Loggers threaten to stop operation in East Kalimantan

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)