Powerful officials back illegal loggers

Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Balikpapan

Illegal logging on Borneo along the Indonesia-Malaysia border has increased in recent years, leading to rapid deforestation, a non- governmental organization (NGO) activist has said.

Illegal logging could not be prevented because government officials and security personnel were still supporting it, claimed David Simorangkir, an executive with Tropenbos International, an NGO based in East Kalimantan province on the Indonesian side of the border.

The loggers are well-organized and it has long been alleged that they have the full backing of a wide range of powerful people, particularly government officials, businessmen and security personnel.

The Indonesian-Malaysia border areas provided extra opportunity for illegal logging because of the sheer remoteness. In addition, after cutting trees in East Kalimantan, the illegal loggers can quickly haul the timber over the border into Sabah and Sarawak states in Malaysia, well away from the Indonesian authorities that are trying to crack down on the crime. "It has been common practice for Malaysian financiers to organize the illegal logging and bring the logs into their country," alleged David.

Illegal logging in East Kalimantan has been on the rise in the past few years, according to police data. While in 2003 only 108 illegal logging cases with 126 suspects were found, through October this year the police discovered 152 cases of illegal logging and named 168 suspects.

Despite the increase in unlawful tree felling, Chief of East Kalimantan police Insp. Gen. DPM Sitompul said that illegal logging had become a top priority. "The police will tighten surveillance on the Indonesia borders with Malaysia to curb illegal logging," vowed Sitompul.

There are an estimated 14 million hectares of forested areas in East Kalimantan.

David also urged the government to pay more attention to illegal logging as it was not only happening in production forests, but also taking place on conservation areas and protected forests, which have a rich diversity of unique animals and plants.

David also expressed concern that currently, not only were government officials, businessmen and security personnel involved in the forest crimes, but local residents were also involved.

"Claiming that the trees are located on their traditional lands, the local residents cut the trees and sell the timber to companies for a living," said David.