Forestry licenses revoked

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)