Malaysians arrested for illegal logging

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Six Malaysians and two Indonesians have been arrested by the police for illegal logging in the country's easternmost province of Papua.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang said on Thursday that all the suspects were arrested in Papua while evidence had been seized in Papua and in Semarang, Central Java.

The Malaysians were identified as Chang Wing Lok, Mook Sui Siong, Law Siew King, Law Chen King, Kong Wang Hing and Wong Sing Ho, while their two Indonesian accomplices were Suparman Saragih and Agus Salim.

The six Malaysians are now being detained at National Police Headquarters in Jakarta, while their Indonesian accomplices are still being held in Papua.

The evidence seized consisted of, among other things, two vessels, 722 illegal logs confiscated in Papua and 533 illegal logs seized in Semarang.

"After we carried out the operation on Aug. 3, we had to chase the vessels carrying illegal logs as far as Semarang as they escaped our cordon in Papua," Aritonang said.

"This is an organized crime."

According to Aritonang, illegal logging had reportedly being occurring in the forestry concession of PT Rimba Kayu Arthamas in Merdey district, Bintuni regency, Papua.

"PT Rimba Kayu complained to us about the illegal logging by the suspects," Aritonang said.

He said the suspects would be charged with illegal logging and visa violations.

Unauthorized logging is prohibited by Law No 41/1999 on Forestry, while visa offenses are covered by Law No 9/1992 on Immigration and the Criminal Code.

However, since the rolling out of local autonomy in 2001, illegal logging has been increasing across the country due to inability, or unwillingness, of local administrations to enforce the prevailing laws.

Aritonang went on to say that the police were still seeking three other suspects -- Jhon Leimena, Lau Wen, and Lau Woo.

Illegal logging has been rampant in Indonesia's forests since a virtual breakdown in law and order in 1998 following the fall of former iron-fisted ruler Soeharto.

To date, the government has been unable to tackle the illicit business, which is estimated to inflict losses on the state of as much as Rp 30 trillion (US$3.5 million) per year.

Various environmental disasters, such as landslides, mudslides and flash floods, frequently occur in Indonesia due to unchecked illegal logging.