Army office cuts down trees

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah condemned on Thursday the Army's topography office for cutting down 10 trees in front of its office on Jl. Kali Baru Timur in Senen, Central Jakarta.

"If it is not explained by the office, we'll bring the case to court," Subur said in a statement, copies of which were made available to the press on Thursday.

He said he would send a letter to the topography office asking them to take responsibility for felling the trees.

He said the office violated the 1988 Bylaw on Public Order, which prohibits the cutting down of the city's trees.

The bylaw carries a maximum sentence of three months in jail or a fine of up to Rp 50,000 (US$6.40).

The head of the Central Jakarta Parks Agency, Agung Sukaton, however, said Army Lt. A. Riawan requested permission to cut the trees.

"We hadn't approved the request yet, but the topography office cut the trees down," Agung said.

Representatives of the topography office could not be reached for comment on Thursday. (jun)