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)