Govt to get tough on forest burners
Govt to get tough on forest burners
JAKARTA (JP): The government has once again vowed to be tough
on forest burners, declaring that this time it would get
"serious" by taking tough legal action.
State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja told
reporters that the Environmental Impact Management Agency
(Bapedal), an agency under his office's coordination, would help
the police and the Attorney General's office gather evidence
against the forest burners.
Forest and brush fires have destroyed at least 300,000
hectares primarily in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The fires have
caused severe haze which has also disrupted life in neighboring
Malaysia and Singapore.
The government has alleged that the fires were started by
plantation and timber companies which burn forests to clear land.
Some of the local population has also been blamed for employing
slash-and-burn methods.
President Soeharto ordered a stop to all land clearing
activities using fire on Sept. 9.
The government has also suspended more than 100 wood use
licenses because owners were accused of using burning methods.
"The punishment against those who have committed burning
practices will be heavy," Sarwono said.
Sarwono was speaking yesterday after a special briefing with
governors from Sumatra and Kalimantan on the latest situation and
action to fight the fires.
Yesterday's meeting, the third in the past month, was to
remind governors of the lingering threat of the fires.
After a brief respite, the haze returned earlier last week
paralyzing transportation in many cities.
Sarwono, head of the National Coordination Team for
Controlling Land and Forest Fires, instructed governors to be
firm in their actions.
The national coordination team was set up by President
Soeharto last month to coordinate the handling of forest fires.
The secretary of development operations Lt. Gen. AM Hendropriyono
is the deputy chairman of the team.
Sarwono promised that the actions "will be unprejudiced",
allaying fears that only small traditional farmers will be
pursued while the big plantation and timber firms will not.
He claimed the government has been preparing a strong legal
case against those believed to be responsible.
"We have the list from the Investment Coordinating Board on
who invested (in timber and plantation companies) this year, when
they asked for their permits, when they started their
activities ... which we'll match with the data on land clearing
activities," he said.
A special team, spearheaded by police and prosecutors would
soon be assigned to conduct a field inspection, Sarwono added.
Attending yesterday's meeting were Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Azwar Anas, Lt. Gen. AM Hendropriyono and Chief
of the Armed Forces General Affairs Lt. Gen. Tarub.
Also present were Head of the National Meteorology and
Geophysics Agency Sri Diharto, deputy chairman of the National
Space and Aviation Agency and deputy chairman of the Agency for
the Assessment and Application of Technology Indroyono Susilo.
(aan)