'TNI, Police should not be involved in forestry'

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri should ban the Indonesian Military and National Police from the forestry industry to halt illegal logging in Indonesia's fast disappearing rainforests, the Indonesian Center for Environment Law (ICEL) says.

"At least, the president can issue a decree to do so, but to date the problem is our President does not want to do it," ICEL senior executive Mas Achmad Santosa said on Friday.

He was briefing reporters at the launch of results of an investigation into illegal logging, which marked ICEL's 10th anniversary.

He said the government could include the ban in the planned bill on TNI.

"Such a prohibition will certainly promote legal enforcement to crack down on illegal logging activities as no TNI and Police officers will have a conflict of interest."

He said the TNI and police protected their own interests.

Many foundations and businesses linked to the TNI and police had been operating throughout Indonesia for a number of years.

The TNI and National Police have a number of foundations, cooperatives and firms, including Kartika Eka Paksi Foundation, Adi Upaya Foundation, Inkopad, Inkopabri and PT Tri Usaha Bakti.

Many have accused the TNI and police of being behind the rampant illegal logging activities, which inflict losses on the state of Rp 30 trillion (US$3.5 billion) per year, not to mention the environmental destruction.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has even accused the Police, through PT Bhara Induk Sumut, of engaging in illegal logging by cutting down trees outside its concession and manipulating its payment of reforestation funds worth Rp 1.2 billion.

TNI commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has admitted the involvement of military personnel in illegal logging and vowed to take action against them.

He said the military would forge cooperation with the forestry ministry and local administrations to arrest military personnel involved.

However, the illegal logging continues and no TNI or police personnel have been arrested.

Law No 41/1999 on Forestry carries a maximum ten-year jail sentence for illegal logging.

Mas Achmad also urged the TNI and police to set up a task force to investigate the involvement of their personnel.

"The TNI and the police must impose severe punishment on the officers involved in the illicit activities and also publish the results frequently to regain public trust."