Environmentalists receive death threats

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has reported threats made against its activists investigating illegal logging in Aceh to the National Police and the Ministry of Forestry.

Walhi chairman Chalid Muhammad said a number of persons unknown had told its Southeast Aceh activists to leave Kutacane in Southeast Aceh or they would "be risking their lives".

"It is clear that the threats and intimidation directed at the Walhi activists is aimed at preventing them from uncovering who the masterminds are behind illegal logging in Kutacane and the Leuser National Park," Chalid told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He also said that the threats had disrupted the investigation being conducted by the Walhi team in the regency.

"Due to the intimidation, Walhi members are no longer able to monitor logging sites in the area. Therefore, Walhi cannot confirm whether the level of illegal logging is abating or not," he said.

The Walhi coordinator for the Southeast Aceh region, Sofyan, said the first threats had come after the environmentalists made a documentary movie on illegal logging in Kutacane last month.

"We often received threats, either by phone or text message," Sofyan told the Tempointeraktif news portal. "But recently, the intimidation has been intensified."

Sofyan said that a group of unidentified people came to the homes of two Walhi activists on Oct. 29 and told them to leave Southeast Aceh immediately.

"The day after, the same people also came to our offices in Southeast Aceh," he said.

Sofyan said Walhi had sought protection from the local police.

Chalid said the threats would not put a halt to Walhi's work until the perpetrators of illegal logging were brought to justice.

"They are working for humanity. They won't stop just because of the threats," he said.

Walhi has said that illegal logging in Kutacane may involve senior officials in the region. The deforestation contributed to the recent flooding that claimed 10 lives and left hundreds of others homeless, it said.

Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban has also blamed rampant illegal logging and widespread felling of a local tree known as kemiri for the fatal floods.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal logging early this year. Jointly conducted by the police, military, prosecutors and the Ministry of Forestry, the operation, code named Hutan Lestari, has targeted Papua, Kalimantan and Sumatra.