Walhi slams illegal logging probe

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) criticized councillors on Friday for their poor performance in carrying out investigations into rampant illegal logging in the province.

"Since the council set up a special committee a few months ago to investigate illegal logging and deforestation across the province, it has not dealt with any cases, although people from the regencies of Pasir and Berau have filed at least two cases," Walhi East Kalimantan director executive Syarifuddin told The Jakarta Post.

He accused the councillors of being reluctant to investigate the cases for fear that local officials may be implicated, referring to the illegal logging case allegedly involving timber company Surya Darma Group. The case remains unsolved.

Local residents had filed a complaint against the company's illegal activities in a 440-hectare plot of land.

According to data from the provincial forestry office, 14.6 million of the 21.1 million hectares of forests in the country are located in the province.

Syarifuddin said around four million hectares of forest had, however, been destroyed by illegal loggers. -- JP