Soldiers punished for stealing wood

JAMBI, Jambi: Local military chief Col. Istarto said yesterday he has taken punitive action against nine soldiers for their roles in illegal logging operations.

Istarto said the ongoing crackdown on loggers and their backers is part of the government's effort to preserve forest stocks, which have been dwindling due to theft and development projects.

He declined to identify the soldiers or specify their punishment.

Logging has affected protected areas such as the famous Kerinci Seblat and Berbak national parks, Antara reported.

"We are concerned about people degrading the environment," Istarto said. (pan)