Jambi police battle illegal loggers

JAMBI, Jambi: Jambi provincial police has vowed to intensify a crackdown against illegal loggers. Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Saturday, chief of Jambi provincial police Brig. Gen. Soewadji said the police were currently focusing their fight against illegal logging in five regencies, namely Tebo, Batanghari, Merangin, Kerinci and Muarojambi, where four national parks are located.

"The crackdown is being intensified after I signed a working contract put forward to me by the National Police chief," said Soewadji.

The working contract was not only put forward to Soewadji but also to dozens of other provincial police chiefs nationwide.

In the contracts, the provincial police chiefs were ordered to step up their law enforcement duties against illegal loggers as well as gamblers and other criminals, and if they failed, it would mean dismissal from their post. The contracts were put forward to the provincial police chiefs after Gen. Sutanto took the reigns of the National Police last week. -- JP