Soldiers back log smuggling

SURABAYA: East Java's forestry office has asked journalists to identify the Armed Forces individuals behind the notorious smuggling of timber out of Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

Office chief Amir Hamzah said Thursday that he needs the names of the soldiers who allegedly give support to the smuggling ring so he can make an official report to the authorities.

"Please give us their identities. They have too often threatened our employees who want to stop smuggling," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Amir said that the smugglers use the port of Gresik as their base. Forestry officials have been afraid to take action against the smugglers because they are routinely threatened by the corrupt soldiers, he said.

According to Amir, up to 60 ships carrying smuggled timber anchor at the Gresik port every month. The soldiers then prepare fake documents for the logs, he said.

"The backers (soldiers) won't hesitate to try and bribe forestry officials to release the logs they confiscate," he said.

Marsanto, chief of security at forestry company Perhutani's East Java branch, said he was "surprised" to hear about the involvement of the Armed Forces.

"Such instances had occurred before the Navy launched its recent anti-smuggling operation but I was not aware that it is happening now," he said. (pan)