Police pledge to curb illegal loggers

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.