Police to help supervise forest

The National Police have deployed 209 senior police personnel, ranging in rank from second lieutenant to captain, to help supervise security efforts in forests throughout the nation.

The personnel, who are all between 40 and 53 years old, were transferred in a ceremony on Tuesday to the Ministry of Forestry by police deputy for operational affairs Maj. Gen. Koesparmono Irsan. Their new boss is Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo.

By law, police officers must retire at the age of 55.

The officers will take a one-month forestry course before being assigned to supervise ministry civil servants in the field.

Brig. Gen. K. Ratta, a spokesman for the National Police, said that the personnel will be deployed in forested areas in Sumatra, the Riau Islands, Kalimantan, Java and Nusa Tenggara.

They will be replaced after a yet undecided time of period by local authorities, Ratta said. In return, the ministry will provide incentives for them.

The spokesman, however, gave no details about what the incentive the officers will receive. (bsr)