Forestry licenses revoked

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo said yesterday that he has instructed the provincial forestry office to temporarily revoke permits of 176 timber and plantation companies today if they could not prove they did not start the fires.

"If the companies can not present their dossiers tomorrow (Wednesday), their wood use permits will be revoked automatically," he said in a news conference yesterday.

He said the revoke was temporary until the companies submitted their complete rejoinders with investigation results, which proved they did not start the fires.

Djamaludin has given 176 firms a 15-day ultimatum -- which ended today -- to stop slash-and-burn methods and present a complete report disproving the allegation.

Most of the 176 companies operate plantations (133), followed by timber estates (28) and contractors opening up areas for the government's transmigration programs (15). (08)