Illegal Logging: Riau, Sumatra

By Barrie | September 12th, 2007 | No Comments

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono formed the Illegal Logging Response Team in the Province of Riau. Over the past eight months, the police have carried out a war against illegal loggers in this province, famous for its sailboats. Forestry Minister M.S. Kaban, who is said to be close to a number of timber dealers there, accused the police of overstepping their authority: clamping down on businesspeople licensed to operate in the forestry business, and threatening the viability of the paper and pulp industry.

The forest in Riau is already bare. At least 3 million hectares—out of some 5 million hectares—of forest area in this province is now treeless. In addition to charging about 250 people as suspects, the police have also confiscated a “mountain of timber” or about 1 million cubic meters in the Gaung River, Indragiri Hilir. A number of giant paper factories are suspected of involvement in the operations of a deforestation “mafia,” causing the state to lose trillions of rupiah.

Source: Tempo Magazine