Fifteen million Indonesians live off forestry

JAKARTA (JP): Tycoon Mohammad "Bob" Hasan says the forestry industry supports the livelihood of 15 million people, proving that its existence has positive impacts, especially for the indigenous people living in the exploited forests.

Forestry companies employ 2.5 million workers and indirectly provide for the welfare of 1.5 million others. These four million plus their families was used to arrive at the 15 million figure, he added.

Hasan was responding to a question from a participant at the monthly discussion of the Jakarta Lawyers Club held yesterday where he presented his views on forestry and the legal issues involved.

Luhut Pangaribuan, director of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), questioned Hasan about the benefits to the local people of exploiting the forests.

Hasan dismissed the question as inappropriate, saying that Indonesia does not distinguish among minority groups.

He explained that forestry companies provide jobs and education for local people and have increased their income.

He brushed aside what might be called the sentimentality of foreigners who wish to see those people remain clad in only penis sheaths.

Luhut told The Jakarta Post after the discussion that Hasan had not responded to his questions at all. He said he had not asked about minority groups, but rather indigenous people. He also did not ask about the education or income of the local people but the changes in their way of life brought about by forestry companies.

The lawyer dismissed Hasan's claim that the companies brought positive changes to the people. "The companies just ignore them, regarding them as uncivilized."

"Those people have their own civilization," he added.

Wages

Another issue raised during the meeting was that of wages paid to workers in the forestry sector amid demands that they be paid more.

Hasan said it was better for the workers if the companies continued operating rather than close down for not being able to pay higher wages for the workers. "The (welfare of the) four million workers should be considered."

Hasan said the current wage of workers in forestry sector of around US$2 per day was adequate because the cost of living was low. He said in Thailand, though the wage was around US$6, it was insufficient because of higher living costs.

Hasan said that contrary to accusations made by foreign non- governmental organizations, Indonesia has wisely managed its forests.

Of the 144 million hectares of total forest (74 percent of the country's land area), 64 million hectares were allocated for productive use, 49 million hectares were protected, 113 million was "to remain as forests", and 31 million hectares were to be converted to farmland, residential areas, and other uses.

He said that the pressure against the exploitation of tropical woods was spurred by the anxiety among industrialized countries located in subtropical zones which saw that their wood products would not be able to compete economically with tropical wood products. (smb)