6, will be extended to June
7, a senior police officer said on Friday.

The operations had to be extended because police personnel are
overwhelmed with case files of suspects who have been arrested
since February this year, said Sr. Comr. Saut Usman, spokesman
for the police operations task force in Papua. The police will
complete all the case files on June 7 and hand over these files
to prosecutors for follow up, said Usman.

To date, the task force has arrested 153 alleged illegal
loggers, 35 of whom have been detained. Fourteen case files have
so far been handed over to prosecutors, and two suspects are
facing court prosecution, namely chief of the Papua regency
forestry office Marthen Kayoi and chief of Irian Jaya regency
forestry office Marthen Luther Rumadas.

Papua police, backed by National Police headquarters, have
embarked on massive anti illegal logging operations since March
after an instruction from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that
security personnel take tougher measures against illegal loggers.
-- JP