UN troops to guard forests?

UN troops to guard forests?

From Koran Tempo

Illegal logging in Indonesia has lasted for 15 years. While in
the New Order era no smuggling was involved, in this period of
reform log smuggling has become a new and booming business.

Our law enforcement agencies are apparently helpless in the
face of the illegal logging and smuggling. On the borders between
West/East Kalimantan and Malaysia, the contraband log trade is
big business.

An article written by Hadi S. Alikodra, a professor at the
School of Forestry, Bogor Institute of Agriculture, is worthy of
attention. He points out that conserving Indonesia's forests is
identical to guaranteeing the nation's future.

In this context, I would like to recommend a solution. As
Indonesia in the past sought the aid of the International
Monetary Fund and other such agencies to overcome its economic
crisis, we should not hesitate to request world assistance to
surmount our forestry crisis.

With the failure of our law enforcers to save the country's
forests, why not seek the help of international law enforcers
instead? With socio-political peace in some countries being
successfully guaranteed by UN peace-keeping forces, we should ask
for their aid to guard our forests as a last resort before all is
lost.

DEHEN BINTI
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan