Legislator wants inquiry on cops over logging crime

Legislator wants inquiry on cops over logging crime

Puji Santoso and Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura/Pekanbaru

A senior councillor in Papua demanded on Monday that National
Police Headquarters investigate the involvement of police
personnel in massive illegal logging in the easternmost province
of Indonesia. "There have been reports that police personnel have
been involved in the illegal logging. National Police
Headquarters must confirm whether the reports are true or are
merely rumors," said Komarudin Watubun, the deputy speaker of the
Papua provincial council.

The statement came after the Papua provincial police detained
at least 25 people accused of involvement in illegal logging in
the province. They were, among others, Papua forestry office
director Marthen Kayoi and West Irian forestry office director
Marten Luther Rumadas, a director of PT Wapoga Mutiara Timber,
Tan Eng Kwee, the firm's operations manager, Agustinus Joumilena,
and the firm's general manager, Tang Tung Hwong.

All but Marten Luther are being detained at Papua Provincial
Police Headquarters. Marten himself is being detained for
questioning at the Sorong Regental Police Headquarters.

Komarudin said that the provincial council had established a
special committee to investigate rampant illegal logging in
Papua. The committee had met various parties recently to discuss
how to stop the practice. It is believed that committee members
have met representatives of Papuan non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), customs and excise officials, immigration officials and
Papua forestry office officials.

"The committee will meet the chief of the Papua Provincial
Police, Insp. Gen. Dodi Sumantyawan, on Tuesday to discuss the
problem of illegal logging," said Komarudin, who chairs the
special committee.

The police have just launched Operation Hutan Lestari
(sustainable forest) to halt widespread illegal logging in Papua.
The operation was launched after two NGOs -- the Britain-based
Environmental Investigation Agency and its Indonesian partner
Telapak revealed their findings that Malaysian businessmen along
with Chinese and Hong Kong companies were collaborating with the
Indonesian military and government officials to smuggle 300,000
cubic meters per month of Merbau timber from Indonesia to China.

So far during Operation Hutan Lestari, the police have
confiscated 40,679 cubic meters of logs and 5,669 cubic meters of
processed timber.

Separately, a joint police and forest ranger team in Pekanbaru
seized 12 trucks on Sunday and Monday carrying hundreds of cubic
meters of undocumented timber of various species.

The seizures were made separately on various streets in
Pekanbaru city between Sunday afternoon and dawn on Monday, said
Sahnan, the director of the forest ranger unit at the Riau
Natural Resources Conservation Board (BKSDA).

The logs and wood chips had been taken from the Rimbang Bukit
Conservation area and Baling Bukit area in Kuantan Singingi
regency, Sahnan quoted the truck drivers as saying.

The latest seizures came after the joint team apprehended a
trailer truck carrying 32 cubic meters kulim timber on Pekanbaru-
Perawang street in Pekanbaru city last Tuesday.

The kulim timber, which is reportedly worth billions of
rupiah, was taken from the Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau
province. During questioning, the truck driver admitted that the
timber was to be transported to Bagansiapi-api city, Rokanhilir
regency for boat construction.