Loggers cancel demonstration

Loggers cancel demonstration

PANGKALAN BUN, C. Kalimantan: Thousands of traditional loggers
here canceled Saturday their plan to stage a demonstration at the
local legislative assembly building over the government policy on
logging, Antara reported.

The loggers dispersed after security authorities picked up
four people believed to be the mastermind of the aborted
demonstration.

The traditional loggers demanded that the local government
abolish the monopoly on certain forestry companies holding
permits to auction illegal wood, give compensation to traditional
loggers who had their wood confiscated, and issue a wood
exploitation permit to a local upstream timber estate.

On Dec. 26, wood truck drivers staged a demonstration in
protest against illegal levies imposed on them. (swe)