Military controls log trading

Military controls log trading

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Local forestry guards have complained
that their duty of controlling log trading has been taken over by
the military without any official authorization.

Forestry Security Task Force (Jagawana) coordinator Freddy
Wanda said military personnel from the Abepura Military District
office had established a new post in Nafri village and force log
owners to pay levies.

Freddy insisted his office had been given authority to
supervise the flow of logs and forestry products in the regency,
not the military.

"Each truck loading with logs is required to pay up to Rp
200,000. When the owner refuses, they (the military) seize the
logs and sell them to other buyers," Antara quoted Freddy as
saying.

Head of local ministry of forestry and plantation, Noack
Samber, said he had reported the case to Jayapura Mayor M.R.
Kambu. (prb)