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