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.