Minister under fire for deforestation

Minister under fire for deforestation

PEKANBARU, Riau: Thirty activists from three environmental
protection groups here lodged a protest against rampant
deforestation with State Minister for the Environment Nabiel
Makarim on Friday.

The Riau Forest Rescue Network (Jikalahari), the Indonesian
Forum for the Environment (Walhi) in Riau and the Association of
Non-Political Organizations of Riau demanded that the minister
cancel environmental permits for 312 companies they said had
failed to conserve forests in Riau.

They also demanded that companies converting natural forests
in Riau be denied environmental permits and that relevant
regencies stop issuing licenses for pulp production increases in
their respective areas.

In response, the visiting Nabiel expressed his gratitude to
the protesters and said he hoped more information on Riau's
environmental situation would be addressed to his office in East
Jakarta. --Antara