Tragedy on Bahorok scale may be repeated

Tragedy on Bahorok scale may be repeated

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Spokesman of the Leuser Management Unit (UML), Denny Purba,
suggested that the authorities conduct a comprehensive study of
the Leuser Ecosystem Region (KEL), where the Bahorok river system
is located, to determine the root cause of the flash flood.

"The landslides and flash flood were most likely caused by
numerous factors. We can't just blame the rain," he told The
Jakarta Post.

Deny said local residents had been persuaded by the owners of
several timber companies to log areas within KEL, including the
protected Mount Leuser National Park.

He argued that forest concession holders are often close to
local figures, such as security officials, government officials
and councillors. Therefore, the law cannot touch them, he said.

Sources told The Jakarta Post that both the rapidly
deteriorating forest and the absence of law enforcement within
the national park had contributed to it's mismanagement.

Corrupt and collusive practices, the sources said, have been
rampant because the Leuser project is jointly financed by the
European Union and the Indonesian government.

"Government officers and security personnel have kept their
mouths shut and even backed up illegal logging for their own
financial gain. These criminal activities apparently suit
businessmen, as without illegal logging they cannot meet the
increasing demands of the international market," the sources
said.

A repeat of the Bahorok tragedy, in which more than 140 people
died, is only a matter of time. Moreover, if forest conservation
is not prioritized other regencies could face similar disasters,
the sources predicted.

They said that the Consortium Group on Indonesia (CGI) had
inserted a clause on forest conservation into an agreement with
European donor countries. However, this would have little effect
on pressurizing the government to crack down on illegal logging,
since the donor countries had their own business interests in
Indonesia.

The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
called on foreign donors to consider tying future assistance to
evidence that the Indonesian government is cracking down on
illegal logging. It urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri to
take a lead in fighting corruption.

EIA has alleged that the military, through its private
businesses, has been involved in illegal logging and the
operation of sawmills, to make up for the shortage in the troops'
daily expenses.

Bukit Barisan Military Commander, which oversees North
Sumatra, Maj. Gen. Tritamtomo has both denied the involvement of
the military as an institution and challenged the public to
produce proof of its involvement.

Agus Sutiadi, a senior staff member of the National
Development Planning Board (Bappenas) who handles multilateral
cooperation with foreign countries in Mount Leuser National
Park's sustainable management program has come up with a
proposal.

He says it is more effective and efficient to reroute the road
network outside the park and resettle more than 300 families
living inside the park than to clear the park for the road
network "because the costs are too high."

Walhi director in Medan Herwin Nasution has lambasted the
government for what it claims are mostly rhetorical responses to
the destruction of the national park.

He says the government cannot blame the condition of the park
on foreign countries or third parties, as it has failed to
enforce the law and bring the perpetrators of illegal logging to
justice.

"International pressure, in terms of eco-labeling or forest
product certification, will be ineffective, unless we first show
our own commitment to complying with the law and taking harsher
action against illegal loggers," he said.