'Military officers involved in rare animal trade'

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An environmentalist alleged on Tuesday that high-ranking military officers and government officials were involved in the killing and trade of endangered Sumatran tigers, rhinos and elephants.

Harry Alexander, an official with the Jakarta-based Advocacy Network for Tigers, Rhinos and Elephants (HBG), said the illegal animal trade flourished in several provinces in Sumatra, including Lampung and Aceh.

"We have strong indications of their (high-ranking military officers and government officials) involvement.

"And if we don't stop such activities, Sumatran tigers, rhinos and elephants will be extinct in the next few years," Harry said during a break in a workshop being held in Bogor on the protection of endangered animals.

Harry cited the example of a high-ranking military officer in Lampung who remained above investigation despite allegations that he was involved in the recent killing of rare animals in the province.

"As usual, the military will only allow low-ranking officers to be prosecuted," he said.

In Aceh, he said, military officers backed the illegal animal trade, using the cover afforded them by the ongoing military operation against the separatist Free Aceh Movement.

According to data from HBG, some 33 Sumatran tigers have been killed every year since 1993, and currently there are only between 400 and 500 Sumatran tigers left in the wild.

The data shows that the number of wild Sumatran rhinos on the island has decreased to 150 in early 2002 from 400 in 1993. And the Sumatran wild elephant population has also rapidly declined from 2,800 in 1984.

Sumatran tigers and elephants are only found in Sumatra, while the Sumatran rhino can be found in Sumatra, Malaysia and Myanmar.

The hunting and illegal trade of these endangered animals is a lucrative business. Those involved in the trade can make millions of rupiah from the sale of the bones, tusks, ivory and fur of the animals.

A stuffed Sumatran tiger can fetch Rp 25 million (US$2,700) when sold in Indonesia, a price that probably increases for overseas buyers.

Indonesia is also a haven for the international trade in endangered animals, an illegal activity that ranks only behind drug trafficking in lucrativeness.

The illegal trade of rare animals in Sumatra has been linked to a Malaysian trader known as Mr. T, and a South Korean businessman based in Indonesia.

"As far as we know, the businessmen are still involved in the illegal trade, exporting the items to other countries.

"Their mode of operation can involve illegal logging activities, hiding the protected animals among unprotected ones, transporting the animals and their parts in containers with fake documents or just simply carrying the animals out of the country with them," Harry said.

According to him, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan were the major export destinations for the animals.

The main export gates are Medan in North Sumatra, Jakarta, Batam in Riau, Bali, and Makassar in South Sulawesi, he said.

Based on Law No. 5/1990 on the conservation of natural resources, those involved in the trade of endangered animals can receive five-year prison sentences and a fine of Rp 100 million.