Loggers threaten to stop operation in East Kalimantan

JAKARTA (JP): Seventy-seven loggers in East Kalimantan have threatened to close down their operation in response to continued conflicts with local communities, a loggers' association executive said.

Chairman of the Indonesian Loggers' Association (APHI), Harbiansyah Hanafiah, warned over the weekend that the 77 loggers would halt their operation if local communities continued to make irrational demands.

"We've already reached an agreement to shut down if the locals keep pressuring us with irrational demands," Harbiansyah was quoted by Antara as saying.

He said at present several companies in East Kalimantan's Kutai and Bulungan were unable to operate, as locals had taken over some of the companies' heavy equipment to demand payments in billions of rupiah.

Harbiansyah then urged the government to ensure legal certainty for logging activities.

"Closing down our operation would result in mass layoffs and a loss in state income from log exports," he said.

Harbiansyah said that to end the stand off with the local communities, all sides should negotiate with respect.

However, he added, should the negotiation prove to be fruitless, a legal process should follow. "If not, we're ready to shut our operation," Harbiansyah warned.

In response to the ongoing dispute between loggers and locals, APHI, East Kalimantan's provincial administration and the local Dayak federation agreed last week to channel support funds of between Rp 100 million (US$13,500) and Rp 200 million to each local cooperative or community organization. It is hoped that this will solve most of the problems in the operational areas.

According to Harbiansyah, the association tried to resolve problems that remained untouched for the last 32 years, adding that future demands should be settled through negotiation.

Attending the signing ceremony was State Minister of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Zarkasih Nur, who said this agreement was the first in Indonesia.

He said the agreement could become a model for similar cooperation between loggers and local communities throughout Indonesia.

"We will apply this type of cooperation for Irian Jaya as well, especially to cool down conflicts between locals and loggers," Zarkasih said. (03)