Powerful officials back illegal loggers

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.