Police pledge to curb illegal loggers
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Bahorok, North Sumatra
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has promised to take stern action against illegal loggers, as the death toll surged to 133 following the recent devastating flood in North Sumatra.
Da'i told reporters here that police personnel were investigating the causes of the flood which ripped through the resort area of Bahrok last Sunday night.
So far, investigations have focused on illegal logging in Mount Leuser National Park, which many have blamed for the flood.
"We indeed obtained conflicting information on the causes of the fatal flood. Some said that the flood was attributed to the illegal logging, but others said that it was caused by a natural disaster. Through the investigation, we are trying to shed light on the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice," said the police chief.
Questioned over the backing practice, whereby military and police personnel allegedly protected the illegal loggers, Da'i said that too would be investigated.
The backing practice has been blamed by many as the utmost reason why the illegal logging went unchecked in the national park.
Herkwin Nasution, the executive director of the Indonesian Forum on Environment's (Walhi) North Sumatra chapter, said that illegal logging had definitely involved both police and military personnel.
Walhi had earlier uncovered that these personnel, armed with rifles or guns, often stood guard while such illegal activities were carried out in Mount Leuser National Park, especially areas close to the border of North Sumatra province and Southeast Aceh regency.
"We have evidence that the illegal logging was carried out in the vicinity of the national park. Some police and military personnel guarded both the logging and the transportation of the logs," Herkwin told The Jakarta Post, adding that the logging was mostly done at night. He said that the logs were then transported via Bahorok river.
Da'i said that illegal logging activities in the Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan and some forest areas of East Kalimantan were also being investigated. While he failed to mention the perpetrators of the illegal logging there he added,"but, at least, after months of investigation, the police have seized 213,000 cubic meters of logs."
Separately, government data showed on Saturday that 124 people are still missing after the flood.
Five more bodies were found on Friday. Three victims were identified as Risma, 22 and Sarial also 22, (both male) and Mamak Adek, 44, (female). The other two victims have not yet been identified.
The flood swept away 401 residential houses, 35 cottages and eight bridges.