Organized crime ring pillaging forests: Official

Organized crime ring pillaging forests: Official

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Organized criminals, comprising government officials as well as
military officers, were the likely culprits behind the widespread
illegal logging in the country, an official said on Monday.

It also seemed likely that they were involved with an
international network, according to the ministry's data.

"We have reason to believe that government officials and army
officers are involved in illegal logging," the director general
of forest protection and natural conservation at the Ministry of
Forestry, I Made Subadia, said.

Made was speaking to reporters after a hearing with the House
of Representatives' Commission III on agriculture, forestry and
maritime affairs.

Made did not mention if an international network was involved
in the crimes, but his ministry data showed that 57 vessels
including foreign ships from Singapore, Hongkong and the Honduras
were confiscated last year for smuggling illegal logs.

Along with the 57 vessels, over 1,200 perpetrators of illegal
logging were detained last year during operations to curb illegal
logging.

Some of the suspects have reportedly been tried, others remain
in the hands of the National Police or the Attorney General's
Office.

Made's revelation confirmed a previous report by the
International Crisis Group issued last December that illegal
resource exploitation was protected and sometimes even organized
by corrupt elements in the civil service, security forces and
legislature.

The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has also
implied that a member of the People's Consultative Assembly was
closely linked to an illegal logging syndicate in Tanjung Puting
national park in Central Kalimantan.

According to the office of the state minister of research and
technology, Indonesia is the second largest wood exporter in the
world after Brazil, but 70 percent of the timber came from
illegal logging.

Illegal logging has reached a dangerous level in the country
as it damages not only unprotected forests but also the protected
forests.

The rampant illegal logging has caused various natural
disasters including droughts, floods, landslides and forest
fires. It has also jeopardized endangered species.

Under Law No. 41/1999 on forestry, anyone convicted of
activities linked to illegal logging, its trade or the purchase
of illegal logs could face a maximum sentence of 10 years behind
bars and a Rp 5 billion (US$561,700) fine.

Under Law No 5/1990 on conservation of natural resources and
its ecosystem, anyone involved in illegal activities in national
parks or protected areas could face a maximum sentence of 10
years in jail and a Rp 200 million fine.

Made said the government had tried to stop illegal logging by
establishing cooperation with importing countries such as
Malaysia, China and Japan.

Those countries responded positively to Indonesia's request,
but no formal agreements were reached.

Indonesia, nevertheless, has secured important cooperation
agreements with 12 countries, mostly European countries, and
eight global organizations to curb illegal logging and forest
fires.

Made also said his ministry, in cooperation with the National
Police and Navy, would raise funds for an operation to curb
smuggling of timber between August and December to Rp 20 billion
from Rp 5 billion last year.

His ministry had proposed to President Megawati Soekarnoputri
to establish a special agency to protect the national forest.

He said such an agency would need an emergency fund to carry
out necessary actions to prevent illegal logging, forest fires
and smuggling of endangered animals.