Timber thieves caught in the act

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: A team of provincial councilors touring the Kutai National Park accidentally came upon a group of men loading four trucks with stolen meranti blambangan logs recently, Antara reported Tuesday.

Upon seeing the people's representatives, the thieves dropped whatever they were holding and fled. Their trucks were later confiscated by police.

"We hope police can soon arrest the suspects," said Hatta Zainal, one of the councilors.

Illegal logging is a major problem in conservation areas.

Of 200,000 hectares of conservation areas, some 50,000 hectares have been cleared for settlement, agriculture and illegal logging, according to data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (09)