Illegal logging involves 'central govt officials'

JAKARTA (JP): The multi-billion illegal logging business in forests across the country involves not only local officials and businessmen but also government officials in Jakarta and members of their networks in Singapore and Hong Kong.

This conclusion was revealed on Friday by a seven-month-old team set by the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations to stop the crime and probe the untouchable figures behind the seemingly- endless smuggling of the country's timber overseas, particularly to China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

"But we can't give out the names (of the suspects) yet because we're worried that these people will flee," the Ministry's Secretary General Suripto told a press conference at his office.

He also disclosed the alleged role of legislator Abdul Rasyid, the owner of the Tanjung Lingga Group logging company in Central Kalimantan, in the illegal business.

According to Suripto, the ministry has already sent another team to probe the possible role of Rasyid in the business.

"We recently caught a ship that was attempting to smuggle logs from Tanjung Balai in Karimun island, Riau. When we traced it, the ship came from Waringin Timur, Central Kalimantan and is owned by Rasyid," he said.

If Rasyid -- a member of the People's Consultative Assembly in Jakarta from the Golkar party -- is proven guilty, the ministry would ask President Abdurrahman Wahid to expel him from the Assembly, Suripto said.

Rasyid, he added, has not only been accused of purchasing stolen logs from Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan, but of also illegally obtaining logs from logging concessions.

The Golkar legislator is also suspected of playing a significant role in the abduction and assault of activists from several non-governmental organizations, Suripto said..

Rasyid, however, has strongly denied the accusation and has instead accused the two environmentalists of trespassing on his property, he said.

On May 5 this year, activists from the local branch of the Indonesian Students Front and a number of other NGOs in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, foiled a smuggling attempt involving 35 containers of logs without legal documents which were on board a vessel heading for Singapore.

The first ever success story in foiling timber smuggling in the province was made after the activists had taken top local officials hostage, including those from the Customs and Excise Office, provincial forestry office, and the port administration.

Back in Jakarta, Suripto quoted the Ministry team's findings that it has so far detained 29 ships carrying 45 containers with some 210,272 cubic meters of timber and 1,600 trunks, without the proper documents.

The seizures took place in Jakarta, several spots in West and Central Java, Surabaya and Gresik in East Java, Riau, Jambi, Lampung, West Kalimantan, Sorong in Irian Jaya, and North Sulawesi.

The team also seized several vehicles, including 109 logs and equipment used in illegal logging on the West Kalimantan - Malaysia border.

"The Malaysian embassy and the ministry have agreed to establish a fact-finding commission to fight this illegal logging. At the end of this month, there will be a first meeting held in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the cases," Suripto said.

According to Suripto, the most vulnerable area for smuggling activities is on the north coast of Java, that is the route from Banten to Jakarta, Pasuruan and Surabaya.

"The timber mostly comes from Jambi, Riau, West and East Kalimantan, and Sorong, Irian Jaya," he said.

The Ministry of Forestry and Plantations has data showing that illegal logging has damaged 1.6 million hectares of forest over the last seven months and causes some Rp 1.2 billion (US$150,000) in annual tax losses.

"Therefore, we have suggested in cabinet that the export of logs be suspended," Suripto said. (09)