Timber firms operate again

JAKARTA (JP): At least 21 timber companies, which last month were suspended for their alleged involvement in forest fires, are being allowed to resume operations again.

The director for forest development at the Ministry of Forestry Soegeng Widodo said here yesterday that the 21 companies, which hold 45 wood-use permits, had proven that they were innocent.

Soegeng said that the companies had fulfilled the ministry's requirements to provide sufficient proof that they carried out land clearing without using a burning system.

He said 36 of the 45 permits were issued for timber estates and the remaining nine were for plantations.

"The suspension of several companies operating in transmigration sites could not be lifted because they could not prove that they were innocent," he said. (gis)